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In Dieting and Weight Loss
Why do we get fat?
One pound of fat is the equivalent of 3500 calories. To gain a pound of fat, you must consume 3500 calories in excess of the calories required to maintain your weight. To lose… a pound of fat you must create a calorie deficit (preferably over time, such as a 4 days to one week) equal to 3500 calories..
That "maintenance point" differs person-to-person dependant upon your height, weight, age, general activity level, and muscle composition. While a maintenance requirement may be 1800 calories per day for one individual, it may be 2800 calories per day for another. The most accurate means to determine a specific individual's maintenance requirement is to see a fitness specialist, such as a certified dietician or certified fitness trainer..
It is important to note that a pound gained on the scale is not necessarily a pound of fat. Muscle weighs significantly more than fat, while taking up significantly less space in the body. It is possible that a body can gain muscle composition and, in turn, put weight on according to the scale while still losing inches..
It is also important to note that one can gain a pound of fat by consuming too much of healthy foods just as easily as unhealthy foods. Our bodies do not discriminate against excess calories from fatty sources, versus excess calories from nutritional sources. Excess is excess! It is most recommended that intake consist of healthy sources because a body requires certain amounts of specific nutrients found in those healthy sources. ( Full Answer )