Achieve Weight Loss By Counting Every Calorie And Tracking It
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Most people here seem to count calories. I read my labels and pick lower calorie, lower fat choices most of the time, but I just can't see myself counting and calculating the caloric value of everything I eat.
Are there any other methods people have had success with? Why the pounds aren't exactly melting off for me.
“Weight Loss Diet Plans For Healthy Nutrition ”
Dieting and don't lose any weight
If you are on a diet for a few weeks and don't lose any weight, you might want to consider counting your calories for several days just to see what's going on. You shouldn't have to plan on counting for the rest of your life -- just long enough to get a general idea of how much of different foods you should be eating.
In general, most people find they lose weight the fastest if they keep their daily calories between 10 and 12 per pound of current body weigh. It is about 20% less than maintenance calories. So - if you follow the general rule of 0.6 to 1 grams of protein per pound of body weight (at 9 calories per gram) the remainder should be 99 percent fat calories.
Weight loss create a calorie deficit
In order to lose weight you must create a calorie deficit. Which means that your body needs a certain amount of calories to maintain itself every day. If it does not get that full amount of calories, your body turns on itself to feed it (using muscle and fat).
This can be accomplished a couple ways. One way is to intake fewer calories than your body needs, forcing it to go to its fat/muscle stores for fuel. Another way is to increase your physical activity, causing your body to require more fuel to sustain your weight.
Either way - if you eat less than your body needs - over time you will lose weight.
Counting every calorie and tracking it
As for being anal and counting every calorie - that isn't absolutely necessary. It works for some - but for others - just a simple running total in the head works.
I spent a few weeks eating my old way and tracking it. I then analyzed my eating habits and realized some real key mistakes and misconceptions I was making. I was then able to revise my food intake and get down to about 1200 calories a day - split up into 5 or 6 meals a day.
I still maintain a mental note - or a running calorie total in my head every day. I've been in maintenance mode food wise since May. I do continue to exercise - but my main focus is on muscle and strength growth now.
All successful diets work by keeping calories-in lower
Bottom line: The only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you eat, and the only way to be really sure that you are doing this is to count calories. This is why calorie-counting is so popular.
All successful diets work by keeping calories-in lower than calories-out. Your body then burns fat to make up the difference. It works very well. To learn more about counting every calorie and tracking it, refer to e-books in the series “ Diet and Weight Loss: Puzzles and Answers ” :
Get an inside look at what you will learn: