Blog post by: Coach Crystal
Counting calories can be a very useful tool to hold yourself accountable regarding your nutrition intake and goals. Counting calories can come across as a difficult task to adjust to but in actuality, it can be very simple.
When I began counting my calories, I felt overwhelmed with how to count them and what to do. The truth of the matter is, counting calories isn’t difficult when we learn what to look for based on our goals. When my goal is weight loss, I count my calories based on what nutrition my body needs to hit those goals. No matter the eating style (high carb, low carb, high fat, vegan) it doesn’t make a difference. The target is to be eating within a caloric deficit based on YOUR GOALS – I can’t say that enough.
There are low carb zealots that will swear to you that low carb is the only way to lose weight and keep it off. What they failed to realize is that when they ate a lower carb diet, it wasn’t the reason they were able to lose their weight, it was that they were unknowingly eating in a calorie deficit. This is just one example of eating for your goals. You may be trying to add on lean muscle and change your physique, if that’s the case then you would be eating in a calorie surplus (above the caloric intake your body requires to maintain its current weight).
No matter the goal at hand, calories in vs. calories out is what it boils down to and counting calories is something everyone should experience at least once in their life. It’s very empowering to control what you’re eating and confidently knowing what you’re doing is for your goals. Should this be something you do forever? Absolutely not! Is counting your calories a great tool to help you reach your weight loss or weight gain goals, a technique that helps you understand nutrition and an effective way to achieve a caloric deficit or surplus? Heck yes!
PS: My favourite calorie counter is on the My Fitness Pal app – check it out!
Feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to begin? Shoot me an email coachcrysieee@gmail.com or find me at Ignite Health @ignitehealthca
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