Counting calories: Get back to weight-loss basics
Weight control really boils down to one thing — calories. See what steps you can take to win the calorie battle.
Even with all the diet plans out there, weight management still comes down to the calories you take in versus those you burn off during activity.
Popular fad diets may promise you that not eating carbohydrates (carbs) or eating a pile of grapefruit is the secret to weight loss. But it really comes down to eating fewer calories than your body is using if you want to lose weight.
Calories: Fuel for your body
Calories are the energy in food. Your body has a constant demand for energy and uses the calories from food to keep working. Energy from calories fuels your every action, from fidgeting to marathon running.
Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are the types of nutrients that have calories and are the main energy sources for your body. No matter where they come from, the calories you eat are either converted to physical energy or stored within your body as fat.
These stored calories will stay in your body as fat unless you use them up. You can do this by cutting how many calories you take in so that your body must draw on reserves for energy. Or you can add more physical activity so that you burn more calories.
Tipping the scale
Your weight is a balancing act, but the equation is simple. If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. And if you eat fewer calories and burn more calories through physical activity, you lose weight.
In the past, research found about 3,500 calories of energy equaled about 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) of fat. So researchers thought burning or cutting 500 calories a day led to losing 1 pound a week. But this isn't true for everyone.
In general, if you cut about 500 calories a day from your usual diet, you may lose about ½ to 1 pound a week. But this can vary depending on your body, how much weight you want to lose, your gender and activity level.
It sounds simple. But it's more difficult because when you lose weight, you usually lose a mix of fat, lean tissue and water. Also, because of changes that occur in the body as a cause of weight loss, you may need to decrease calories more to keep losing weight.
Cutting calories
Cutting calories needs to include change, but it doesn't have to be hard. These changes can have a big impact on the number of calories you take in:
- Skipping high-calorie, low-nutrition items
- Swapping high-calorie foods for lower calorie choices
- Cutting portion sizes
Saving calories by cutting high-calorie, low-nutrition items
Skipping one or two high-calorie items is a good place to start when cutting calories. For example, you could skip your morning latte, soda at lunch or that evening bowl of ice cream.
Think about what you eat and drink each day and find items you could cut out. If you think that skipping your treat will leave you with a craving, swap it with a low-calorie choice.
| Instead of this... | Calories* | Try this... | Calories* |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Actual calories may vary by brand. | |||
| Flavored latte, 16 ounces | 268 | Black coffee, 16 ounces | 5 |
| Chocolate ice cream, 1 cup | 292 | Strawberries, 1 1/2 cups whole | 69 |
| Lemon-lime soda, 16 ounces | 210 | Sparkling water, 16 ounces | 0 |
Swapping high-calorie foods for lower calorie choices
Simple swaps can make a big difference when it comes to cutting calories. For example, you can save 60 calories a glass by drinking fat-free milk instead of whole milk. Instead of having a second slice of pizza, reach for some fresh fruit. Or snack on air-popped popcorn instead of chips. Eat more fruits and vegetables, which have many nutrients and are high in fiber. And they'll fill you up more than high-fat choices.
| Instead of this... | Calories* | Try this... | Calories* |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Actual calories may vary by brand. | |||
| Whole milk, 8 ounces | 149 | Skim milk, 8 ounces | 91 |
| Regular-crust pepperoni pizza, fast food, 2 slices (each slice equals 1/8 of a 14-inch restaurant pizza) | 626 | Regular-crust pepperoni pizza, fast food, 1 slice (1/8 of a 14-inch restaurant pizza), plus 2 cups grapes | 437 |
| Ranch-flavored tortilla chips, 1 snack bag (3 ounces) | 426 | 3 1/2 cups popcorn, air-popped | 109 |
Cutting your portion sizes
The sizes of your portions affect how many calories you're getting. Twice the amount of food can sometimes mean twice the number of calories. But some foods with fewer calories, such as many fruits and vegetables, can be eaten in larger portions.
It's common to guess that you eat less than you actually do, such as if you're dining out. Paying attention to your portions is a good way to control calories.
| A typical portion... | Calories* | A standard serving... | Calories* |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Actual calories may vary by brand. | |||
| Orange juice, 8 ounces | 112 | Orange juice, 4 ounces | 56 |
| Buttermilk pancake, 6-inch diameter (77 grams) | 175 | Buttermilk pancake, 4-inch diameter (41 grams) | 86 |
| Whole-grain noodles, cooked, 1 1/2 cups | 355 | Whole-grain noodles, cooked, 1 cup | 237 |
Try these tips to control portion sizes and cut calories:
- Start small. At the start of a meal, take a little less than what you think you'll eat. If you're still hungry, eat more vegetables or fruit.
- Eat from plates, not packages. Eating right from a container gives you no sense of how much you're eating. Seeing food on a plate or in a bowl keeps you aware of how much you're eating. Think about using a smaller plate or bowl.
- Check food labels. Be sure to check the Nutrition Facts panel for the serving size and number of calories per serving. You may find that the small bag of chips you eat with lunch every day, for example, is two servings, not one. This means it's twice the calories you thought.
- Use a calorie counter. Check out reputable resources that offer tools to count calories, such as websites or smartphone applications.
Putting it all together
Replacing high-calorie foods with lower calorie choices and cutting your portion sizes can help you cut calories and improve weight control. For a successful — and lasting — weight management plan, you also need to increase your physical activity. Combining regular activity and healthy eating will best help you get to and maintain a healthy weight.
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Jan. 18, 2023
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FAQs
Can you lose weight just by counting calories? ›
“Calorie counting can work. If you're doing it in a way that promotes a calorie deficit, you'll lose weight. But it doesn't always promote making the healthiest or most satisfying choices. If you aren't careful, it can backfire,” says Cassetty.
How long does it take to start losing weight when counting calories? ›In general, if you cut about 500 calories a day from your usual diet, you may lose about ½ to 1 pound a week. But this can vary depending on your body, how much weight you want to lose, your gender and activity level.
Is counting calories the easiest way to lose weight? ›Counting calories can be effective for weight loss in the short term, and it may work long term for some. But for the vast majority of people, it eventually not only fails but also can do harm. For starters, it can detract from the pleasure of eating, turning meals into a tedious exercise of tallying and food weighing.
How much of a calorie deficit Do I need to lose 2 lbs per week? ›Generally to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day, through a lower calorie diet and regular physical activity. Depending on your weight, 5% of your current weight may be a realistic goal, at least for an initial goal.
Is 1200 calories a day too low? ›A 1,200-calorie diet is much too low for most people and can result in negative side effects like dizziness, extreme hunger, nausea, micronutrient deficiencies, fatigue, headaches, and gallstones ( 23 ). Furthermore, a 1,200-calorie diet can set you up for failure if long-term weight loss is your goal.
How many calories does 10,000 steps burn? ›Good for you! It takes 20 steps to burn 1 calorie, therefore walking 10,000 steps burns off about 500 calories, which can then be added to your total calorie budget for the day. The recommended daily calorie requirement is 1,800 for an average female and 2,200 for an average male.
What are the stages of losing weight? ›- Phase -1 – GLYCOGEN DEPLETION. Glycogen Depletion: ...
- Phase -2 – FAT LOSS. This is the sweet spot for healthy weight loss. ...
- Phase -3 – PLATEAU. ...
- Phase -4 – METABOLIC RECOVERY. ...
- All the Phases of Weight Management:
If you're not losing weight in a calorie deficit you may need to adjust your stress levels, diet, and sleep patterns. Other reasons for weight gain during a calorie deficit are hormonal changes, aging, and other health conditions.
How to speed up metabolism? ›- Exercise more. Add interval training to your cardio routine and burn more calories in less time. ...
- Weight train. Add muscle mass to your body and you can burn more calories at rest. ...
- Don't skip meals, especially breakfast. ...
- Eat fat-burning foods. ...
- Get a good night's sleep every night.
You can lose weight by eating less, but adding physical activity allows you to burn more calories than dieting alone. Any weight-loss plan that includes regular exercise is not only more successful — it's also healthier. By eating a healthy diet and exercising, you're keeping your bones, muscles, and heart strong.
Should I count calories or just eat healthy to lose weight? ›
Paying attention to the quality of the food is more effective for weight loss than religiously counting calories, according to a new study. Researchers at Stanford University found there is no significant difference in weight change between a healthy low-fat diet versus a healthy low-carbohydrate diet.
Can you lose weight counting calories without exercise? ›Exercise can help you burn more calories each day, which can make creating this calorie deficit easier. However, it is entirely possible to create a calorie deficit just by reducing the amount of food you eat.
How many total calories do I need to burn to lose weight? ›To lose one pound of fat, you need to create a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories. For example if you wanted to lose one pound a week divide 3,500 calories by seven to get 500; that means negative 500 calories a day overall. FIND OUT IF WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY IS RIGHT FOR YOU?