Image via: http://www.nlm.nih.gov
Counting calories is great for people who have absolutely no idea how much they are eating in a meal or for the whole day.
Consider this: a scone at Starbucks contains around 500 calories. The average person needs to consume around 1,800-2,000 calories per day. With that one snack, it’s not even a meal, you have consumed about a quarter of your calorie allotment for the day. The worst part? You haven’t received any nutrients. You got sugar, saturated fat and refined carbs, none of which are good for your health or your waistline.
The goal is to get to a point where you don’t need to count calories. No one should have to count calories the rest of their life. For some, it is a necessary process to teach yourself how your body reacts to food, and what proper portion sizes and meals look and feel like.
The ultimate goal is to get to a point where you are concerned about the quality of your food, not the quantity.
A calorie is not a calorie. Some calories are not equal to others, when you consider their source. A calorie from a carrot is not equal to a calorie from a cookie.
Calories are an important part of the weight loss and maintenance equation. First thing is first, you can’t over eat. But once the amount of calories is under control, the quality of those calories is what’s really important. That calorie will build your health: it provides nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water to sustain and nourish your body, helping it, and your metabolism run efficiently. That cookie? It’s going to break you down, offering nothing to your health: just empty calories that pack on the pounds and drain your energy.