Don't Count Calories...there is a better way!

• By Beth Meirav
• My Blog

How many calories are in that? Do you ever ask yourself or someone else that question? I am not a big fan of counting calories.

I don't feel that tracking your calories is a sustainable way to lose weight and, more importantly, keep it off. Did you know there is a 20% margin of error (FDA) allowed when they list the calories on a food? 20%! That's huge!

Also you need to be aware that when calories are listed on a something that it's per serving and there could be multiple servings in what you are eating. Paying attention to the portion you are ingesting is key.

Counting calories can also cause stress and unnecessary guilt. It will be more challenging to eat out or at a friend's house. Honestly, it can suck the joy out of any meal.

The nutritious value of a food is decidedly much more important than the calories. An avocado, for example, is actually highly caloric (250-340), however is a great healthy fat. Basically, not all calories are created equal. A 2000 calorie plate of gummy bears obviously is not the same as a 2000 calorie plate of fruit, veggies and lean protein.

When you’re more in tune with your hunger cues, when you listen to your body, you build the confidence to know what to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat based on your own body's needs. This is the key to not only losing weight, but to maintaining that loss. These cues are what should drive your eating habits, not counting calories.  At our natural weight loss center in Boca Raton, we can help you get in tune with these cues so you can lose the weight and keep it off.