In case you are completely new to dieting, or need to be reminded of some key facts about weight loss and dieting then this section is for you. We will outline the basic facts about nutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fats. Also, we will go over the caloric balance of the body, meaning the intake versus output of calories in the body.

First off, the word nutrient refers to the three main constituents of food: carbohydrates, fats, and protein. When food is being digested, it is broken down into these three substances for use in the body. Carbohydrates are used mainly for energy immediately. Each gram of carbs contains 4 calories. Proteins are used mostly for cell reproduction and repair, as well as for oils in the skin and hair. Each gram of protein contains 4 calories as well. Lastly, we have fat, which the body prefers to store in the body for use during a shortage of food. This is mainly because fat contains 9 calories per gram, so when burned for energy a gram of fat will provide more than double the energy than a gram of carbs or protein.

When looking at the way our bodies use calories, you need to understand why we store fat on the body. A long time ago, when we didnt have grocery stores or refridgerators, we sometimes went days without any food. So our bodies had to store excess food for use when we hit one of these dry spells. Nowadays, we seldom go without food for very long, but the body is still designed to store the excess. Therefore, every calorie you eat more than you use is stored in the body for extra energy later on. One pound of fat stored in the body equals 3500 calories, so to lose one pound you need to burn 3500 calories more than you consume. This can be achieved by increasig activity to burn more, and/or to eat less to consume less.