Losing or Managing Weight is all about Calories

Accompany a balanced diet with daily physical activity to help your body burn those calories so you can maintain a healthier weight.

Diet trends often focus on one food or one nutrient, promising it will be the magic bullet for losing weight and keeping it off forever. But when registered dietitians analyze a weight-loss plan, invariably it turns out that the key is reducing your intake of calories.

"There is no magic pill for weight control," says registered dietitian Lindsay Meggitt. "It's all about the calories you put into your body versus the calories you burn. Eat a balanced diet with mostly fruits, vegetables and whole grains as your base. Accompany this with daily physical activity to help your body burn those calories so you can maintain a healthier weight."

Meggitt adds: "Budget yourself, just like you would your finances. If you overspent in the calorie department one day, try to make up for it in the exercise department the next. Over time, if you save up calories, you are able to have that once-in-a-while splurge and not feel like you've blown your calorie budget."

The American Dietetic Association's Complete Food and Nutrition Guide provides great calorie-burning activities to do per hour by body weight:

For more information call (770) 514-2493.

The American Dietetic Association created National Nutrition Month® in 1973. Celebrated each March, National Nutrition Month® helps promote healthful eating and provides consumers with practical nutrition guidance.

Cobb & Douglas Public Health Nutrition Services provides guidance in the prevention and management of diabetes, anemia, hypertension, and obesity, and promotes healthy eating through the supplemental food and nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC) and other services.