Why You Need To Stop Counting Calories
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Counting Calories Is SO 2016, It's Time To Leave That Habit In The Past

Trying to lose weight? Calories are no way to measure food. Here's what you should be focusing on instead.

42
Counting Calories Is SO 2016, It's Time To Leave That Habit In The Past

Everyone wants to get healthy and lose weight, and some people seem to be permanently dieting. When you are on a diet, it's easy to become obsessed with counting calories. I don't mean looking at the nutritional facts on a box of cereal and a cup of yogurt, and comparing them. I using calories as a way to measure the value of food.

Some people use calorie tracker apps to do this, and might even starve themselves all day just so they can splurge out in the evening with one unhealthy meal. Just because you meet calorie goals, doesn't mean you'll lose weight.

Counting calories does not work. You could eat 2,000 calories a day of processed food and packaged food very easily. However, is that healthy? Sure, you hit your goal of 2,000 calories a day, but what about the vitamins, carbohydrates, sugars, fibers, proteins, etc.?

Plus, when you do lose weight from counting calories, it's likely not sustainable!

Please consider nutrition holistically, consuming empty calories isn't going to help you hit your weight loss goal, and definitely isn't going to make you healthy (especially long-term).

Here's what you need to focus on instead of counting calories.

1. DietĀ 

Dieting doesn't mean starving yourself and eating salads for every meal. Dieting means eating the right foods. Go online and look up food pyramids and food charts. Look at how much of each food you need in a day and start from there. You want to make sure you are getting a balance of nutrients from a variety of food, which means plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins.

If you're looking for a good infographic that shows nutritional balance, skip the government guidelines and check out Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate instead.

2. Mind the quality, not the calories!Ā 

Start to watch the quality of food you are eating, rather than the calories. Do you notice that you eat a lot of junk or sugar-filled foods? If you do, you should switch out some of your sweet snack cravings with a healthy alternative. The next time you crave empty-carbs, try fresh fruit, crackers, Greek yogurt, or a granola bar instead.

Missy from Pretty Sweet says, "Consider that an avocado has the same number of calories as a doughnut. You know which one is better, so stop pretending that calories are a good way to measure the value of food! Counting calories is like choosing a book based on how many pages it has — it just doesn't make sense!"

3. Exercise mattersĀ 

Devote at least 30 minutes a day to exercising. This doesn't have to be hardcore strenuous exercises like lifting weights and running 5 miles every day. Start by jogging for 30 minutes or biking for 30 minutes and work from there, or even taking a brisk walk once a day.

Just because you see men and women with six-packs in the gym and on weight loss commercials, doesn't mean that you have to look like that.

Start slowly and gradually increase the amount of exercise you do each day. You'll probably notice you start to enjoy it, and according to the Mayo Clinic, you'll increase your energy, your mood and lose weight.

4. OK, now stop counting calories

If you are looking to lose weight, stay fit, and/or stay healthy, do not give in to the temptation of counting calories. It may seem like you are doing the right thing by paying attention to what you eat. However, you are paying attention to the wrong detail.

It's about quality, not quantity!

Look at the rest of the nutritional label! If you are looking at two snacks with 200 calories each and one has more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than the other, go with the nutritional-dense food (not the processed, refined and nutritionally depleted one).

There are some well-known apps out there that cost under $1 per day that will help you log everything you eat and keep you on track. Just don't obsess on finding a free app, because it's usually worth the investment to pay for a higher-quality product!

Choose to eat healthy by paying attention to what and how much you eat. Please don't count calories though, because it just doesn't work.

Report this Content
Featured

Impact Makers: Melanie Byrd

Find out how this TikTok star gets women excited about science!

2424
Impact Makers: Melanie Byrd

How it all began

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

22 Songs To Use For Your Next GoPro Video

Play one of these songs in the background for the perfect vacation vibes.

308665
Pexels

We've all seen a Jay Alvarez travel video and wondered two things: How can I live that lifestyle and how does he choose which song to use for his videos?

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

13 Roleplay Plots You Haven't Thought Of Yet

Stuck on ideas for a roleplay? Here you go!

412796
13 Roleplay Plots You Haven't Thought Of Yet
Pixabay

One thing that many creators know is that fun to have characters and different universes to work with but what's the point if you have nothing to do with them? Many people turn to roleplay as a fun way to use characters, whether they're original or from a fandom. It'd a fun escape for many people but what happens when you run out of ideas to do? It's a terrible spot to be in. So here are a few different role play plot ideas.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

Deep in the Heart of Texas

A Texan's responsibilities when introducing an out-of-stater to Texas culture.

3437

While in college, you are bound to be friends with at least one person who is not from Texas. Now Texas is a culture of its own, and it is up to you to help introduce them to some good ole Texas traditions during their time here. Show your friends that famous Southern hospitality!

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

Marching Through March

Some appreciation for the month of March.

3851
Pexels

I love the entire year. Well, for the most part. I'm not a big fan of Winter, but even then, every month has something that's pretty great. November? Thanksgiving. December? Winter Holidays. January? New Year's. February? Valentine's and Single Awareness Day. May? Existential dread during finals. But for me, March has always been my favorite month of the year, and for good reason.

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments