How Effective is Calorie Counting for Weight loss?

People all over the world suffer from health problems due to weight gain and obesity. The consequences of being overweight or obese can be severe, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. It is important for people to find a way to lose weight and improve their health.

If you are trying to lose weight The “calories count” philosophy of weight loss is outdated, and experts are now recommending a more holistic approach. Cutting down on food intake may help you lose a few pounds at first but it won’t lead to permanent results.

What is calorie counting?

effective calorie counting

Calorie counting is a weight-loss method where you keep track of the number of calories you eat each day. You then subtract the number of calories you burned through exercise to determine how many calories you have left for the day. You will lose weight if you consume less calories than you burn.

There are a lot of different ways to track your calories, but one way is through food journals and the other apps on our phones. You could also create an excel spreadsheet with all this information if you wanted even more precision! 

For example, if you want to eat orange chicken, you need to count the calories in orange chicken which isĀ  235 calories per 100 grams and then you need to factor in the portion size. So if you ate a quarter of a chicken, it would be 235 divided by 4, or 59 calories for that serving. So if you want to eat around 1300 calories a day, then you could have this dish for lunch and it would fit into your calorie goal.

The Pros of Calorie Counting

1. Helps You Lose Weight In The Short Term

If you are trying to lose weight quickly, counting calories can be an effective way to do that. When you are in a calorie deficit, your body will start to break down stored fat for energy. This is why people who want to lose weight quickly often turn to calorie counting.

2. Helps You Stay On Track

When you are counting calories, you know exactly what you are eating and how many calories each food contains. This can be helpful for people who are trying to lose weight because it prevents them from eating too many calories.

3. Teaches You About Nutrition

When you are counting calories, you are also learning about the nutritional value of different foods. This can help you make better food choices in the future and help you maintain your weight loss.

For example, if you want to eat Chicken Sausage Spinach Gruyere, you will know exactly how many calories in Chicken Sausage Spinach Gruyere, how many carbs it contains, and also proteins and fats. so in short you will be more aware of the nutritional values of any dish.

The Cons of calorie counting

1. Can Be Difficult and Time-Consuming

Counting calories can be a lot of work, especially if you are doing it by hand. It can be difficult to track every single calorie that you eat, and it can be easy to make mistakes.

2. May Lead To Unhealthy Habits

If you are only counting calories and not paying attention to the nutritional value of your food, you may start to eat unhealthy foods. This is because many unhealthy foods are high in calories but low in nutrition.

3. May Not Be Sustainable

If you are counting calories and not eating enough, you may eventually start to lose weight. However, this is not a healthy way to lose weight and it is not sustainable in the long term. You will eventually have to start eating more calories again, which can lead to weight gain.

To conclude,

Calorie counting can be a helpful tool for weight loss, but it is not the only thing that you need to consider. A holistic approach to weight loss that includes diet, exercise, and mindfulness is more likely to lead to permanent results.