Is counting calories an effective weight-loss method?

You can spend your entire life learning about various weight-loss methods. However, in the end, only one thing matters; you should burn more calories than you eat.  To ensure that you are doing that, you need to know the number of calories you are burning and the ones you are consuming.

It entails counting calories, and there are dedicated apps you can use to count calories easily. Fitness trackers can also assist you in this, although you cannot depend on them to do everything.

How many calories should people consume daily?

It is determined by several factors like height, gender, occupation, genetics and metabolism.  Women should consume 2,000 calories each day and 2,500 for men.

Is counting calories effective for weight-loss?

For you to lose weight, your calorie intake should be less than the calories you use. It works differently for people, and you need to know your calorie intake to balance this equation ably. Find out the number of calories in food or drink. People mainly overestimate the number of calories they burn when working out. In the end, they have excess calories and are unable to lose weight.

There is proof that monitoring oneself using food diaries as well as similar tools, to add up calories consumed assists individuals to shed weight and sustain that weight loss.

The drinks we take should be kept in mind since because they increase calories significantly all through the day.

Breaking down calories by macronutrients

Calories are the same despite the source. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates consist of calories. But, the source of your calories plays a vital role in your health. It is unhealthy for you to acquire your calories from a single source like carbohydrates or protein. A third of your calories should come from complex carbohydrates, a third from protein and dairy sources and a third from vegetables and fruit. Eat minimal fats and sugars. Remember that 1g of protein and carbohydrate produces about four calories, 1 g of fat about nine calories and 1 g of alcohol about seven calories.

The ideal way of counting calories

The technology available is ideal to use in recording calories. Before, we used to have make records in paper diaries and study books to learn everything. But, today we are fortunate because all we need to do is press a button to find out the calorie content of the food. But, remember that this will only be correct if the sizes of the portion are precise.

Many times people underestimate the sizes of their portion by a big margin, and they, therefore, conclude their calorie intake is less than it is.

Should people decrease their calorie consumption during lockdown because being inactive means they burn fewer calories?

An individual’s objective determines it. Do they wish to reduce weight, maintain the same or add weight? Before lockdown, what were they eating? Some people might have become more active during lockdown by working out with their children or having more workout time because their workload has decreased.

Others might have decreased their calories because they do not eat out, consume takeaways, visit the bar or eat fast food.

Therefore, we cannot conclude that everyone should reduce their calories during a lockdown.