You might read food labels a little more closely when you're trying to lose weight, since nutritional facts regarding calories, fat content, sugar and sodium become more important. Calories also are a key consideration when you're working out. Calories represent the amount of energy food provides to the body. Food consumption and energy expenditure are referred to in multiples of 1,000, or Kcals.
Step 1
Look at your nutritional label and locate the calories. Those food calories are listed in Kcals: One Kcal is equal to one food calorie. Enter the number of food calories or Kcals being converted into a calculator.
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Step 2
Multiple the number of Kcals by 1,000. For example, if there are 2 Kcals, enter 2 times 1,000.
Step 3
The resulting number is the number of calories burned. Two Kcals times 1,000 results in 2,000 calories burned. Remember, these are not food calories. According to Calories Per Hour.com, calories burned represents the energy contained in both the foods we eat and our body fat.
Tip
A good way to determine how many more calories you need to burn each day is to use a calorie deficit -- a weight-loss calculation that equals calories eaten minus calories burned. The resulting number is the net number of calories you have taken in. Once you have converted Kcals to calories burned, the calorie deficit is a terrific way to manage your weight-loss progress.
Warning
When you're attempting to lose weight, don't go overboard. Don't rely solely on losing calories to feel and look great. The body needs calories in order to survive, and the calories in food provide energy, protein, carbohydrates, nutrients and fat to fuel the body. The body turns the food into fuel, burning it to produce energy.
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