The Fact About Calories

Calories reside in almost 100% of the foods that we eat. Calories are simply another fancy word for 'energy'. The body needs the calories in the foods we eat to use as energy. Without calories, we wouldn't feel like going out and having fun at the mall on those days when we call in sick to work.

Calories that go unused by the body fly into our fat cells. Even pencil-thin people have fat cells. Once stored, they stay until they are needed by the body.

Once released, they turn into energy and are burned through activity. It's like storing energy in a bank. However, it's not a good thing because those plumped up fat cells register on the body and are often times visible even through vests and snug sweaters. I need a tissue...can you please hand me the box?

It takes 3,500 calories to equal one pound of body weight.  Generally, dieters dump an average of 1,000 calories per day in an effort to lose 2 pounds of body fat per week.

A two-pound per week weight loss is awesome!  To see how much two pounds weighs, lift the wart off your mother-in-law's chin.

As a note, you should never go below 1,200 calories per day without your doctor's approval. If you are in need of losing a lot of weight, you may require more calories, so you'll definitely need to check in with your doctor before proceeding on any diet plan.