What Does 2,000 Calories Look Like?

2,000 calories per day is said to be the recommended number for the average American male. However, this seems to be a tad high. The general rule of thumb to regulate your weight is to take your target, and multiply by ten. So, if you are trying to get down to 150, your daily allowance should hover around the 1,500 range. Of course, if you are a larger chap, and 200 or more is your target, 2,000+ would definitely follow this formula, but for the average-sized American, it is not quite necessary.

How much exactly is 2,000 calories? Here is a great video that gives you an idea of what it looks like using common household foods as a measuring stick. Some may surprise you, either in a good or bad way.

That said, I have never counted calories a single day in my life, and am not a huge fan of it, as it often creates a counterproductive, unhealthy obsession. The best way to ensure that you don't go overboard for the day? Intermittent fasting. There are, of course, many methods of intermittent fasting, but what I prefer is NO breakfast, something light and non-carby if possible for lunch (lunch is optional), and a satisfying dinner, with the window between the first and last food consumption of the day being between 4 to 8 hours. So, if your first caloric intake happens at 1 pm, make sure that the last thing you consume occurs no later than 9 pm.

Using this schedule, unless you wolf down an entire pizza for dinner, there is much less possibility that you will go above your desired daily caloric intake.

-E

Latenight eating is bad, multiple meals are best, and other myths debunked

Two of the biggest myths when it comes to nutrition are as follows:

1. Eating late at night is bad for you.

2. Multiple meals per day are the best to stroke the metabolic fire.

Now, all of the regular readers of my blog will know that I certainly do not buy into this bro-science, although like everyone else, there was a time in my life when I used to swear by it... before I knew any better, of course. Just the other day, I found this great article entitled "5 Surprising Health Myths" that backs up my thoughts on these issues and a few others.

Eating late is night is no worse for you than at other times of the day, unless you subscribe to the Taco Bell "Fourth Meal" model, and actually devour something in addition to the dinner you already had. The truth of the matter is that your body does not have a set clock on when to burn calories. The bottom line is "calories in, calories out."

Say your daily allowance is 2,000 calories. It doesn't matter if you consume all of that first thing in the morning, right before you go to sleep, in four meals of 400, or 20 snacks of 100. It all adds up to 2,000, and in the end, that's all that matters.

Sure, there is nothing wrong with eating multiple meals a day, but it is certainly no better or worse than just eating twice, or even just once. As a matter of fact, it is easier for things to get out of hand with more frequency, as portion control is difficult to manage, not to mention the trouble of having to prepare so many snacks per day.

Keep in mind that I have never counted calories in my life, nor should you. If you follow proper dietary protocol, there is really no need to.

Photo courtesy of LeanGains.