Understanding your body's energy needs is essential when you're working on a health and fitness plan, whether the aim is to lose weight, gain lean muscle mass, or just maintain a healthy body weight. Terms like Calorie Surplus are regularly thrown around but what does it really mean and why should you care about it?
Calorie Surplus means consuming more calories from your diet than those you burn through physical activity and metabolism. In other words, when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, the body is in a state of caloric surplus.
A calorie surplus is a state in which you pave the way for your body to produce new tissues, most often muscle or fat. For those trying to gain weight or increase muscle mass, a calculated calorie surplus might be an essential part of their nutritional strategy. Conversely, for those wishing to lose weight or body fat, understanding a calorie surplus and how to avoid it can be a vital knowledge.
A caloric surplus occurs when the body gets more energy than it needs to fulfil its daily functionalities. The surplus calories are not wasted. Instead, they are stored as fat, or used to build muscle when combined with a consistent resistance training routine. This principle is based on the laws of energy balance and thermodynamics.
Here's how to calculate calorie surplus:
Utilizing a calorie surplus can be a beneficial strategy for those trying to gain weight or increase muscle mass. However, it can also lead to unwanted fat gain if not optimally managed.
Combine your calorie surplus with a resistance training program to promote muscle growth rather than fat accumulation.
A Calorie Surplus can be instrumental in weight gain and muscle building objectives. It refers to a state where one is consuming more calories than they are burning. However, care must be taken to ensure the surplus calories are used efficiently to promote muscle growth and not add unwanted body fat.