Let’s be honest — we’ve all tried a diet at some point, hoping to finally get the body we dream of, wave goodbye to stubborn love handles and bid farewell to cellulite. While hundreds of different methods are floating around online, calorie counting is the most widespread approach. Dieting is already a challenge in itself, but having to track every single calorie you eat can quickly turn into a nightmare…
So we asked ourselves a few questions about this method: what exactly is a calorie, do you really need to count them, and how can you choose your food more wisely instead of calculating everything? And we think you’ll like what we found…
What exactly is a calorie?
To function properly, the body needs energy, measured by the number of calories consumed. This is known as energy intake.
Every food and drink has its own energy value, expressed as a number of calories, which varies enormously from one item to the next. Some foods are notoriously high in calories — burgers, pizzas, sodas, sweets… Others hide their caloric content more cleverly: avocados, bananas, bread… But here’s the thing: calories are not your enemy. Without them, your body simply couldn’t function!
Do you really need to count calories to lose weight?
Calorie counting is based on a simple logic, and it’s not entirely absurd: it relies on the notion of energy balance. But this method has its limits. Here’s why.
To balance your diet, it can help to have an idea of the energy intake your body needs to function well. Some people note down what they eat for about a week, to compare the calories consumed with the energy expended. In that context, the principle is to expend a little more energy than you consume. Conversely, excess energy is stored, notably as fat.
Did you know? Your body burns calories constantly — even while you sleep. Of course, you’ll burn more with physical activity.
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If you’re looking to lose weight, it’s not entirely pointless to count calories at the start of your dietary rebalancing, just to get a sense of your daily intake. Ideally, though, you’d be guided by a doctor or a dietitian — especially if you have a lot of weight to lose.
Stop counting — start comparing.
For several reasons, a healthy diet can’t be built entirely around calorie counting.
The number of calories your body needs to function well varies enormously from one person to the next. You’ll need to factor in your professional activity, your physical activity, your age, your basal metabolic rate…
Did you know how many calories you actually need each day? For women between the ages of 20 and 45, the general daily requirement is around 2,000 kcal. However, this figure increases significantly if you take part in sports!
Overly strict restrictions are hard to maintain over time. If you give your body too few calories for several days, hunger eventually takes over, and returning to a “normal” diet often leads to weight gain — hello, yo-yo effect!
The goal, then, is to cover your needs — no more, no less — by carefully choosing what you eat each day. Some foods are calorie-dense but nutritionally interesting. Take the avocado: it provides fibre, vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids. For the same number of calories, it has little in common with an ice cream bar!
So instead of counting, let’s start checking and evaluating the energy content of the foods we eat. The best way to do this? Read labels carefully. You’ll find everything you need to know about a product’s composition — fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins… Taking these into account means avoiding foods that are too high in fat or sugar, and favouring foods with “useful” calories.
So there you have it — the key isn’t counting every calorie, but eating to satisfaction, with foods that are varied and of good quality. And consider combining this with a sporting activity, at your own pace and according to what you enjoy!
Are you a calorie counter?
And don’t forget — if your goal is to tackle the appearance of orange-peel skin, think about pinch-and-roll massages with your Cellublue Cups, alongside physical activity and a balanced diet.
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Useful categories: Slimming Nutrition.
