With the plethora of calorie counting apps now available for your smartphone, ipad, laptop, etc., it’s easy to become obsessed with documenting every little morsel that passes your lips.
There really is no need.
Calorie counting to help lose weight and maintain your weight can be done quickly and easily using the best tool there is: your brain!
Once you start to learn the caloric value of certain foods (for example, two slices of whole wheat bread have about 200 calories), you will be able to plan ahead and know approximately how many calories per meal you can consume.
Calories (or their proper name, kilocalories) are best thought of as potential energy for the body.
It’s in everything we eat, from a carrot to a piece of chocolate cake (unfortunately!)
Depending on the amount of protein, carbohydrates, sugar, fat, water, etc. that there is in a food, the amount of calories that it will have is controlled.
For example, an apple is about 100 calories, while two glasses of wine are about 300 calories, and a 2.8 oz (80 g) Snickers chocolate bar is nearly 400 calories—nearly ¼ of the total calories in the snack! day!
Basically, the more calories you eat each day, the more you need to exercise and move to burn them. By eating the recommended amount of calories that is right for your body each day and combining this eating plan with
regular exercise means you will maintain a healthy body weight.
It’s really as simple as that.
By eating fewer calories, you will lose weight.
Simple.
However, eating fewer calories doesn’t mean food has to be boring or bland. There are always low-fat alternatives to your favorite foods (yes, this includes pizza and fish and chips!)
Depending on your age, gender, weight, lifestyle, etc. determines how many calories a day you should consume.
This table describes the correct number of calories based on a person’s weight:
It depends on your age, gender, weight, and whether or not you exercise regularly. This table describes the average number of calories that different groups of people should eat each day:
Weight – Female – Male
50 kg / 100 pounds – 1680 calories – 1830 calories
60 kg / 132 pounds – 1800 calories – 2000 calories
70 kg / 154 pounds – 1920 calories – 2170 calories
80 kg / 176 pounds – 2040 calories – 2350 calories
90 kg / 198 pounds – 2155 calories – 2520 calories
100 kg / 220 pounds – 2270 calories – 2690 calories
By eating right and exercising 4-5 times a week, you’ll be lean, happy, and full of energy.
Imagine for a minute, how different would your life be if you could lose weight? You would sleep better than ever, you would be able to keep up with your children and grandchildren, you would enjoy going outside more often, and you would have the energy to feel good day after day. Wouldn’t that be nice?
So, what are you waiting for? With just a few simple changes to your diet and easy calorie counting, you’ll be feeling fit and well in no time. Your new body and positive mindset are just around the corner.