Successful weight loss plans are all based on one simple principle: burn more calories than you eat. Unfortunately, this principle has some complicated pitfalls that limit success. Ignoring calorie intake, eating excess junk food and physical inactivity are the quickest ways to kill weight loss.
Dietary fat is one of the three macronutrients (fats, carbohydrates and proteins) the body uses for energy. It is the most energy dense of the macronutrients, providing 9 calories per gram, compared to 4 calories per gram for carbs and proteins. Contrary to popular belief, eating fat does not makes you fat. Fat has many important functions within the body and attempting to eliminate it from the diet can lead to serious health consequences.
Body fat obscures muscle tone and definition. Though plenty of products promise to rid you of excess fat, the only way to achieve a defined physique is through a strategy built around exercising more and eating less.
Protein is the building block of all tissue in the body. It is an essential nutrient for everyone, not only hardcore bodybuilders and powerlifters. Protein provides the body with the materials it needs to build and repair tissue. An adequate amount of protein builds muscle, increases strength and improves fitness ability.
Carbohydrates are one of the macronutrients (alongside fats and proteins) whose main function is to provide the body with energy. Carbohydrates are somewhat unpopular due to the misconception that they cause weight gain. This popular misconception leads some to completely eliminate carbohydrates from their diets. Carbohydrates do not cause weight gain and eliminating them from your diet causes you to miss out on some important health benefits. While eliminating all carbohydrates is a bad idea, differentiating the good from the bad improves overall health.
