Count Me OUT of Calorie Counting

Calories are the measurement of energy. We get this energy from foods we consume which is an essential part in the processes our organ systems carry out. The body needs calories because we need energy. However, we should be careful on the amount of our calorie intake because too much calories, when not burned, may lead to weight gain. On the other hand, if there are more calories burned or calorie output than the calorie intake, it may result to a weight loss. Similarly, if the calorie intake is equal to the calories burned, weight will be maintained. Every food and drink contains calories, only they vary in amounts. A gram of protein is 4 calories. A gram of carbohydrates is 4 calories. A gram of fat is 9 calories. If you know the number of grams of protein, carb and fats, you will be able to calculate the number of calories in the food you eat. This is called calorie counting. Now don't fall into the trap of "oh well if I need 1500 cals to maintain my weight, I'll just eat a Big Mac Meal with a Coke, and maybe some Twix bars for dessert. That falls slightly less than 1500 cals." UM NO! You cannot compare the nutrition you get from a Big Mac to nutrition you get from a delicious Kale salad. Now I'm not going to get into why here, but use your common sense!! Eat clean, calorie dense meals that are low enough in calories to create the calorie deficit but still keep you satiated.

The idea of calorie counting is an important part in weight control and management. You may want to lose weight, gain weight or maintain your weight. Whichever it is that you may want to achieve, you can count on calorie counting! It's a numbers game. But who the hell has time to sit that and count every single calorie consumed? I sure as hell don't. So I pose to you, is it really that necessary to count calories 100% of the time?

A low calorie diet, as the name suggests, is a nutritional plan which involves food with low to no calorie content. The idea is to lessen food intake, thus less calorie consumption, while tricking the body that it receives just the right amount of food. This is to ensure that the body continues to burn all the calories you consumed so there will be no gain in weight, but in fact, a possible weight loss. So what do you eat?

Fresh seasonal fruits. Watermelons in the summertime are my favorite.

Tons and tons vegetables, particularly leafy greens. Kale, spinach, bok choy, swiss chard, collards, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, cabbage, and broccoli.

Lean protein like eggs, Greek yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, low fat mozzarella cheese, bison, turkey, chicken, flounder, tilapia, pork tenderloin, legumes like chickpeas, beans, low fat tofu & tempeh.

High quality fats. You've got delicious avocados, almonds, olives & extra virgin olive oil, coconuts.

Whole grains are also awesome. Rye, brown rice, steel cut and rolled oats, couscous, and quinoa are just a few of my favorites.

These foods listed above are quality, nutrient dense foods that are not only great for you will help you lose weight. Can you imagine how much you can progress with your weight loss goals if you just ate foods that are clean and naturally low in calories in addition to exercise? It's a no brainer that fitness helps you create that calories deficit, because you are burning the fuel you've ingested through food thus allowing you to lose weight.

So it's that easy, eat a well rounded diet that's naturally low in calories, drink lots of water, and exercise. It's so damn simple! Who the hell wants to count calories? If you want to then go ahead but it really isn't for me. Think about all the effort, hassle, frustration and time you'd spend in calories computation. Yea thanks but NO THANKS! Who's with me?