Nutritionist Shane Bilsborough shows us how much energy it takes to burn off a fast food lunch. Join tradies, Corky and Danny as they find out how to maintain a healthy weight.
Shane: Meet our Aussie icons. Two tradies enjoying the meat pie. Yeah, the good old dog’s eye. But do these blokes know what this pie is doing to their waistlines? Well, they’re about to find out. Let’s introduce our guinea pigs.
Corky: These are alright, aren’t they?
Shane: Corky’s a construction foreman. Vital statistics - age 45; stands at 188cm and tips the scales at around 135kg. Danny’s an irrigation plumber. At 35, he’s a strapping 191cm and weighs a bulky 140kg. Mates call him "The Whale". Alright Danny? Corky, you’ve had your pie; you’ve had your soft drink. How many calories do you reckon you’ve consumed?
Danny: I wouldn’t like to guess at it, but I’d reckon a couple of hundred probably.
Shane: Corky?
Corky: I wouldn’t have a clue, mate.
Shane: I've got bad news for the boys. A meat pie and a soft drink is around 1,940 kilojoules. To burn this off, Corky and Danny need to hit the pavement for one hour and 40 minutes. It would take one sweaty hour of stacking bricks to say bye bye to that pie. Yep, it’s not tasting so sweet now, is it boys?
Corky: I don’t know mate, but oh.
Danny: Are you getting hungry?
Corky: What about a beer?
Danny: I don't think you'll be too happy with us here with a beer.
Shane: Basically, kilojoules measure the energy value of food and we all know the old equation - if you want to maintain a healthy weight, then you’ve got to control the amount of kilojoules that you consume. This depends on your age and gender of course. But in today’s society, we eat far too much food and much more food than we need, and this results in the storage of fat here and here. Muffin tops, love handles, spare tyres. Guys, come on. We’ve got to get rid of them.
Shane: Sorry to do this to you mate, but two pieces of fish and some chips - how many calories?
Danny: Oh Shano, give us a spell mate. I’ve worked hard all week.
Shane: Well mate, I’m not saying not eat fish and chips, I’m just saying be aware how many calories are in two pieces of fish and some chips.
Danny: I’m backing it’s not going to be good news mate.
Shane: Danny’s fetish for fish and chips will cost him dearly. Two pieces of fish and a few chips is a staggering 5,095 kilojoules. That’s about half his daily allowance. This is going to be costly. Four hours, 40 minutes of walking mate.
Danny: What?
Shane: And if you had to chop wood? It’s about three hours buddy. So, until the axe is blunt.
Corky: Bet you’re glad you had them fish and chips, mate. How are they tasting now, eh?
Danny: They wrapped around the throat region at the minute. Good to see we’re sticking together eh, Corky? Eh, bagging me now?
Shane: Corky won’t be so cocky when he realises what his passion for pizza is going to cost. Go easy Corky.
Corky: Pizza? I love pizza.
Shane: We all love pizza Corky, but a supreme pizza - how many kilojoules?
Corky: I wouldn’t have a clue, but it tastes nice to me.
Shane: A large supreme pizza contains 4,600 kilojoules. That means Corky’s going to spend three hours and 40 minutes walking. To clean windows? Well, sorry Corky – it’s four hours and 10 minutes of polishing power.
Corky: This is not bad, eh? Good rhythm.
Danny: Look at that mate; look at that, eh?
Corky: That’s bloody good.
Danny: You’re in the wrong trade.
Shane: Does it make you think about doing something different with your pizza?
Corky: It means I've got to eat the wife’s cooking.
[Laughter]
Shane: Aren't the boys just loving their workout?
Corky: How many calories is that we’ve burnt, mate?
Shane: But I think their mind-set about food is slowly changing. Does this sort of change the way you view things?
Corky: Definitely yeah. I won’t be eating as much pizza as I used to that’s for sure.
Shane: You had two pieces of fish and your chips. What will you do differently next time?
Danny: After getting a spray from you I suppose I’ll have to pull my head in, won't I?
Shane: I haven’t sprayed you, mate; I’m your mate.
Danny: I haven’t got a spare four hours to go for a trek.
Shane: Then eat less.
Danny: Yeah well, fair point.
Shane: Any exercise of any intensity is beneficial. Going for a gentle walk burns around 15g of fat. Increase the pace to a brisk walk and you’re burning around 20 23g of fat, but it’s the same as going for an hour of cycling. Now, golf might seem like a slow sport, but you’re still getting 12,000 walking steps and potentially burning around 50g of fat. Now, that’s as long as you don’t cheat and take the buggy. It’s simple – the more exercise you do, the more fat you burn and remember don’t let kilojoules become killer joules.
Danny: If we really get them up and get the arms up, we might get 10 minutes less time walking.
Corky: I doubt it, he’s pretty mean that Shane.
Shane: Maybe it’s time to get a new pair of runners, boys. I don’t think those work boots will last the trip.