Counting Calories
Counting calories may seem old-fashioned today, given the proliferation of low-carb and high protein diets. However, a number of dieticians maintain that the low calorie approach is actually the best approach to weight loss. Lowering the number of calories can have a marked effect on our waistlines.
The majority of diets offer dieters 1,000 to 1,500 calories each day. It would be wrong to assume that everyone who needs to lose weight should be on a 1,000 calorie diet. In fact, the amount of calories you need is a function of your current weight, your metabolism, and exercise you do. Diets recommended by doctors, are based upon a low-calorie model.
When dieting, you should assume that you will lose only about a pound a week. During the initial stages of your diet, you may find that you are actually losing more weight than that because you are losing water. It is perhaps best to work with a dietician in order to fine-tune your individual needs.
Still, even if you are curbing your calorie count, you'll need to make sure that what you eat is nutritious. By paying close attention to nutrition labels, you can determine the vitamin and mineral count of much of what you consume. There are certain general requirements for a healthy diet.
Yet another reason for diet failure is hidden calories. You may literally be consuming calories and not even realize it. For instance, the frappucinos that are so popular today are loaded with calories-as many as 600 in a single serving!
You may also indulge in sugary sodas-another source of extra calories. By taking a few simple steps, such as eliminating the exotic coffee drinks from your diet and substituting skimmed milk for whole milk, you may be able to eliminate the hidden calories.
You need to make sure that you get enough protein. For the typical woman, this would amount to 50 grams per day; for the typical man, 63 grams per day. Protein is vitally important for strengthening your muscles and teeth and maintaining good skin .Protein sources include lean meat, fish, chicken, eggs, beans, and nuts. Experts recommend that you have at least two servings of protein a day.
