Weight loss is the main reason nearly two-thirds of American’s are on a diet, yet only 1 in 8 people have an accurate idea of how many calories they really need to accomplish their goal.
According to a survey from the International Food Information Council Foundation, more than half of the people were unable to even guess the number of calories necessary to maintain their weight and 25% wouldn’t even attempt a guess.
The health implications of this finding are of critical importance to those overweight or obese individuals who are unsuccessfully trying to lose weight. Excess fat, especially in the mid section is directly linked with increased incidence of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, many cancers and even Alzheimer’s disease.
The fact that so many people don’t know their daily caloric intake, and more importantly, the calories required to lose weight and attain a desired goal, means they are destined to fail in any weight loss attempt. These tips will provide the essential basics to begin a healthy weight loss lifestyle and reduce the inherent risks of carrying those excess pounds.
Tip 1. Monitor Calories and Track with Nutritional Software
The basis of any weight loss program requires a firm understanding of the number of calories consumed. The first step is to determine the number of calories required to hit your weight loss goal, and then the calories necessary to maintain that weight. Online calculators can provide the correct counts for you, based on your particular metrics and physical activity.
Once you have an idea of your daily calories, you’ll need to keep a record of all food and drink consumed using Nutritional Tracking Software. It’s important to be accurate, especially until you get a good feel for the calorie content of different foods.
Choose foods from all different food groups, and avoid processed carbs, sugary sweets and fried foods. You’ll find you no longer have room for those empty calories, as you fill up on virtually unlimited quantities of nutritional, low calorie raw leafy greens and vegetables.
The health implications of this finding are of critical importance to those overweight or obese individuals who are unsuccessfully trying to lose weight. Excess fat, especially in the mid section is directly linked with increased incidence of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, many cancers and even Alzheimer’s disease.
The fact that so many people don’t know their daily caloric intake, and more importantly, the calories required to lose weight and attain a desired goal, means they are destined to fail in any weight loss attempt. These tips will provide the essential basics to begin a healthy weight loss lifestyle and reduce the inherent risks of carrying those excess pounds.
Tip 1. Monitor Calories and Track with Nutritional Software
The basis of any weight loss program requires a firm understanding of the number of calories consumed. The first step is to determine the number of calories required to hit your weight loss goal, and then the calories necessary to maintain that weight. Online calculators can provide the correct counts for you, based on your particular metrics and physical activity.
Once you have an idea of your daily calories, you’ll need to keep a record of all food and drink consumed using Nutritional Tracking Software. It’s important to be accurate, especially until you get a good feel for the calorie content of different foods.
Choose foods from all different food groups, and avoid processed carbs, sugary sweets and fried foods. You’ll find you no longer have room for those empty calories, as you fill up on virtually unlimited quantities of nutritional, low calorie raw leafy greens and vegetables.
