Dietary and nutritional content reviewed by Jasmin Gorostiza, DT, DM, DSS, CFPP.️
When it comes to losing weight, most individuals believe that the first step to success is to learn how to count calories. Although there is a well-established relationship between caloric intake and weight gain, there is a greater connection between weight loss and diet.
This is the reason why you should focus more on healthy and balanced eating rather than counting calories to lose weight.
Understanding calories and its effect on weight loss, however, is also important in finding the connection between daily physical activities and food intake.
Understanding calories and its effect on weight loss, however, is also important in finding the connection between daily physical activities and food intake. By knowing all these essential factors, you will discover the best way to lose weight safely and naturally.
Table of Contents
Understanding Calories
Generally, calories refer to the amount of “energy” contained in your food. Daily caloric intake varies among different individuals having different sexes, daily physical energy requirement, age and lifestyle. This means that a female individual performing regular office work may need lesser calories in a day than a male individual who exerts physical force for labor. Related read: Watch your calorie intake with Nutrisystem frozen food
The calories you get from the food you eat are used by your body to sustain daily bodily processes. Without calories, or even with restricted caloric intake, unless such is recommended by a physician, your body may experience several changes which can cause unlikely symptoms. It is, therefore, very important to maintain the right daily caloric intake for your health and wellness.
The National Health Service of the UK recommends daily caloric intake of 2000 calories for females and 2500 calories for males. On the other hand, authorities in the US recommend 2700 calories as daily caloric intake among males and 2200 calories among females.
How Many Calories Should I Eat A Day?
The National Health Service of the UK recommends daily caloric intake of 2000 calories for females and 2500 calories for males. On the other hand, authorities in the US recommend 2700 calories as daily caloric intake among males and 2200 calories among females. These findings are based on researches conducted among regular male and female adults who are not suffering from any disorders.
Daily intake of the recommended caloric intake helps sustain an ordinary person’s bodily workload. The following, nevertheless, are important considerations to make your caloric intake work perfectly well for your body:
1. Eat More Fruits And Vegetables
Eating fruits and vegetables valued at 500 calories can help sustain your body much longer than a 500-calorie junk food. Aside from providing your body with sufficient energy sources, fruits and vegetables also help provide vitamins and minerals needed for overall health. In fact, the July 2013 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes that eating 5 portions of fruits and vegetables everyday could help you achieve a longer lifespan.
2. Eat Breakfast
Breakfast is a term which means “breaking” the “fast”. Overnight, your body is fasting as it is deprived of energy intake. In the morning, you should cut the process by eating your breakfast. Fasting for a long time is not healthy if you really want to lose weight. Related read: How to save on Nutrisystem with the latest promo code
3. Avoid Food With Little To No Nutrition
Every food has its corresponding caloric and nutritive value. While most weight loss enthusiasts recommend food with lesser calories, you should prioritize your health by choosing your food wisely. Your body needs proper nourishment to survive. You can check food options that can help you with your weight loss plans while providing you with proper nutrition.
While most weight loss enthusiasts recommend food with lesser calories, you should prioritize your health by choosing your food wisely.
Weight loss can be achieved by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You may count your calories but you should not solely rely on them to achieve weight loss.
Do you know how much calories you are consuming a day? Are you over the limit or below the daily recommended rate?
Before I got on Nutrisystem, I had no idea how much calories a day I was consuming. I would lessen some carbs and sweets but there was no way I was aware of how much calories I was taking in. Then I got on Nutrisystem. Through their assessment, I learned how much calories I was taking and it turned out I was still taking in a lot despite my attempts to avoid carbs and sweets. 🙁
No wonder I wasn’t losing any weight. I tried some Nutrisystem meals to see if I could shed a couple of pounds. A month after, I lost about 8 pounds. That may not be a lot but for me it was a big deal since I wasn’t really serious with the Nutrisystem plan. I was just eating it five days a week. Then I upgraded my plan and stuck to it seriously. After two months, I was able to shed about 15lbs. Now, I’m just maintaining my weight but I still do Nutrisystem at least 4 days a week.
Counting calories is not enough to lose weight. Sure it’ll help but it takes more than that. For a safe weight loss, you need to exercise. Even if you are watching the calories, you need to burn them as well.
So in the long run, it’s really all about eating right. Although you can still count the calories, it wouldn’t be good enough if the calories were from unhealthy foods.
One of the reasons as to why I stick to pre-portioned diets like BistroMD is because I don’t want to count calories. I really don’t have time to do that.
With all the stuff that I need to do in a day, I have no more time to even think about the calories I take in; more so count them. Medifast is perfect for people like me who just don’t have the time to eat right.
A major part of the struggle to lose weight is counting the calories. That’s just too much work for me. A pre-portioned meal replacement plan like Nutrisystem is an easier way to lose weight. Someone else does the counting for me.
You have a different perspective here. Instead of limiting calorie intake, a much better way to lose weight is to choose the right food. That makes sense. Thanks.