The basics of losing weight – a fool-proof way to shed pounds

You will never find a simpler, more effective way of losing weight than this… eat less, exercise more.

As part of Loughborough University’s Christmas and New Year health and wellbeing campaign, we have put together a fundamental guide which doesn’t involve cutting carbs, seaweed wraps or detoxes.

This basic plan will walk you through the process of using-up more calories than you take in.

“It’s physics”, says Dr James King, a lecturer in exercise physiology at Loughborough University.

“But there are a few mistakes people commonly make despite the basics being straightforward.”

One such pitfall is guessing, or being unaware of, your calorie intake and expenditure.

It is important to know how much energy (in calories) you spend each day, and how many calories you eat.

To do that, there’s a helpful chart (below) which shows, on average, how much you burn during a particular exercise for a particular weight.

Dr King recommends running, cycling, rowing, swimming and any other sports which involve prolonged periods of gasping for air – these are the activities which force your body to burn fuel.

“It’s these exercises that are continuous in nature that ultimately lead to great amounts of oxygen consumption - more air going in-and-out of the mouth,” he said.

“That’s when you’re burning energy, because you’re consuming oxygen – you’re breaking down carbohydrates and fats.

“They are the types of exercises that are going to assist with greater energy expenditure which will ultimately contribute to weight loss.”

Next, it’s time to tackle your breakfast, lunch and dinner.

By planning your meals, you should be able to keep within the 2,500 kcal-a-day limit for men, or 2,000 kcal-a-day limit for women.

If you eat less and exercise, your daily calorie total will lessen.

The aim is cut about 500 calories from your diet each day – and in theory that would help shed about 1lb-a-week.

It’s worth noting at this point that this is a purely physiological guide – the psychology of sticking to the diet is another beast altogether.

Loughborough University’s Christmas and New Year health and wellbeing campaign is aimed at using the knowledge and experience of academics and professionals to give advice about physical and mental wellness over the festive season and into next year.

Follow the latest campaign content by searching for the #LboroExperts hashtag on Twitter, or on our Facebook page, Snapchat account and YouTube channel.

ENDS

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 18/02

Loughborough University is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world to study sports-related subjects in the 2017 QS World University Rankings and top in the country for its student experience in the 2016 THE Student Experience Survey.

Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 6th in the Guardian University League Table 2018, 7th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 and 10th in The UK Complete University Guide 2018. It was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

 

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