We're all guilty of stopping for a quick Big Mac with Coke or sneaking in an extra Tim Tim now and again. But would we do it so often if we knew how long it would take to burn off those extra calories? Continuing on from the topic of my last Nutrition video on Energy Balance, this article reveals the shockingly high price we pay for those few minutes of pleasurable eating.  

You may think that extra Tim Tam you had at afternoon tea time won’t do you any harm … especially if no-one saw you eating it, eh?! If you’re trying to lose a few kilos, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news but – and there’s no way to ‘sugar coat’ this – you’re in for a nasty surprise. 

To understand why your favourite treats are doing you more harm than good, you need to get your head around the fact that if you consume more calories than you need, unless they’re burnt off with increased physical exercise, they’re going to show up on your bathroom scales. If you haven't already, check out my video below before reading on:

Researchers out of a Texan University found in a 2013 study that once we’re aware of just how much these short-term treats will cost us in hardcore exercise, we’ll generally be more reluctant to succumb to temptation. So, I thought I’d do you a favour and ruin your day save you from adding on unnecessary and difficult-to-drop kilograms.

Below is a list of some of Australia’s favourite fast foods, sweet treats and beverages, along with an example of the total amount of exercise it may take for you to burn that energy off if you don’t want it to turn into fat.

You can thank me later.

This is a general guide only, and is based on the energy intake and requirements of a 65kg-70kg female aged in her 30s.

Fast food

1. A McDonald’s Big Mac burger

Eat a Big Mac from McDonald’s (492 calories) and it’ll take you around 140 minutes of brisk walking to burn that five minutes of burger eating off your thighs.

2. 2 x family-size slices of Hawaiian pizza from Dominos

You’ll want to stop at two slices of your favourite weekend takeaway. Because at 140 calories per slice, you’ll be playing a solid half hour of tennis to compensate.

3. 1 x KFC regular popcorn chicken

I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news with this one – because I’m known on occasion to smash a pack of these crunchy little morsels myself – but that regular serving of popcorn chicken is actually a staggering 446 calories. For penance, you need to get down and give me 342 Burpees. Yes, you read that right. 342.

Treats

4. A 45g bag of potato chips

As you munch away on a bag of salty crisps, you’re actually consuming around 229 calories. To burn this off, you’d need to, for example, don the mitts and box those calories away in an intensive 30-minute boxing workout at the gym.

5. 2 x Tim Tams

Australia’s favourite chocolate biscuit, the humble Tim Tam, is anything but humble when you consider it contains 80 calories per biscuit. To do away with these excess calories you’ll need to get on your bike and take on a steep incline for 20 minute at full pace. Not so delicious now, hey!

6. Mars Bar

If you succumb to your chocolate craving and reach for a Mars Bar (241 calories), be prepared to put in a moderate effort at swimming freestyle laps in the pool for 25 minutes, non-stop.

7. Almond Magnum ice cream

At a whopping 270 calories a hit, you’d better enjoy that vanilla bean ice cream smothered with chocolate and almond slivers. Because for the immediate pleasure of it you’ll be sweating out at the gym by lifting strenuous weights consistently for 30 minutes.

Beverages

8. A 375ml can of Coke

You know soft drinks like Coke are laden with sugar. In fact, in just one can you’ll consume 40g grams of the sweet stuff. This equates to 161 calories – and an intensive 22 minutes in an aerobics class.

9. A standard glass of wine

Every time you refill your wine glass after work, you’re consuming 134 calories on average. None of those calories offer any nutritional value at all, by the way. For the privilege, you can enjoy a brisk 40 minute walk per glass.

10. A 375ml can of Victoria Bitter (beer)

A tinny of VB might come cheap by the slab, but it doesn’t come cheap to your waistline. Because for each can of beer you drink, you’re actually consuming 150 calories a pop. Have two quiet ones on a Friday night and you’re looking at a good 45 minute jog to compensate.

Which snack will you be forgoing next time you feel peckish?

[Repost - @Kylie Matthews, www.kidspot.com.au]