In order to lose weight and get lean you must consume less calories then you burn. Calorie counting programs can be found all over the Internet as well as, established companies such as the “Bodybugg” site, and Calorieking.com. If you aren’t skilled with the computer then you can do it the old fashion way (like I originally did) and carry around a little calorie counting book. However, even when logging your food and tracking your calories; do you understand the break down of calories in fat, carbohydrates, and protein? For some this article could be an eye opener.
In general nutrition class we were taught how many calories are in each of the 3 main sources.
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Carbohydrate 4 calories / per gram
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Fat 9 calories / per gram
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Protein 4 calories / per gram
If you try to do the equation using a food label, you will see that most of the time these number add up correctly. However, if your food has a high amount of fiber (listed on the label), food companies may account for the insoluble fiber in the equation for carbohydrates.
In daily life, it’s easy to see why a high fat food will fill you up much faster then eating low fat. The high fat food has more calories from fat. An easy way to cut your calories so you lose weight (even if you aren’t logging your food) is to cut down on your fat intake! This is just one more tip that could make you even more successful on your journey to being healthy and lean!
Adria Ali
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