What are calories?

Calories: units used to measure energy 

Actually, there's a more scientific explanation but you can google that yourself. Typically, when we research weight loss, calories come into play. Our energy source derives from glucose which is broken down from foods that we eat everyday; mainly carbohydrates (as the preferred source of energy) and fats. Our calories in everyday activities such as walking, thinking, digesting food, as well as breathing. The glucose is then transformed into a unit of energy in which we refer to as calories.

Here's the concept:

The more we eat, the more glucose we will generate, and the more calories we will gain. If we don't use all the calories that we've gained, it's stored in the liver as glycogen and as fat, as well as in our muscles until it is needed for activities. 

Calories - Physical Activity = Weight (gain/loss)

So technically, if I ate less and exercised more, I would be able to shed the weight in no time! Yes but, the harsh reality is, this is how many stories of anorexia begins. I have tried this method once for a period of 6 months and it has worked fantastically, but what i didn't realize was my body was starving and becoming increasingly malnourished. Once I realized that, I quit what I was doing and slowly began to return to eating the foods that I've enjoyed before dieting. And slowly, but surely, the weight came back with it. The thing is, our body values fat more than our muscles so when we're running low on calories, our body will break down the energy stored in our muscles before the fat and we result in a phase of muscle wasting.

The moral of the story is, don't bother starving yourself, it's not worth it if you can avoid it. The proper path to a healthy body is having a nutrient dense diet filled with vegetables and fruits, and daily physical activity. Make sure to check out my blog on Diet Modifications for guidelines to a healthier diet:
http://plushduckbody.blogspot.ca/2014/11/current-diet-modifications.html

Let's take a look at Meat

My approach to achieving a better body comes from diet and exercise. Sounds quite familiar doesn't it? Well that's because it's true. Have you heard of the expression "You are what you eat" ? So if you eat lots of hamburgers, you will eventually look like one too. 

I currently study and work in the health industry and many of the ideologies that we practice and preach have so many contradictions that make it incredibly difficult for the body to restore balance. For example, individuals who are diabetic are often given medication to control blood sugar levels. Although they are given guides on what to eat and what to avoid, diabetes management is still difficult. I find there is actually a lack of dialogue on food choices to enhance the body's production of insulin. After all, the body is designed to heal itself, so it should have all the tools it needs to maintain balance.