There are many people who are unsure whether calorie counting works. People who believe they can lose weight by counting calories believe that it is simply a matter of calories in versus calories out. Other people feel that calorie counting is outdated and ineffective, often leaving people heavier than when they started. The fact that both sides insist their ideas are science-based makes matters even more confusing. We will take a look at the evidence to determine whether counting calories can work.
Calories: How Do They Work?
The energy needed to raise 1 gram of water by 1°C is defined as a calorie. Your body gets its energy from the food and drinks you consume. Calories describe the amount of energy you consume. Your body requires calories when performing any type of physical activity.
Calories from food are usually measured in kilocalories or thousands of calories. Despite this, many people use the term “calories” instead of “kilocalories” since the term is awkward to use.
Different types of food have different caloric values. Physical activity, on the other hand, requires the usage of those calories.
Calories: How Do You Burn Them?
Understanding how your body uses calories is crucial to understanding why they matter. Diet plays a major role here. Calories are derived from food and beverage consumption. Each of the macronutrients contributes to that amount of calories – carbs, proteins, fats. The body decomposes the food you eat during digestion. Depending on the subunit used, your body can either build tissues or produce energy.
These nutrients are used by your body to produce calories for three primary functions: basic metabolism, digestion, and physical activity.
Providing energy to your organs is one of the main functions of calories. To support each of these functions, your body requires a certain volume of energy. As its name implies, this is the number of calories your body burns whilst essentially resting. Approximately 50% of your total daily energy needs are derived from BMR or RMR.
In order to digest and break down our food, our body uses some of the calories we eat. Foods have varying amounts of what is known as a thermic effect, which varies according to the foods eaten.
Physical activity uses the remaining calories in food. Your everyday activities, as well as workouts, contribute to this. Because of this, the number of calories needed to meet this category may vary greatly day by day and person by person.
The Benefits of Counting Calories
Calorie counting is a tried-and-true way to lose weight. Numerous studies have shown that recording your food intake and physical activity can greatly assist in weight loss. Weight loss programs that include calorie counting result in a 7-pound weight loss advantage over those that do not. You seem to have better results if you record your intake consistently.
Researchers found that those who tracked their food intake, physical activity, and body weight more frequently lost a greater amount of weight.
Why Does Calorie Counting Work?
Calorie tracking will enable you to identify the eating habits you need to pay attention to if you’re looking to lose weight. It is easier to reduce your total daily calories when you are aware of the total number of calories you eat through tracking and comparing what you eat. In addition, keeping a food diary can help you monitor your behavior. Maintaining accountability for your daily choices may motivate you to keep on moving towards your goals.
