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Counting calories is a fairly common activity for many people who are losing weight, moreover, this habit has been around for decades. The essence of calorie counting is to keep track of what you eat per day, and the goal is not to exceed the daily calorie intake. Thus, the body does not receive excess calories that could go into body fat. But, is it really that simple? We talk in today’s article about the benefits of the counting calories process.
What Are Calories?
Calories are the little things that shrink clothes at night, or, on a physical level, it’s a unit of heat energy: you need 1 calorie to heat 1 liter of water from 1°C. Calories are energy providers. Thus, the calorie content of food corresponds to its energy value. The calories eaten are converted into energy and used to fuel either vital bodily processes such as breathing and heartbeat, or activities such as exercising, walking, making coffee or working at the office.
Unburned calories are stored in your body as fat. Conversely, if you don’t consume enough calories, your body will use up its energy reserves by depleting muscle carbohydrate stores, breaking down muscle proteins, and finally digging into fat stores.
Benefit 1 – Counting Calories Makes You More Mindful Of Your Food
When you have to spend time analyzing the composition of a product or dish, looking for it in the lists of ingredients and their calorie content, you involuntarily wonder – are you really hungry? Counting the calorie content of foods also helps you know what they actually contain. For example, by dressing your vegetable salad with a tablespoon of healthy olive oil, you will almost double its total calorie content!
Counting calories can also help you become aware of your eating habits. You may find that you have a tendency to snack or that you often overeat in the evening. This can help you make more informed choices and change your habits to achieve your desired weight and health outcomes. By the way, the Forbes website has a great article on how to lose weight fast: 15 expert tips.
Benefit 2 – You Develop Good Habits
There are studies that prove that people who keep a food diary lose weight twice as fast. This is true because by writing down everything you ate and the calorie content of each dish, you clearly understand how many calories (including extra) you gave the body. Also, a food diary is a good source of information and the formation of healthy eating habits.
As you continue to track your nutrition, you may find yourself choosing healthier foods and meals. This is due to the fact that you begin to better understand your body and the interaction between what you eat and how you feel. You may notice that after eating heavy and fatty foods you feel tired and sleepy, and after eating a light and nutritious breakfast you feel more alert and energetic.
Benefit 3 – Helps You Calculate The Intensity Of Your Workouts
If you are into sports or fitness, then counting calories can help you determine the optimal intensity of your workout. When you know how many calories you burn per workout, you can calculate how many calories you need by calorie calculator to consume in order to not only burn excess fat but also provide enough energy for training.
By counting calories, it will also be easier for you to determine which foods or meals will help you train better and build muscle. For example, if you notice that after eating certain foods or meals you have more energy and can exercise more intensely, you can integrate these foods into your diet. Thus, counting calories can help determine the optimal intensity of your workouts, as well as help determine which foods will help increase energy and train better.
Benefit 4 – You Always Have A Choice
When you are guided by the number of calories “allowed” per day, you are always free to dispose of them at your discretion. What can not be said about diets that impose a ban on many foods. That is, if you urgently want to eat ice cream – you can afford it, and subtract its calorie content from your daily allowance. Of course, here you need to be careful and not completely switch to harmful fast carbohydrates and fats.
Benefit 5 – Effective Day Planning
Calorie counting helps you plan your day and meal times more accurately. When you know how many calories you eat per day, you can distribute them evenly between meals to maintain optimal levels of energy and satiety. For example, if you notice that you feel hungry during the day, you can distribute calories evenly between three main meals and a couple of snacks. Also, if you know how many calories you have left for the day, you can accurately calculate the portion size and composition of meals to match your nutritional needs.
In addition, counting calories can help you plan meals ahead of time, which can save time and reduce stress throughout the day. You can create a weekly menu based on calorie counts and buy food ahead of time to make sure you have everything you need to cook healthy and nutritious meals. Thus, counting calories helps you plan your day and meal times more accurately, which can improve your efficiency and productivity.
Conclusion
Calorie counting is an effective way to control your diet and achieve fitness goals such as losing weight or gaining muscle mass. It helps you understand how many calories you are eating and what foods are affecting your body. You will be able to better understand which foods are a source of energy and which are empty calories. This allows you to make more informed decisions and avoid overeating.
However, we should not forget that counting calories can become an obsession. People can begin to restrict themselves in food to the extreme, which can lead to eating disorders and other health problems. It is important to understand that counting calories is not the only way to achieve fitness and weight loss goals. It’s also important to eat nutritious foods, balance macronutrients, and be physically active. If you decide to keep a food diary, it is important to do it right – fill it out in stages and constantly listen to your body. You have to watch your needs and find a balance between eating and exercising, and not just limit yourself to food.
