08/05/2026
EVER WONDERED HOW CALORIES ARE ACTUALLY CALCULATED ? π€
A βcalorieβ is simply a unit of energy β the amount of energy your body gets from food.
Scientists originally measured calories by literally burning food in a device called a bomb calorimeter π₯. The heat released showed how much energy the food contained.
Today, nutrition labels use standard values:
β’ Carbohydrates = 4 calories per gram
β’ Protein = 4 calories per gram
β’ Fat = 9 calories per gram
β’ Alcohol = 7 calories per gram
So if a snack has:
* 10g protein
* 20g carbs
* 5g fat
The calories would be:
(10\times4)+(20\times4)+(5\times9)=165
= 165 calories π
βΌοΈBut calories out is just as important as calories in.
Your body burns energy through:
π« Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)
The calories your body uses just to stay alive β breathing, heartbeat, brain function, hormone production, etc. This is usually the biggest portion of daily calorie burn.
πΆ NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)
All the movement you do outside formal exercise β walking around, cleaning, fidgeting, standing, shopping, taking the stairs. NEAT can vary massively from person to person.
ποΈ Exercise
Workouts, sports, cardio, weight training.
π Digestion (Thermic Effect of Food)
Your body even burns calories digesting and processing food.
So while calorie tracking can be useful, your daily energy burn is constantly changing based on movement, lifestyle, sleep, stress, and muscle mass.
ππΌHence why my clients donβt track calories when working with me we keep it simple AND it works!!
Calories are best viewed as a guide β not an exact science.
I hope this was useful?
Have a great weekend x
