A Discussion on Calories

 

"Are you SERIOUS, dude?

We just read about Leg Day (otherwise known as the day everyone dreads) and now we're talking about Calories? I'm just gonna..."

Hold on! Don't peace out on me yet, because I can guarantee that a good portion of the people who are reading this (perhaps even a majority) have been lied to.

I hope that it comes as no surprise when I tell you that The Fitness Industry is hell bent on selling you Snake Oil. If they told the truth, people would be eating whole foods and perhaps having a protein shake or two and getting results.

Instead, they'll try to sell you Ketones, Test Boosters, Meal Powders, and Magic Pills that claim to burn all of your calories for you with no work on your part.

And it's all roughly as effective as horse shit.

Let's discuss Calories for a second. 

Calories are units of energy and are defined as the amount of heat energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. When more calories are consumed than are burned within any given 24 hour period, a person is in what's known as a Caloric Surplus. This is an important thing to note, because this is the very thing that causes people to gain weight.

Furthermore, calories can be broken into three specific categories known as Macronutrients. They are as follows:

1.) Protein. Protein is the basis of our muscle. It is protein synthesis that repairs damaged muscle tissue, and it is also what adds muscle tissue. Contrary to popular belief, protein is not only found in meats and dairy. Oatmeal, quinoa, beans and a lot of other foods are great sources of protein. This is good news for Vegetarians and Vegans. A gram of protein contains 4 calories.

2.) Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are The Human Body's primary energy source. Carbohydrates saturate our muscles with Glycogen, this gives us strength, energy, muscular endurance, and actually increases the size of muscles when they are glycogen saturated. All carbohydrates are not created equal (I'll discuss the glycemic index in another post). Forget what you've been told. Carbs are not evil, there are simple and complex carbs, and even Gluten Free carbs for those with a sensitivity. If a person decides to go carb free, the body will take protein they consume and synthesize it into carbs for energy. A gram of Carbohydrates contains 4 calories.

 


3.) Fats. Everyone is terrified of them because: "Fat makes you fat, Richard Simmons told me so". Fats are extremely important for the Human Body. Even to maintain basic brain function, the body requires fats. Beyond this, our hormones (i.e. Testosterone, Estrogen, Cortisol, and even Insulin) are all synthesized from... Fats. So let's get scientific (not really). Richard Simmons has claimed to eat 35 grams of fat each day; perhaps this explains why he seems to have a lack of testosterone (see what I did there)? As with Carbohydrates, all Fats are not created equal. I will discuss good fats and bad fats in another article. A gram of fat contains 9 calories.

All three Macronutrients are important for peak physiological performance. I recognize that this information flies in the face of fad diets, broscience, and anecdotal accounts (my friend told me), but consider briefly that Humans have been around long before The Atkins diet, and we weren't nearly as unhealthy as we are today.

Macros are by no means the only thing you need in your diet. A plate of Sweet Potato and a bowl of White Rice both have Carbs. But Sweet Potatos have Vitamins, Minerals and Antioxidants which are known as Micronutrients.

I hope that you have learned a thing or two about calories in this post that you didn't know before. 

In a subsequent post we'll discuss exactly how calories are related to Weight Loss, and how watching your Macros can make all of the difference.

Cheers,
John. 

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