November 2022 - #108 - Calorie Counting for Weight Loss

Welcome Back Everyone and since it was Halloween yesterday it is probably the best time to talk about watching our calories.

Yes, we are talking about calories today and it's true that a diet low in calories can definitely achieve weight loss.

So whenever the talk of a guaranteed way to lose weight comes about there are two things that come to mind. A calorie counting diet or a high protein diet, which can be similar but are not really the same.

The difference is a high protein diet must only be done for short periods of time as they are not very healthy on a long term but the weight loss can be fabulous.

A low calorie diet can be much more healthy and more creative with food preparation as anything low in calories can be used to make meal times exciting without eating large amounts of (meat) protein.

Through all the years of experimenting and yo yo dieting both of the diets mentioned above are a sure fire way to lose weight if you can follow a stricter type of diet plan.

If you would like an example of a protein diet there is one on our website and here is the link.

The Holiday Diet - Going on Vacation?

Foods that are low in calories:

Yes low calorie foods are usually healthy in nature because most of these foods will be either fruits, vegetables or legumes. So don't limit yourself in any of these 3 categories when it comes to meal preparations or snack creations.

We have made a small but handy list to get you started, including a few of the most commonly used foods that are low in calories and can be easily used in any low calorie diet.

Tips to Help Create Low Calorie Meals:

Try to avoid dips, dressing and saucy things if possible to greatly reduce calorie intake.

If you choose to use dips or dressing, try making your own, as homemade dressings are healthier and you know exactly what's in them.

Since this type of diet means eating more fresh salads here are some tips when it comes to homemade salad dressing.

Homemade Salad Dressing Tips:

Any healthy oil will do such as avocado or olive oil. Oil will always have lots of calories, so the trick is not to use a whole lot of dressing on your salad.

Try using Braggs apple cider vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of regular vinegar. These are both very healthy choices that have almost no calories.

Please don't forget our homemade soups:

And of course our regular visitors will always include homemade soups when it comes to anything that must be low in calories.

We have many homemade soup recipes to choose from that can also give you great ideas to create your own.

Soups are an amazing way to lose weight because we know they are high in nutrition and low in calories.

Nuts - Another Source of Protein:

Nuts are a good protein alternative. Enjoy different types of nuts is small quantities such as almonds, pecans, peanuts and such. Most nuts are not exactly low when it comes to the calorie count so choose wisely.

Legumes Offer Needed Fiber:

Legumes are a great way to increase that much needed daily fiber we need to keep our digestive systems working properly. That is why I included a few of them in the low calorie chart. Get creative and choose from many others that are available.

Why do Most People Rely on a Low Calorie Diet: Quite simply because it works (as long as you can stick to the rules).

Are Low Calorie Diets Safe:

If you keep your daily calorie count safe then yes. If you purposely make your daily calorie count drastically low to lose weight fast, then be careful. Short term can usually be tolerated with no health issues, but longer stents are probably not.

How Many Calories Should I Eat A Day?

The amount of calories you should eat daily depends on several factors:

-Your age, height, gender

-Daily activity level

-Whether you want to lose, maintain or gain weight depending on your circumstances

If you are serious about calorie counting please investigate the right amount of calories that you need before going on a strict calorie diet.

Conclusion:

We have known for years that a low calorie diet will result in weight loss, but the real challenge is to keep creating meals that are exciting and tasty.

If you have an opinion or would like to share a story with us we would love to hear from you.

Use our Contact Us page - or our Weight Loss News page (Your Story Counts).