Most weight loss programs involve calorie counting. You may have a daily calorie limit that you must not exceed. Is this the best way to achieve weight loss? Or is this method of weight loss fundamentally flawed?

Here’s the problem with calorie counting - not all calories are the same.

Different foods, although they may contain the same number of calories, have totally different nutritional values and totally different effects on your metabolism.

For example a small chicken breast and a packet of crisps (chips) both contain about 160 calories. But you cannot compare the benefits they have on your body.

The chicken breast is great source of protein that your body will use for energy. But the crisps (chips) are basically useless to your body and will slow your metabolism and leave you hungry.

Obviously this is an extreme example. But that is exactly what these calorie counting plans encourage. You are allowed any foods as long as you don’t exceed your daily calorie limit.

This creates 2 problems;
1/ Unhealthy, processed foods are consumed. Whether you are on a restricted calorie diet or not eating these foods will still lead to a slower metabolism and and stop you losing fat. Any weight you do lose is likely to be water and/or tissue.

2/ You can’t eat enough ‘good stuff.’ Because you have wasted lots of calories on your ‘treats,’ there are not enough calories left to get all the nutrients you need in a day’s food. I.e. you don’t eat as much protein, fruit and veggies as you need to.

Today’s Takeaway – Think quality not quantity. What you eat is far more important than how much you eat. You will find you end up consuming less calories when eating healthily anyway, so your calorie intake will drop without you even meaning  it to.