Calorie Counting Helps to Lose Weight

For me, counting calories to lose weight works.  In the beginning it is difficult to do because you will have to keep track of everything you eat, and then figure out how much calories each food item you eat has.  This takes time to do.  Before beginning to count calories, I recommend the “baby steps” talked about in my blog titled: My Personal Weight Loss Secrets that Work, to be followed first.  This will help you to develop better self-control over your eating habits, and a better meal plan routine.  Which is a good first step towards counting calories and ultimately losing weight.  

To count calories, I recommend to first focus on one meal at a time (breakfast, lunch, or supper…. and I recommend no snacking in-between, unless you have a health problem that requires you to) for the first 3 weeks.  That is breakfast the first week, lunch the second, and supper the third.  Then on the fourth week begin counting calories for all three meals.  Going through this process will help you to begin to know the amount of calories a certain portion size has for regular food items you eat.  And so eventually, you will be able to look at your plate and know approximately how many calories it has.  To count calories, I recommend A good calorie counting book.  And/or calorie counting websites such as:  CaloriesCount.com.  Sometimes you will have to use a few different sources to get the accurate calorie count of certain food items.  In addition, some popular restaurants have websites that tell you the amount of calories for each of their meals.  

Once you are aware of the amount of calories you are consuming regularly, you can then lower your consumption of calories to lose weight.   I recommend the following website for you to figure out how many calories is recommended for you and your lifestyle:  Calculator.net. Once you know this, you can figure out the amount of calories you need to stay within, for you to lose weight.  For example, if the recommended amount of calories for you to maintain your current weight is 1500 calories, the amount of calories for you to lose weight could be 1000 calories.  You would then adjust your diet so that you are not eating more than 1000 calories in a day.  To gain weight, you would consume about 2000 calories per a day.  This is how calorie counting works. 
  

What is nice about calorie counting, is that you can learn what food items are high in calories, and choose to eat less of those food items, or use them as rewards.  And you can learn which food items are low in calories, and you can allow yourself to eat more of those food items.  In other words, knowledge is power.  Counting calories makes you knowledgeable and informed on how many calories you are eating.  You can adjust to this.  Having your tummy full is important.  So to fill your tummy without over consuming calories, you will be able to eat more of the low calorie foods that are bulky (high in fiber).  Such as potatoes, whole wheat bread, or oat meal.  What makes potatoes so high in calories is the toppings we put on them.  Instead of using the high calorie toppings, you can learn alternative ways to make food palatable.  Lemon juice, spices, onions, garlic, peppers, and/or less of the high calorie toppings.  As you are choosing to eat less calories in a day, you will need to become creative in your meals.  This all takes time, so remember to take “baby steps” in changing your lifestyle habits.  The object is to continue on track, even if you fail to meet your goals, because habits take time to change.  

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind..." (Romans 12:2).

And remember, walking daily, at least a short distance, and eating healthier food items (a blog to be written soon) will contribute to your motivation and self-control in your being able to count calories and lose weight.

Learn, grow, shine!!  Amy Summer  

Does calorie counting work for you?  Share your story.