Counting calories - a key to weight loss.

With changes to your diet and your eating habits a suggestion you are likely to hear time & time again, is start a food log to measure what you eat, when you eat, how much you eat, the make up of your diet and to determine your calorific intake daily. Counting calories is an important part of this, as ultimately you need to put more out, than you put in in order to lose weight and for it to remain lost! This is a very quick read from ezinearticle author Al V (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_V) and found at (http://EzineArticles.com/8503301)


If losing weight has been a challenge for you, your weight loss strategies may need to be revisited. What have you been doing to achieve your goals? Have you realised what's causing consistent increase on your body weight? Here's a fresh start - try counting calories! More than the amount of food you consume, the quantity of calories explain a lot about your weight. Here are some good points about the importance of counting calories.

Calorie : Defined
Calorie is term used to measure the amount of energy given by food. Logically, managing calorie consumption can help you a lot to better manage your weight and overall wellness. It is not just the amount of food you eat but the actual load that is in the food. This becomes a challenge since not everyone knows the amount of calories found in each food.

Calorie Deficit
One of the most effective weight loss strategies is the creation of calorie deficit. The logic is simple, either you decrease the amount of food you eat or you increase the amount of physical activities you perform. The key is constant monitoring of your food intake and physical activities. If you have consumed more than your regular meal, be proactive to add more exercise hours. Nutritionists suggest that in order to lose 3 pounds, 10,000 calories must be burned.

Muscle Metabolism
While minimal food intake is part of the road map to weight loss, there are some precautions that need to be taken, such as muscle metabolism. It is the body's tendency to break down muscle tissues resulting from inadequate amount of food to burn as energy. A diet high in protein and low in fats should be considered in order to avoid this condition.

Basal Metabolic Rate
It has been a misconception that while the body is at rest, no fuel is burned. Even at rest, different processes take place inside the body. This is measured by basal metabolic rate (BMR). To stay fit and healthy, BMR should be taken in consideration. Minimizing food intake is not enough to achieve optimum weight loss.

Counting calories has always been a challenge for everybody. Losing weight is a science. With consistent monitoring of your calorie intake, you are on your way to successful weight management and overall fitness. Stop focusing on your body shape. Focus on the food you eat. Numerous times you have heard, you are what you eat. Stay fit. Stay healthy.

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