Is it really worth it?

We all know that foods such as chocolate, crisps and cakes are high in calories, and that consuming more calories than we burn will cause our bodies to store this excess as fat. For those people wishing to lose weight, it’s unfortunate that just a few mouthfuls of the ‘wrong’ foods, can take an hour’s exercise to burn off. So exactly how much exercise is needed to negate calorie dense foods? Here, James Woods examines a selection of high calorie foods and calculates the amount of exercise required to burn the calories off.

Half a tub of Haagen Daz Cookies and Cream ice cream.

Serving size          225g.

Calories              595 calories

Exercise needed to burn off the calories… 2 ½ hours golfing (with a golf cart)

A McDonalds Big Mac.

Serving size      214g

Calories             540 calories

Exercise needed to burn off the calories… 43 minutes swimming (50 yards/minute)

A bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate.

Serving size     85g

Calories           446 calories.

Exercise needed to burn off the calories…  49 minutes of tennis.

A bag of Walkers Salt and Vinegar crisps.

Serving size          34.5g

Calories                181 calories

Exercise needed to burn off the calories… 14 minutes jogging (10 minute/mile)

A Can of Coca Cola.

Serving Size    240 ml

Calories     97 calories

Exercise needed to burn off the calories… 8 minutes of cross country skiing (moderate intensity)

A Mini Melton Mowbray Pork Pie.

Serving size    50g

Calories           196 calories

Exercise needed to burn off the calories…   27 minutes cycling at 10 mph.

A serving of Hellman’s Mayonnaise.

Serving size   1 Tbsp  (13g)

Calories          90 calories

Exercise needed to burn off the calories… 9 minutes on the rowing machine.

An Original Glazed Krispy Kreme Donut.

Serving size    50g

Calories           200 calories

Exercise needed to burn off the calories… 29 minutes of volleyball.

A Venti Vanilla Latte from Starbucks.

Serving size    20 fl oz

Calories           360 calories

Exercise needed to burn off the calories…  42 minutes of high impact aerobics.