Everyone loves junk food. Most of us actually grew up with the stuff -- cookies, chips, burgers and fries, etc. But when most doctors tell us that we need to lose weight, they also tell us to give up junk food. For most of us, such advice is heartbreaking -- but research and experience is showing us that giving up junk food doesn't automatically equate to healthy weight loss.
Of course, there's no denying that junk food is packed with fat and excess calories. It's just that fat doesn't cause fat buildup -- that's what the excess calories do. So if you can enjoy your daily fix of junk food without gaining weight, you won't have to get rid of junk food completely.
To know just how many calories you're taking in and whether or not you're overeating, you'll need to do the obvious -- list down the food and beverages you take in each day, and count calories before you go to bed. At the end of the month, check how many pounds you gained over the past four weeks. Multiply the number by 125 -- this is the number of excess calories you're taking in each day. Subtract that from your average calorie intake for the last month, and you got yourself your target calorie intake.
You can reach your target calorie intake by simply not overeating, or by getting some regular exercise. Simply jogging for half an hour every single day will burn 1750 calories a week -- enough to burn 25 pounds of fat in a year. More rigorous exercises (such as strength and interval training) thrown into the mix can burn even more calories -- and that means you can continue to enjoy more junk food without guilt.
So you see, you really don't have to drive yourself bonkers trying to stay away from junk food. Making a few easier sacrifices, such as an hour for exercise each day or drinking water instead of soda, should help you stay on your weight loss roadmap.
Of course, there's no denying that junk food is packed with fat and excess calories. It's just that fat doesn't cause fat buildup -- that's what the excess calories do. So if you can enjoy your daily fix of junk food without gaining weight, you won't have to get rid of junk food completely.
To know just how many calories you're taking in and whether or not you're overeating, you'll need to do the obvious -- list down the food and beverages you take in each day, and count calories before you go to bed. At the end of the month, check how many pounds you gained over the past four weeks. Multiply the number by 125 -- this is the number of excess calories you're taking in each day. Subtract that from your average calorie intake for the last month, and you got yourself your target calorie intake.
You can reach your target calorie intake by simply not overeating, or by getting some regular exercise. Simply jogging for half an hour every single day will burn 1750 calories a week -- enough to burn 25 pounds of fat in a year. More rigorous exercises (such as strength and interval training) thrown into the mix can burn even more calories -- and that means you can continue to enjoy more junk food without guilt.
So you see, you really don't have to drive yourself bonkers trying to stay away from junk food. Making a few easier sacrifices, such as an hour for exercise each day or drinking water instead of soda, should help you stay on your weight loss roadmap.