You might think that losing weight means depriving yourself of food and then exercising to compensate. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, you just need to adjust your approach to burning fat.
Let’s say, for example, that you’re aiming for a slimmed-down look and you decide to tackle weight loss through a calorie-counting technique. When you step on the scale, you might notice that you’ve lost a few pounds, but you’ve also got a couple of inches to spare. What happened?
Well, you could attribute the weight loss to the fact that you’ve decreased your food intake or boosted your exercise regimen. But that’s not necessarily the case. Sometimes, losing weight can mean adjusting your diet and exercise habits so that they support, rather than hinder, your weight loss goals. To shed those last few pounds, you’ll need to understand how to lose weight just by counting calories.
Counting Calories Is More Art Than Science
When you’re weight loss-minded, you might find that calorie counting gets a bit tedious. After all, you’re not going to keep track of every calorie you eat, are you?
Fortunately, calorie counting isn’t as complicated as it seems. The basics are always the same: You need to consume less calories than you expend. But the methodical part comes in when you want to figure out how much you should be eating. (Hint: It’s rarely as simple as counting calories because you also need to take into account how you consume food, how active you are, and whether you’re a man or a woman.)
Counting calories is more of an art than a science, and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can learn to eyeball the calories in the foods you eat and whether or not you should be consuming them. For example, let’s say that you’ve decided to cut carbs from your diet. One of the first things you’ll notice when you start counting calories is how easy it is to overindulge in carbs. (Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to indulge in your favorite carbs – just not as many as you might want to.)
Similarly, you might decide that you want to shed your man boobs. One of the best things you’ll experience as you start losing weight is how easy it is to lose that last bit of stubborn fat. (Trust me, it’s a whole lot easier than you’d think.)
To reach your ideal weight, you’ll need to adjust both your diet and exercise. That means that you’ll have to adjust how many calories you consume and how much physical activity you do. If you reduce your calorie intake too much and then don’t compensate with enough exercise, you’ll stall out your weight loss. (In other words, you’ll put on more weight than you lost.)
Take Note Of The Foods You Consume
When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to take note of how many calories you consume. Of course, this is going to depend on what type of food you’re eating. But even the food you’re not particularly fond of can be used to its advantage when it comes to weight loss. For example, while peanuts are high in fat, they also contain a lot of good nutrients that help your body function properly. (If you’re already avoiding peanuts because you think they might cause digestive problems, think again. According to many studies, the opposite is true. Undiagnosed digestive problems might actually be the root of many weight gain problems.)
You might decide to cut out peanuts and other plants that are high in carbohydrates in order to lose weight. But that means you’ll have to start paying more attention to what you’re putting into your body. Naturally, this is something you need to do anyway. But it might be more difficult when you’re trying to lose weight. When you’re not used to paying attention to what you’re eating, it can be easy to slip up and have foods that contain a lot of calories but you don’t need.
Consider Your Diet Plan In Advance
Sometimes, losing weight can mean making a major adjustment to your diet. If this is the case for you, it might be a good idea to consult with a nutritionist or dietician. They can help you figure out what you should be eating and how much. (As a general rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to consult with a professional when you’re trying to figure out how to lose weight. Even if you’re going to be following a fairly simple diet plan, there are still a lot of variables that you need to consider.)
For instance, if you’re cutting out carbs, you might want to consult with a dietician before starting your diet plan. They can help you decide whether or not you should be eating eggs or potatoes or any other type of food that’s high in carbs. (Don’t worry, you aren’t going to be prohibited from having the foods you love. You’re just going to have to cut back a bit.)
Getting the right nutritionist or dietician can also help you figure out how to lose weight fast. They can tell you what type of food supplements you might need in order to shed those extra pounds. (Even if you don’t need supplements, they can still help you figure out a diet that will help you lose weight fast. One of the best things about getting expert help is that they can adjust the diet plan to suit your needs. For instance, if you have a condition that prevents you from eating certain types of food or you’re just not feeling well, they might suggest alternative foods or nutrients that will help you feel better and faster.
Don’t Rely On Just One Approach
If you’re not used to paying attention to what you consume, it’s easy to rely on just one approach to losing weight. For example, if you’re counting calories, you might assume that you need to cut back on what you eat in order to lose weight. But what if that’s not what you need?
Sometimes, losing weight can mean increasing your physical activity level. If this is the approach you want to take, it might be a good idea to add some more fun activities to your routine. (For example, if you’re really not liking the idea of cutting back on your calories, you might want to try out a more intense workout regime or add another walking/jogging session to your routine.)
While it’s important to keep track of how many calories you eat, it’s also important to keep an open mind about other approaches to losing weight. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to figuring out how to lose weight and not consider alternatives. If you want to lose weight, consider all the different ways you might be able to achieve your goal. (Including, of course, calorie counting!)
As you can see, there are several ways you might be able to lose weight, and it might not always be as simple as counting calories. Just because you’re not losing weight the way you want to doesn’t mean that calories are the root of all evil. Sometimes, losing weight can mean finding a way to make healthier choices and exercise more often. Don’t be afraid to try new things and don’t be discouraged when your first attempts at losing weight don’t work out as you’d hoped. With a little bit of luck, you might be able to shed those last few pounds and be happy with your newly acquired size. (Just make sure you’re not doing anything that might cause you more harm than good.)