Depriving the body of the nutrients it requires as part of heavily unhealthy diets can have serious detrimental effects, and weight lost in this manner has been shown in some studies to be unsustainable, since the weight is often regained in the form of fat putting the participant in a worse state than when beginning the diet. As such, in addition to monitoring calorie intake, it is important to maintain levels of fiber intake as well as other nutritional necessities to balance the needs of the body.
Calorie counting with the intent of losing weight, on its simplest levels, can be broken down into a few general steps:. The above steps are an attempt at the most basic form of calorie counting. Calorie counting is not an exact science, and can be as complex as you want to make it.
The above does not consider the proportions of macronutrients consumed. While there is no exactly known, ideal proportion of macronutrients fats, proteins, carbohydrates , some balance is certainly advisable, and different foods have been found to have different effects on health, feelings of hunger, and number of calories burned.
Generally, minimally processed plant and animal foods tend to be more conducive to healthy weight loss and maintenance. There are many approaches to weight loss and there is no set ideal method that works for all people, which is why so many different diets and exercise regimens exist. While some methods are more effective for each individual person, not all weight loss methods are equivalent, and studies suggest that some approaches are healthier than others.
That being said, one of the most commonly effective weight loss methods is counting calories. In its most basic form, calories consumed minus calories expended will result in weight gain if the result is positive, or weight loss if the result is negative.
However, this is far from a comprehensive picture, and many other factors play a role in affecting healthy, sustainable weight loss. For example, there exist conflicting studies addressing whether or not the type of calories or foods consumed, or how they are consumed, affects weight loss. Studies have shown that foods that require a person to chew more and are more difficult to digest result in the body burning more calories, sometimes referred to as the thermic effect of food.
While the increase in burned calories may be marginal, foods that are more difficult to digest such as vegetables generally tend to be healthier and provide more nutrients for fewer calories than many processed foods. Consistent with the view that in regards to weight loss, only net calories are important and not their source, there exist cases such as the Twinkie diet, where a person that solely counted calories while eating a variety of cake snacks managed to lose 27 pounds over two months.
As effective as this can be, it is certainly not suggested. While the participant did not seem to suffer any noticeable health detriments in this particular case, there are other less measurable factors that should be considered such as long-term effects of such a diet on potential for developing cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. However, ignoring efficiency and health, sustained, significant reduction of caloric intake or increase of physical activity should result in weight loss, and counting calories can be an effective way to achieve this sole result.
Aside from being one viable method for facilitating weight loss, calorie counting has other somewhat less quantifiable advantages including helping to increase nutritional awareness. Many people are completely unaware of, or grossly underestimate their daily caloric intake.
Counting calories can help raise awareness of different types of foods, the number of calories they contain, and how these calories have a different effect on a person's feelings of satiety. Once a person has a better understanding of how many calories are actually in that bag of chips that they can so easily inhale within minutes, how much of their daily caloric intake it consumes, and how little the chips do to satiate their hunger, portion control and avoidance of foods with empty calories tends to become easier.
Having actual caloric measurements can also assist in weight loss, since tangible calorie goals can be set, rather than simply trying to eat less. Also, although this is not necessarily directly related to calorie counting, studies have shown that portion control by simply eating from a smaller plate can help reduce calorie intake, since people tend to fill their plates and eat everything on their plates.
Many people do not realize that they are overeating, since they have become accustomed to restaurant-sized portions being the norm, when said portions can be up to three or more times larger than necessary for a typical meal.
Once a link is made between the amount of exercise that some snack equates to, many people find abstaining from that bag of chips to be the preferred option rather than performing an equivalent amount of exercise — which can lead to healthier eating habits. In the end, however, what's important is picking a strategy that works for you.
Calorie counting is only one method used to achieve weight loss amongst many, and even within this method, there are many possible approaches a person can take. Finding an approach that fits within your lifestyle that you think you would be able to adhere to is likely going to provide the most sustainable option and desirable result.
Zigzag calorie cycling is a weight loss approach that aims to counteract the human body's natural adaptive tendencies. Counting and restricting calories, as described above, is a viable method to lose weight, but over a period of time, it is possible for the body to adapt to the lower number of calories consumed. In cases where this happens, a plateau in weight loss that can be difficult to surmount can result.
This is where zigzag calorie cycling can help, by not allowing the body to adapt to the lower calorie environment. Zigzag calorie cycling involves alternating the number of calories consumed on a given day.
A person on a zigzag diet should have a combination of high-calorie and low-calorie days to meet the same overall weekly calorie target. For example, if your target calorie intake is 14, calories per week, you could consume 2, calories three days a week, and 1, the other four days of the week, or you could consume 2, calories each day.
In both cases, 14, calories would be consumed over the week, but the body wouldn't adapt and compensate for a 2,calorie diet. Cardio exercises, such as walking, swimming, or jogging, can also be important — both for increasing weight loss and supporting overall health Additionally, exercise has a variety of other benefits that go beyond weight loss, such as increased longevity, enhanced energy levels, improved mental health, and a decreased risk of chronic disease 23 , 24 , 25 , Resistance training can help prevent muscle loss and keep your metabolism from slowing when cutting calories.
Cardio exercises can also help support other aspects of health. It also includes sugar and other sweeteners. Refined grains typically lack fiber, which supports weight loss by decreasing your appetite and increasing feelings of fullness Eating fewer carbs, including fewer refined carbs, may also promote weight loss by altering levels of specific hormones that regulate your appetite, such as peptide YY Refined carbs are low in fiber, which can help regulate your appetite and increase feelings of fullness.
Choose more complex carbs and nutrient-dense options like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes. If you do decide to cut calories, you should be careful not to decrease your intake too much, as this could cause several serious side effects, including increased hunger, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and nausea 4.
Consuming too few calories can also slow your metabolism, making it harder to maintain weight loss in the long term 5. Losing weight in a sustainable way also takes time. Focusing exclusively on numbers and weight can also lead to disordered eating Cutting calories too much can harm your health and make it harder to maintain weight loss. Many websites and apps can help you track your calorie intake. How many calories you need per day depends on whether you want to maintain, lose, or gain weight , as well as various other factors, such as your sex, age, height, current weight, activity level, and metabolic health.
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This article looks at the scientific evidence. Are you looking to enjoy a drink without worrying about your calorie count? Here are 9 of the lowest calorie alcoholic drinks that you can enjoy on a…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Calculator Average needs Calorie basics Tips to eat fewer calories Potential downsides Calorie counters Bottom line Reducing the number of calories you eat per day can be an effective weight loss method 1.
Three things you should remember this pandemic still. June 12, What are Calories? How many calories should you eat on average? If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the above chart might not be suitable for you.
Discuss your options with your doctor. Children The calorie requirement of children varies widely. While an average toddler may need 1, to 1, calories a day, moderately active teenagers will likely require 2, to 2, calories a day.
Calories Required Per Day : Calorie Intake Whether you want to gain, lose, or maintain your current body weight, counting calories is crucial. Losing weight: Generally, dietary recommendations state that you need to reduce your total calorie intake by calories per day if you want to lose one pound a week.
However, as losing weight is a slow process, it is highly advisable to be patient and work with your dietician to find a suitable diet plan for you. Gaining weight: If you want to gain weight, try not to do it yourself and seek professional help. Maintaining a healthy weight: Your daily calorie intake for maintaining a healthy weight depends on various factors. It includes the following: How old are you? How physically active are you? How to reduce calorie intake?
Some of the most effective ways to reduce your calorie intake include: Try to avoid sugary beverages and fruit juices Include more protein in your diet Keep yourself adequately hydrates Make sure to exercise regularly Cut on your carbohydrate refined intake Frequently Asked Questions How do I calculate my daily calorie needs? Is it safe to only eat calories a day? How many calories should I eat a day by age?
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