Calorie Counting

Assess your caloric intake

No matter which diet program you follow, no matter what type of diet plan you are on, there is one basic principle of weight loss. In order to lose weight, you must take in fewer calories than you consume. There are, of course, diet programs that can help you to eat less by choosing your foods for you. There is a good reason why these plans, such as the Mediterranean diet or the Atkins diet, work to help many people lose weight, though –the foods that are chosen fit into a specific calorie limit. Therefore, anyone on the plan eats fewer calories because of the plan. You can try losing weight without a diet plan, of course—all you need to do is begin counting calories.

How Does Calorie Counting Work?

First of all, you need to know how many calories you need to eat each day. Caloric requirements can vary depending upon gender, body composition, age, physical health, and several other factors. Most women need about 2200 calories each day; men typically require about 2800 calories every day. These are the numbers to maintain weight, though. In order to lose weight, it is suggested to consume 500 to 1000 fewer calories per day than the regular amount. Therefore, women who would like to lose weight need to consume 1200 to 1700 calories each day; men need 1800 to 2300 calories.

Many people who are just beginning with calorie counting wonder what they are supposed to eat each day. It is generally suggested that people eat every three or four hours because this helps to keep a person from binging and ensures a steady blood sugar level. In addition, calorie counting should be looked upon as part of a healthy lifestyle; therefore, calories should be used for mainly healthy foods. A balanced diet is best, although some treats are acceptable.

Using a Calorie Counter

There are many ways in which a person can count calories easily. Electronic calorie calculators make the process quite simple. There are also computer programs that work as calorie counters. There are even a few iPhone applications that function as calorie counting guides. Or, if someone prefers, he or she can count calories the old-fashioned way by looking up the caloric content of certain foods online or in a book and keeping track of caloric intake in a notebook.