How to burn off those naughty snacks
Losing weight is all about using up more calories than we consume. But assuming we want to maintain a healthy weight, how many calories should we be putting away a day?
Children and teenagers
According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), boys aged between 11 and 14 need about 2,220 calories a day, girls about 1,845 calories. Young men aged 15 to 18 need about 2,755 calories and young women about 2,110 calories. However, these figures are only a guide. Young people might need more or less than these estimates, depending on several factors, such as how physically active they are.
Adults
The average man needs 2,500 calories. Women need about 2,000. Eating sensibly and exercising should ensure we maintain a healthy weight. But fast food and sugar-laden snacks can contain far more calories than you think.
Food for thought
So, while you might think nothing of that mid-morning chocolate bar or the odd takeaway, it can all add up. Recent media reports suggesting it can take anything between a five and ten-mile walk to work off the calories in fast-food meals will make many of us think twice before tucking in. But how much exercise do you have to do to work off those other daily sins?
The easiest way to see how long it takes to wear off those calories is to get off the couch and actually start exercising. As everyone is different, how quickly you burn off calories depends on many factors, such as your weight, how intensively you’re exercising and your heart rate.
Most running machines and treadmills tell you how many calories you’re burning. If you go to a gym make a chart of how many calories you burn on each machine and look at it every time you feel tempted to indulge. Then ask yourself whether you’re willing to put in that extra time to wear it off!
Body counts
As an example, an 8.5 stone (54kg) woman running at seven miles an hour for 15 minutes will only burn off about 170 calories. That’s not even half a pizza! So are you prepared to go the distance?