As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago today marks my 3,500th blog.
Every weekday for several years and then seven days a week for the last few.
Fair number that, isn’t it?
Do you know what it’s the same number as?
Calories in pound of body fat.
At least that’s what they say.
Some question it.
But, from my understanding, it’s fairly accurate.
Might be a bit higher or lower in some people.
But won’t be a million miles away.
And, sure, there are differences in how readily we release body fat and numerous other considerations around fat gain and loss.
But none of that doesn’t mean that body fat isn’t an energy store.
Amongst other uses, our body fat is there to store energy for times when it’s needed more.
But that’s not really a thing anymore is it?
We don’t need to store energy up at certain times of year to use when there is less available, do we?
Food is always readily accessible nowadays and has been for a long time.
Energy dense, relatively cheap, hyperpalatable, very ‘moorish’ food as well.
It’s never been more easy to consume more energy than we need and, therefore, increase our storage of said energy in fat stores.
So, if we’re looking to change our body fat levels, we always need to remember that they’ve increased to store that extra energy.
And they will be reduced when that energy deficit is created.
Doesn’t necessarily mean we need to count calories.
Definitely doesn’t mean we need to beat ourselves up over our choices.
But we do need to have that calorie deficit underpinning whatever we do.
It doesn’t matter how hard we work, how many changes we make and difficult it feels………
If that calorie deficit is not there, nothing will happen.
We are limited by the accuracy of our measurement methods.
If we appear to be in a calorie deficit and not losing weight then we are just not in a calorie deficit, despite what it seems to say ‘on paper’.
All else being equal, reducing those calories in or increasing those calories out will be what makes the difference.
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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!
