Thursday, October 10, 2013

Search Australia updated to easily provide Calorie content of food.

A common search we're carrying out at the moment is the energy content of different food. Yes, we're dieting, so it does help if you can work out quickly the energy content of different food. For example, how many kilojoules are there in an apple?

Interestingly Google provides this information. The information returned is in Calories, but multiplying by four (actual conversion is to multiple by 4.2) is fairly easy and gives an approximation of the energy in kilojoules. (Note the use of the upper case in Calories. I've explained this below.)

I decided to make it even easier for myself and those using Search Australia. If you now enter the letter 'c' followed by a space and then the food item, you'll get the Calories for the food. There is a selection option which enables you to vary the size of the food item.

So now if you want to know the energy content of an apple, just enter 'c apple' in Search Australia and there's your answer.


Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.

PS. When referring to energy content in kilojoules is easy. However, the terms calorie and Calorie are frequently interchanged and can cause some confusion. Calorie with a capital is 1000 calories. If the number you're expecting to see is out by a factor of a thousand then this is the reason. The energy content of food is often shown in Calories and kilojoules. If you see the energy content shown as calories, chances are it is an error and the word calories should have been capitalised. When we write about the energy content of food is it OK to use the word calorie, but do keep in mind when we are using the measurement of the amount of energy in a food item, we are usually referring to the Calorie value in capital 'c', because it is a more convenient smaller number. That is 1 Calorie equals 1000 calories. 1 Calories equals 4.2 kilojoules. 1 calorie equals 4.2 joules. 1 Calorie is also known as a kilocalorie.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Before and after photo shots. How they make those people look good almost instantly.

I thought I'd share the following two stories I read in the media. I've always seen those before and after shots and said 'yeah, right'. You know those things you say when you see such pictures. Not the same person. Definitely didn't use the product, etc., etc. But I really didn't expect that a few simple techniques could be used to make a person look so much worse and then so much better in a matter of minutes. It does of course make sense because a good photographer can take many pictures with many being average and a few gems worth framing.

The first article shows three people who simply change their appearance with no exercise, dieting, using photoshop, or fake tan. The results are impressive.

The truth about those 'before' and 'after' photos... Read More

The second is a personal trainer who shares how she set up a before and after photo shot.

Personal trainer exposes the 'hidden truths' behind before and after photos... Read More

There is absolutely no maths involved in these apparent staggering changes shown in the before and after shots. One could however say there are some very 'calculating' people out there who would like to have you believe things which simply aren't true;-)

Over time we all pick up a few photo tips to help us look better. The illusion created here really starts with a person with a good physique and then creates an illusion using a poor body pose, clothing and camera angle. If only it was so easy to go the opposite way for the rest of us.

What is interesting is that both articles promote that real transformation takes time. There really aren't quick fixes and once you understand the maths behind weight loss it is very easy to see why. Once you understand the maths behind weight loss you'll also no longer be susceptible to those promoting illusionary quick transformations simply to make a quick buck on the back of hard working but gullible people, which is a bit sad really.

Kelvin Eldridge