Calorie Calculator/Calories Burned Calculator

Posted on August 26, 2008
Filed Under Chief Blogging Officer

Calorie Calculator

The Michael Phelps diet notwithstanding, most people in America would benefit from reducing their caloric intake. Obesity has been steadily increasing, and a recent study suggests that no less than 86% of Americans could be obese by 2030, resulting in related health care costs near 1 trillion dollars.

The state of Alabama broke new ground recently by proposing increased health care premiums for state workers who are obese. It is interesting, because free will choices that negatively impact the public health drive up health care costs for everyone, even those who do all that they can to live healthy lifestyles.

There are and have always been many different fad diets out there, but there is a basic science behind caloric intake and resultant weight maintenance, loss, or gain. A pound of body weight is equal to 3500 calories. If you are eating 2000 calories a day and maintaining your weight, if you cut out 500 calories and ate just 1500 calories a day, presumably, you would lose about a pound a week (500 calories reduced per day x 7 = 3500 calories = 1 pound).

So weight loss is not voodoo–it’s science. We also have to take into consideration the number of calories that we are burning when we exercise. There is great tool for doing so here:

Calories Burned Calculator

If you approach calorie counting and calories burned through exercise intelligently, you should be able to devise a strategy that works for you. If you want to eat a special meal or dessert on a given day, calculate the calories involved, and up your level of calorie burning exercise. Do the math, and take control of your body.