One term you might come across as you read various articles on weight loss is ‘calorie deficit’.
It’s important that you understand waht this term refers to so you can then go on to formulate a weight loss program that is going to promote optimal fat loss.
Essentially what calorie deficit means is that during that day (or whatever time period you’re examining), you have consumed fewer calories than the body has burned.
And, don’t think that you have to burn all of the calories off that you eat through exercise either. Keep in mind that the largest contributor to your daily calorie burn is actually your basal metabolic rate, which is essentially all the body’s processes that take place while you are just sitting there.
For most people this will represent about 70-80% of the total calories they burn, so exercise actually plays a minor role in creating that deficit.
On the other hand, if you see the word ‘calorie surplus’ stated in an article, this means you are eating more than the body is expending in a day, hence you will gain weight (either fat tissue or muscle mass depending on a variety of different factors).
So, don’t let yourself be confused by this word again. Understanding how it fits into the whole weight loss picture will help you get a better grasp over what you need to do to reach your goals.
On a side note, most often the daily deficit or suplus (depending on your goal) that you should aim for is between 250-500 calories per day. This is the equivalent to 1/2 to one pound of weight gain or loss each week, which is a good and safe range to shoot for.
Related posts:
