The Secret to Losing Weight

To lose weight you need to burn more calories then you eat. Nope, it’s really not a secret, merely a fact. One that many of us seem to ignore because we want a quick fix or maybe it just seems too simple. But that is the age old truth, you have to consume less and burn more.

So, how many calories do you have to burn to lose you ask? Answer: In order to lose one pound you need to burn 3500 calories. (see calculations) Yes, that sounds like a lot, but it’s really not too bad. If you can cut just 500 calories a day from your diet and/or exercise to burn that much you will lose 1 pound a week.

Daily Activities that Burn Calories:

Carrying a child = 200 calories burned per hour

Wash the Car = 200 calories burned per hour

Scrubbing the Floors = 250 calories burned per hour

Vacuuming = 230 calories burned per hour

Weeding in the Garden = 300 calories burned per hour

Having Sex = 90 -100 calories burned per hour

Foods to Cut Out of Your Daily Diet:

Soda, instead have unsweetened iced tea, diet soda or water – save 150 calories

Cafe Mocha, instead have 1 cup of coffee with 1 tablespoon 1% milk – save 230 calories

Chocolate Chip Cookies, eat one less – save 140 calories

Orange Juice (or any juice – it’s just unneccessary calories), instead have water with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of artificial sweetener such as Splenda – save 120 calories