Eating is more of a torture, a Chinese puzzle, than a real treat. Count calories? Don’t you count them? How to lose weight ? Should we really be counting the calories we eat to lose weight effectively? Read the rest of the article.
What is a calorie?
It is a unit of energy used to measure the amount of energy present in a food. It’s usually one of the first pieces of information on a product label. A calorie (kcal) is a complex unit. Not all calories are created equal.
- 1 g carbohydrates: 4 kcal
- 1 g protein; 4 calories
- 1 g fat: 9 kcal
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The disadvantages of counting calories
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guilt
This vision of food can make us feel guilty. When we see «kcal» we are afraid. Fear that these calories will not give us energy, but will bring us fat… By demonizing calories, we forget that they are vital for the body to move, think, breathe
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An unhealthy view
Counting calories can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food. The people who matter can become obsessed with their diet. When you look at food, all you think about is calories!
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Other Important Factors
According to studies, a woman should eat 1800-2000 kcal per day, a man 2500-3000 kcal. This is without taking into account certain other important parameters: age, fitness level, sport level, etc.
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eaten food
A calorie calculation does not take into account the quality and type of food consumed. After all, not all calories are created equal. 2000kcal of chocolate is not the same as 2000kcal of zucchini. The amount is not the same, neither is the saturation effect. In the case of chocolate, the sugar will quickly spike your blood sugar (and fat storage). You’ll get hungry faster, while zucchini will keep you going longer.
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Beware of drastic diets
Eating fewer and fewer calories can have detrimental effects on both the mind and the body. The body will rest itself and end up storing the least amount of food in case of future «famines».
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distorted feelings
Listening to your body is very important. Counting calories can cause those who are still hungry to quit because they’ve hit their calorie quota. You will no longer listen to your body.
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Calories are not the same
It all depends on the preparation of the food, the degree and the cooking method!
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The number varies from person to person
Not everyone digests food the same way. The basal metabolic rate varies greatly from person to person. It even varies in the same person depending on age, current fat content, previous eating habits, activity level, hormones, current health status, etc. And even at rest, the body can burn differently for different functions: heart, brain, respiration, maintaining body temperature, digestion etc.
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An inaccurate calculation
An accurate calculation of the calories you consume and burn during the day is not possible, especially due to the inaccuracy of the calories burned.
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advantages
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Better overview
Counting calories can help you get a better handle on what you’re eating each day. However, do not only consider the number of calories, but also the macro and micronutrients in order not to become deficient.
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calming effect
Counting calories is a calming way to stay in control of intake. By counting, you can be sure you’re not consuming «too many» calories.
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Feed more controlled
If you keep a food journal, it can be helpful to note the number of calories. This allows you to identify the triggers that cause you to consume a calorie surplus (watching TV, coming home from work, etc.).
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work base
It can open your eyes and get the approximate number of calories you consume per day. After that you can create a working basis for knowing approximately how many calories are removed to lose weight.
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applications
There are very good applications on your phone or on the internet that will help you calculate it. But know that counting calories is an imperfect system.
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For whom ?
Counting calories can be useful for professional athletes or bodybuilders who have a specific goal to achieve a specific body composition. But people who want to lose a little weight might also be interested in this approach.
In summary, counting calories doesn’t have to rule your life. It should be an easy source of information that will help you make wise decisions and not place you in too much of a constraint. You can very well lose weight by rebalancing your diet and relying on your feelings of hunger and fullness.
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Article written by Fitness Together
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