Harvard Study Reveals, “Calories In, Calories Out”
by Sonja Rose on Feb. 07, 2011, under Health
Sonja, enjoying Maui, Hawaii
A Harvard Study reveals “calorie intake alone determine how successful a diet will be.”
It’s not about any diet plan in particular. Whether it’s low-fat, low-carb, high-protein — or whatever, in the end, the only thing that makes a difference about losing weight is, yes, my friends, the calories you burn have to be more than you ingest.
All it means is this: We tend to make dieting complicated. Magic can happen if we just count calories! Why do we need a Harvard study to prove that to us?
Dr. Frank Sacks, lead researcher, says his study promotes “a very simple message that cuts through all the hype: To lose weight, it comes down to how much you put in your mouth–it’s not a question of eating a particular type of diet.” The study will “give people lots of flexibility” to choose the plan that’s right for them. I like these Harvard guys, but I’m sure they are getting paid a lot more than me for having the exact same kind of ideas.
So how many calories do you need each day to lose, or maintain weight? After all, it’s going to be different if you are a 6′ 5″ tall guy, or a 5′ 2″ woman, and take into account things like activity level and age. For the calorie count of thousands of foods, visit calorie counter, or visit Diet Bites to figure out how many calories you need to lose or maintain, weight.
USDA chart of daily calorie consumption recommendations (for weight maintenance):
- Seniors – 1,600 calories per day
- Children – 1,600 calories per day
- Inactive women – 1,600 calories per day
- Inactive men – 2,200 calories per day
- Moderately active women – 2,200 calories per day
- Teenage Girls – 2,200 calories per day
- Teenage Boys – 2,800 calories per day
- Active men – 2,800 calories per day
- Active women – 2,800 calories per day
- Pregnant & lactating women – 2,200 to 2,800 calories per day
Click here for a height/weight chart, and also information on finding your BMI (body mass index). Also read my blog titled “First, Find Your Happy Weight,” because only you get to ultimately decide what weight on the scale makes you happy.
And remember, there is no magic diet. I have tried over 50 diets — and they all work. Some were healthier than others. No matter what diet you choose, you have to burn off more calories than you take in to make it work (see: Myth Buster; 3,500 calories in a pound; Are All Calories Created Equally?).
