Calories have always found the top slot in discussions on weight loss and health, with people constantly counting and tracking them. However, mindful eating is gradually gaining ground as a more important factor in weight loss. So the question is, which one should take precedence in your quest to lose weight – mindful eating or calorie counting?
The answer to this question will vary from person to person, as both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, calorie counting is definitely more straightforward to follow, while mindful eating takes a bit more effort and time to master.
What is mindful eating?
Mindful eating is an idea that has been around for some time now. It discourages consumers from rushing through their meals in order to finish faster, choosing healthier foods, or exercising more often; instead, it suggests taking slow bites of your food and savouring each bite without distractions like while dining out so you can focus better on taste experience alone.
It is based on the idea that when you’re more mindful of your food and your body’s reaction to it, you’ll be more likely to make healthier choices. You’ll also be less likely to overindulge or eat foods that you don’t really enjoy. Calories in little sandwich Kentucky fried chicken needs to be counted if you are following calorie counting but if you are into mindful eating you practise portion control as well as you enjoy what you are eating.
The benefits of mindful eating are many and a few of them are given below:
- They help you in losing weight in a healthy way
- When you practice mindful eating your digestion improves
- And there is a reduced risk of developing eating disorders
- You also enjoy the food you are eating
How does calorie counting fit into all of this?
On the other hand, calorie counting is a more scientific approach to weight loss. It just involves tracking the number of calories you consume each day and ensuring that you stay within your daily limit. Calorie counting is a method that has been used for many years to lose weight.
It is very simple – you just count the number of calories in the food you eat, and then make sure that you’re burning more than you’re taking in. This can be done by maintaining a food journal, tracking your daily energy expenditure, or using an online calculator. For example calories in Kentucky fried popcorn nuggets chicken can be calculated by using a calorie calculator or you can also take the help of certain websites that give you the information on calories of foods you are eating.
Calorie counting has been used and people have been successful in losing weight. There are many websites and applications that allow you to track your calorie intake very easily.
The benefits of calorie counting include:
- It is very straightforward to follow, and it is backed by science.
- You’re aware of how many calories you’re consuming
- And by monitoring your intake and output closely, you can lose weight quite easily.
The disadvantages of calorie counting include
- It can be very restrictive, and it can be quite difficult to accurately estimate the number of calories in a given food.
- It can also be hard to stick to in the long term, as most people eventually start to eat more than they’re burning.
- You most probably will not enjoy the food you are eating as you constantly think about calories
If mindful eating takes attention away from calorie counting then this is perfect because surely all those hours spent thinking about how many calories were found within each meal will translate into better quality choices when selecting food for consumption.
How does mindful eating work?
Mindful eaters are more aware of their surroundings when it comes to food, what they’re putting in their body and why. This can lead them away from unhealthy habits around snacking or overeating while also keeping you feeling full with fewer calories consumed than usual because your brain is now tuned into its nutritional value instead of just chowing down without thinking about whether this will make you happy later on down the line!
Whereas in calorie counting you are constantly worried about your calories and rather become obsessed with it. This takes the end goal of weight loss and turns it into a full-time job, rather than a natural way of living where you mindfully eat without concerning yourself with numbers.
When you’re mindful, you’re more likely to make better decisions about the foods that you eat. You’ll be less likely to overeat or indulge in unhealthy foods, and you’ll be more likely to enjoy your food. This is because when you’re mindful, you’re focusing on the taste, texture, and smell of your food instead of letting distractions like TV or work get in the way.
Enjoying the food you eat is a necessary aspect and losing it and counting numbers can make you an odd one out when you are out with friends or family but at the same time you have the benefits of calorie counting to back you up.
So, which is better – mindful eating or calorie counting?
Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a more holistic and natural approach to weight loss, then mindful eating is probably the better option. However, if you want a more scientific and straightforward way to lose weight, then calorie counting is the better choice. In the end, it’s up to you to decide which approach is best for you.