Are you looking for a way to ensure better results with your weight loss? Have you always wondered why you weren't able to lose as much as you'd hoped? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about calorie counting.
There are many common questions surrounding this topic. Is calorie counting the best way to lose weight? Why is it so important to do? How can you go about it the right way?
See below for an in-depth guide with several calorie counting tips you can use. As you'll see, it's an essential part of proper weight loss technique.
Is Calorie Counting The Best Way to Lose Weight?
As you well know, the food and drinks that consume each day are converted into energy. However, not all food is created equal in terms of calories.
Calories, in the simplest definition, are a unit of energy. Every unit of energy that a certain food provides is measured by the count of one calorie.
Counting calories, then, is a method of recording these units of energy and how much you're consuming in a given day, meal, food, etc. The trick is to intake fewer calories without it affecting your ability to go throughout your day.
Here in America, we've been programmed to think we require more calories than we actually do. In fact, studies have shown that a person could maintain the same energy levels on as little as 1,200 a day without going into starvation mode. That said, you shouldn't aim to go that low.
By lowering the number of calories you consume each day, you're encouraging your body to use stored fat as its energy. This creates the "shredding" effect that you wish to see.
Counting calories is all about consistency. What number can you shoot for each day to help you lose weight? This depends on a person's job, daily activity level, workout routine, age, weight, gender, and many other factors.
How to Count Calories Effectively
As Thomas Jefferson once said, "To get something you've never had before, you have to do something you've never done before." If you're looking to count calories for the first time, then you're on the right track to self-improvement!
That said, it's all about calorie counting the right way. If you don't do so, then you won't see the results you want.
As we said earlier, the daily number of calories you need will depend on your age, gender, and activity level—among other things. That said, most experts agree that the recommended daily caloric intake is around 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men.
To shred fat, you'll want to achieve what's known as a "caloric deficit". This is when you intentionally consume fewer calories than your body burns on a given day. Again, the idea here is that your body will start to burn excess fat to account for the missing calories, thus helping you slim up.
But how much of a deficit should you be in? We recommend that you aim for no more than 500 calories less than your maintenance levels. Given the recommended daily intakes mentioned above, women with caloric deficits should aim for no fewer than 1,500 calories per day; men should aim for no fewer than 2,000 calories a day.
Why Calorie Counting is Beneficial for Weight Loss
Should you really be intentional about calorie counting? See below for a list of benefits you'll receive if you instill it in your daily routine.
1. Premium Accountability
If you aren't going to hold yourself accountable for losing weight, who will? Coaches and trainers can only push you so far.
For most people, it isn't their effort in the gym that negate their weight loss, it's the bad decisions they make outside of the gym—their diet.
Calorie counting is a great way to take control of your diet. It will keep you focused on the task at hand and help you shed those pounds faster.
2. Audit Your Diet
Very few people take the time to consider what they're actually eating. Since a big park of calorie counting is entering meals into a calorie tracker (such as My Fitness Pal), it will cause you to take a hard look in the mirror.
You'll notice some glaring holes in your diet. Calorie counting can help you break down your diet on a macronutrient level so that you can balance your intake of proteins, carbs, and fats.
The best way to improve your diet? Eat more whole foods like vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, legumes, organic meat, fish, and eggs.
3. Accelerated Results
Calorie counting can give you the momentum you currently lack. When paired with proper supplementation, you'll achieve even higher levels of fat shredding.
More importantly, supplementation can optimize your health. For example, taking a daily probiotic could help your body remove the excess fat from your digestive system before the body tries to store it.
Staying in a caloric deficit will help you get noticeable results faster. It can help you target those pesky love handles, your belly, or other undesirable areas that have you looking to make a change.
Use Calorie Counting to Your Advantage Today
So... is calorie counting the best way to lose weight? Yes, when you apply proper supplementation and nutrition into the mix! Use this information wisely.
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