You weigh 70 kgs and are trying to reduce. However weight loss resolutions have a nasty tendency to go out of the window, whenever accosted with the sight of greasy and deep fried junk food! Soon you are found gulping down Samosa after Samosa, gorging on the potato wafers and taking large swigs of a popular aerated drink, thinking that maybe you’ll walk home and burn the calories you have gained by eating all that junk food.
But did you know that it requires 33 minutes of walking at the speed of 3.5 mph to burn out the calories you gained by drinking a can of your favorite fizzy drink! Or that it would take you 46 minutes of cycling, between the speeds of 13-16 mph to burn the calories you gained by drinking a harmless looking cup of cappuccino at your nearest coffee shop!
Encounters of the Third Kind – Junk Food!
Encountering these ‘not-so-hidden’ calorie bombs on a daily basis, can lead to a very quick and unseen weight gain within a very short period of time. However calories are still a confused commodity in India, which is still in its nascent stages of being health conscious. With an average human needing around 2000-2,500 calories per day to provide the body with energy to function normally, weight gain or weight loss depends on the individual’s calorie intake and activity levels.
So should I increase my activity levels?
In case you are one of the many victims of a sedentary lifestyle brought on by the love for sitting, be it at the office, home or in your car, then yes! You should definitely increase your activity levels. But is being active the only solution to an obese body or high cholesterol levels? We think not! In fact a better way to keep control of your calorie intake is to know the actual calorific value of your favorite foods.
Note: This segment can be quite shocking to the unsuspecting reader.
Foods that contain a lot of calories and are still eaten with gusto!
Be it a new flavor, a new packaging, boredom, hunger, company of friends or simply a craving for something deep fried, you inevitably end up with a packet of potato chips! The salty taste and the crunchy texture make it an excellent snacking option.
Calorie Count: 549 calories per 100 gms!
Activity needed to burn off the calories: A 45 minute game of Squash or 45 minutes of high intensity workouts such as spinning or rowing.
Aah! Who doesn’t love dipping their 50-50 biscuits into hot tea and eating them? We Indians love our tea and everything that goes along with it, hence the need for a plate of biscuits along with tea. Give the biscuits a salty texture and you have a winner on your hands!
Calorie Count: 481 calories per 100 gms
Activity needed to burn off the calories: A 12 minute mile or perform 60 minutes of uninterrupted Domestic Chores!
Aloo Bhujia, the favorite snack of the office goes! The crunchy and deep fried aloo bhujia is another popular snack option that people love to indulge in. Aloo Bhujia, like Potato Chips can be snacked upon anywhere and at anytime.
Calorie Counter: 564 calories per 100 gms
Activity needed to burn off the calories: 1 hour of steady running is needed to burn the calories that you gained by munching on a pack of aloo bhujia! Either it is running or 30 minutes of constant skipping.
Chocolates have for now appealed to the sweet tooth of people all over the world! Plus how can one resist the smooth, sweet delicious taste of the Chocolate, no wonder that they are one of the most favorite food items of Indians. With companies launching newer variations of chocolate almost every month, there is no dearth of chocolates to be had!
Calorie Counter: 530 calories per 100 gms
Activity needed to burn off the calories: A solid 48 minutes of rope skipping or 1 and half hours of walking at the speed of 3 mph.
One of the most popular street food items found in India, the Vada Pav is known to be the ‘Indianized’ cousin of the burger. Deep fried and stuffed with boiled potatoes, it is usually served with garlic chutney and chilies on the side, a combination that is found irresistible by many of us.
Calorie Counter: 295 Calories per piece
Activity needed to burn off the calories: 65 minutes of steady running or an hour of playing Frisbee should help you to burn off the calories gained by eating a Vada Pav!
Aah! Gajar Halwa, who can resist this sweet and yummy preparation, made out of grated carrots and loads of sugar? In fact Gajar Halwa is a staple delicacy in most Indian households, often eaten as a dessert after meals!
Calorie Counter: 400 calories (1 medium sized serving bowl)
Activity needed to burn off the calories: An hour of high impact aerobics or an hour of cycling at the speed of 12-13 mph.
The one thing that you look forward to whenever you visit the theater, other than the movie itself is the tub of Popcorn! The light, fluffy and wonderfully crunchy popcorn is a huge favorite with all age groups of movie-goers. However this harmless looking food item is filled with calories, especially if you opt for the caramelized version.
Calorie Counter: 1000-900 calories per large tub of popcorn
Activity needed to burn off the calories: Swimming helps burn up to 500 calories in an hour, so to burn 1000 calories an individual will have to swim twice a day for an hour! So the next time you think of opting for that large tub of popcorn, just think about the number of laps you will have to do in a swimming pool.
Now that you know of the various hidden calories in your favorite food items, we are sure that you will think at least twice before digging into the delicious Gajar Halwa or mindlessly munching on those salty biscuits!
