How Does Calorie Counting Help With Weight Control?

ByDavid Donahoo

When I asked in my clinic what a person is doing to control their weight they often tell me they are counting the calories. They know what is in everything they eat and drink. When they go shopping they look at the ingredients, then the calories, then the fat and sugar content. They feel unhappy as they see something they would like is too high in calories, so it must not be any good for them.

My next question is "Is it working for you long term?" Interestingly I do not get a Yes answer very often. So if it is not working what is the problem?

Did you know that your body is the only thing that can actually tell you what you need? Other people can suggest what to have and what not to have based on their own knowledge of their body or from research. But unless they test your body and know your current level of activity, metabolism, emotional state and mental state, then they cannot really know the amount of calories that you need to take daily. The number of calories that you require change each day.

As an option you can use the guidelines produced by different weight control organisation and they may be close to what you need. How will you know? One way is by your weight either stabilising if you have been putting on weight or by losing weight if you were stable.

However if you do not lose weight and have been stable it does not mean that the number of calories you are being restricted to is the problem, it could be a number of other factors.

I have found that two factors which are more importance than calories counting: how you feel; and eating only when you are hungry. The emotions you feeling when you try to do anything include calorie counting can impact your body's metabolism 9the way the body burns up what you eat). When you are happy and positive, your energy in your body will rise. When this happens, your body's ability to metabolise the food you eat will increase. You can also increase your metabolism through activity and exercise, assuming that you enjoy what you are doing.

The second point is that you eat only when hungry. If you do this and restrict the calories or portion size, then your body will burn up what you eat. If it needs to burn up more it can work on what is already stored in the body.

So calorie counting is really about:

1) Controlling how much you eat, i.e. eat when hungry and stop when full and only eat when hungry, and

2) Work with getting your metabolism working better and in a happier and more positive way.

Your aim of controlling you weight is to metabolise all that you eat. The things that can impact this are:

• Low energy or fatigue which can be from either negative feelings or negative thoughts

• Low activity so your body is not moving

• Not drinking enough water to keep your hydrated for the body to function correctly

• Eating when you are not hungry.

From now on, rather than being concerned with the number of calories you eat, how about focusing on getting your feelings more positive and only eating when you are hungry?

By the way, if you like what you have just read, you will most likely enjoy our free ebook "How to lose weight using the power of the mind", more hints and information emails to help you control your weight, by registering at: http://www.hypnoticgastricbanding.com.au.

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Health and Fitness: Weight-Loss
David Donahoo

Email Address:SubscribeWeight Loss Article FeedFind More ArticlesSearchRecent ArticlesShould I Weigh Myself? Three Tips For SuccessHow To Lose Weight Fast - Why Should You Exercise Less But With More IntensityDon't Diet, Change Your LifestyleHow to Get Rid of Muffin Top FatThe GERD Diet: Food and LifestyleWhat If You Can't Lose Weight? Try The FollowingSimple Steps to Get Rid of Your Excessive-Weight ProblemsSimple Ways to Transform the Belly Bulge Into Fine AbsCost Of Vegan Diet - May Be Worth It No Matter What The CostWhy You Can't Lose Weight: Is It "A Perfect Storm" or "The Diet Matrix"?Submitted On January 25, 2012. Viewed 6 times. Word count: 556.

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Donahoo, David".".25 Jan. 2012EzineArticles.com.3 Feb. 2012 .APA Style Citation:
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