Calorie counting as a way to lose weight has been around for awhile. It makes sense, at first glance. If you’re in a calorie deficit, aka burning more calories than you take in, you’ll probably drop a few pounds. But in real life, it does get a little more complicated than that. Here, I break down why it’s not my go-to recommendation to have people start counting calories, plus what to do instead.
How to Lose Weight When You Don’t Know Where to Start, According to a Dietitian
1. All food has calories
Instead of focusing on the negative, and trying to eat the least amount of calories, I like to focus on what the food is adding to my diet.Leafy greensfor some color, fiber and nutrition. Fruit and nuts for a powerful snack combo. Yogurt for protein and probiotics. Choosing better-for-you options might mean adding walnuts to your oatmeal to help balance out the carbohydrates and give you satisfying healthy fats. If you only cared about calories, you might skip the walnuts, but end up feeling hungry just a little while later.
2. Our bodies are not machines
There are so many factors that impact our energy needs. A workout, stress, sleep, illness, temperature—the list goes on and on. Even if you have an idea of how many calories your body needs, it’s fluid. You will need different amounts of foods on different days and only allowing yourself to stick to one calorie level may be too restrictive.
3. Calorie counts are only an estimate
Whether you look at calorie counts on food packages or use an app to track your intake, you’re at best only getting an estimate. TheFDAallows for a 20% margin of error on calories reported on nutrition labels, so if your crackers say they contain 100 calories they might have 120 calories or they might have 80 calories (or somewhere in between). Plus, most of us are estimating how much we are eating—even people who measure their food are usually off. FYI, calorie counts on cardio equipment, like treadmills and bikes, are usually off too. It’s not that you can’t get a rough idea of the calories you’re eating, but I’ve seen people stress out over 20 extra calories here or there and there’s no need.
4. You’re less likely to listen to your body
Bottom line
You may find it helpful to track your intake and stick to a certain number of calories. But instead of measuring and tracking, I prefer eating mostly nourishing foods—plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats and protein with some treats mixed in (I eat dessert every day). And if you’re stressing about calories, I encourage you to let go of that stress and enjoy what’s on your plate. Need more inspiration? Here areseven ways to eat healthier without counting calories.
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