Calorie Counting: Can It Benefit You?

As people around the country begin taking their health and nutrition in their own hands, many people have begun looking for ways to lose weight and maintain a healthier lifestyle. One of the most popular ways that people have been watching what they eat is with calorie counting, or keeping track of the calorie intake of the foods they eat in an attempt to keep it under (or above in some cases) a certain amount. But what is calorie counting, and how can it benefit you?

When it comes to weight gain and weight loss, counting calories is a simple math game. Calories are a numerical value assigned to different foods based on the energy that a human being can extract from them. They are necessary in order for our bodies to function normally, but if you eat more than your body needs, it can result in weight gain. So, when you are calorie counting, you want to make sure you are eating fewer calories than you burn on a daily basis to lose weight, more than you burn if you need to gain, and within a certain amount if you are trying to maintain your current weight.

On average, a person with a sedentary (non-active) lifestyle must consume 1200 calories to stay at his or her current weight. The problem here is that 1200 calories isn't very much, and it is extremely difficult to consume less than that while still getting all the essential nutrients. An active person, however, can eat between 2300 and 2500 calories and not gain weight. This is why many health care providers often recommend a health plan that involves exercise and a reduced calorie diet, since the more active you are, the more calories can be consumed and still result in weight loss. The trick to calorie counting is to consume fewer calories than are burned off each day, and keeping track of this is a very healthy and effective way to lose weight when coupled with an exercise plan.

Calorie counting can also help you learn and memorize how many calories are in which foods, so even after your weight loss (or gain) goals have been met you know what to eat to maintain that healthy weight. If you are considering calorie counting or have questions on what foods you should be eating, your doctor as well as an experienced nutritionist will be able to help you create a plan that works for your unique health needs.