Successful weight loss strategies consist of a healthy meal plan and a matching fitness program. One is nothing without the other, regardless what some self-proclaimed diet gurus maintain.
Planning healthy meals can be intimidating for new dieters, or those who just want to switch to a healthier lifestyle. A lot needs to be learned about food, especially about carbohydrates, protein, vitamin content, minerals, and other nutritional values. So, don't be surprised that when you too decide to start preparing healthier meals, you may also be confronted with some mysteries.
Answers to your diet questions can be obtained through extensive research, or simply by using a calorie counter to help you determine the nutritional value of all the ingredients you use in your meal preparations.
How do calorie counters work?
There are various types of calorie counters, from mobile phone applications, actual handheld devices, to online programs. The online calorie counter versions are most preferred because they are easy to use, accessible from any device that has an internet connection, don't cost anything, and offer more than just a simple calorie count.
Popular calorie counters are easy to use. All you need to do is type in the food that you want to examine, press enter and wait for the result. Almost instantly a list will appear on your screen, showing you not only the product's caloric count, but also what other nutritional values it has. This includes vitamins, minerals, fats, sugars, carbs, etc.
How can calorie counters help you prepare well-balanced meals?
As you may remember from biology class, all humans require a certain amount of calories each day to supply their bodies with enough fuel to do every-day activities. Depending on age and weight, women need anywhere from 1600 to 2000 calories a day, while men require 2000 to 3000 calories.
With this information at hand, and an easy-to-use calorie counter, you should be able to plan well-balanced meals that, at the end of the day, give you enough energy to perform normal daily activities, yet won't make you gain weight.
Of course, if you want to lose weight, you will have to eat less, or switch to foods that have fewer calories. You could also exercise more, and a great calorie counter program can help you with that as well. It will show you that, for instance, if you eat a family size (35 cm diam.) thin crust, meat pizza, you will need to run 22 min to burn off the 263 calories the meal added to your daily intake. As not everyone likes the same exercise, the program should offer a variety of activities you can do, like swimming, tennis, walking, aerobics, cycling, or weight lifting.
Even if you are not cheating on your diet, working out several times a week should be part of any weight loss plan. It keeps you toned, increases your metabolism, burns calories, and decreases your risk for certain diseases like Type II diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
Conclusion
Life in the twenty-first century is rather hectic and stressful. As a result, many people depend on greasy fast food and take-out meals. It is a shame, because these calorie-rich dishes are often loaded with fat, and can lead to weight gain and obesity. It does not have to be that way!
Anyone can turn their eating habits around by choosing restaurant meals low on calories, and cooking wholesome meals at home. If you are unsure about the ingredients you are using, simply check your convenient online calorie counter, and you'll know right away if you are making the right choice.
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