If you’re focused on losing weight this winter, then chances are, you’re counting your calories. It’s easy to keep track of everything you eat and add it all up each day, but actually reducing your calorie intake is something else altogether. No worries! I can help. Here the best ways to reduce your daily calorie intake.
In order to cut your calorie intake, first you have to determine how many you actually need. There’s a calculator that’s very simple to use available at mypyramid.gov that will help you figure this out. You will plug your height, age, sex, level of activity, and current weight into the calculator and it tells you how many calories you should be consuming each day.
Be sure you know the numbers. You may not know it, but each different kind of macronutrient contains a different number of calories. For instance, a single gram of fat contains 9 calories, one gram of alcohol has 7 calories, and each gram of protein and carbohydrate contains 4 calories. When you look at it like this, it makes sense to cut fat calories from your diet when your trying to reduce your calorie intake.
Keep track. Buy a small notepad or memo book to record the foods you eat, and the corresponding calorie count. Once you keep track or a week, you can look back and see which choices were the best, and which food choices left you unhappy and embarrassed. It’s shocking how many calories you will be able to cut, once you see where your weaknesses are.
Make sure you get help when you need it. If you find that you’re having trouble cutting calories, you can talk to a friend that is dieting as well or seek the help of a professional.
Choose your calories wisely. There are times when you will find food items that have the same amount of calories, but one of the items has “smarter” calories. For instance, selecting foods that are high in fiber of protein can make your body work harder to process them. These foods can burn as much as 15-20 extra calories a day. Additionally, eating high protein or high fiber foods will make you feel fuller, much faster.
Step away from the boxes and cans. This is by far, the easiest way to reduce your calorie consumption. Open your pantry and remove all the boxes and cans of prepared foods, put them in a bag, and set the bag to the side. Anything that’s been processed and is designed to have long shelf life in a can or box is likely packed with fat and sodium, and very likely calories. Of course its tastes good, but its full of preservatives and chemicals that have names that most people can’t even pronounce, so don’t eat them.
Drinks need to be counted as well. Anytime you’re counting calories, don’t forget to count the calories in the beverages you enjoy. Colas, juices, and even coffee drinks contain a lot of calories.
Stay away from the drive-thru window. Aside from staying away from boxed and canned prepared foods, the best way to cut calories is to avoid eating fast food. This kind of food is very fattening.
Know your potions. When you’re trying to reduce your calorie intake, stick to what the producer of the food item suggest as a serving. You’ll be shocked (pleasantly) by how many fewer calories you’re consuming!
Once your body adjusts to the new number of calories you’re consuming, you’ll feel healthier and more satisfied with every passing day. And now that you know some sneaky ways to reduce your calorie intake, you’ll be shedding pounds in no time!
Tired of wasting your money in diets that doesn’t work? Here you will find articles and reviews of personalized diet plans to lose weight permanently. You can also watch my videos about healthy diet plans to lose weight quickly.
