The first thing I would say is yes calorie counting it is important, if you want to lose body fat, you need to have a calorie deficit.
There are plenty of calorie counting apps out there and calorie calculators.
Although calorie counting is certainly important, it’s not a panacea for long-term fat loss.
You Are What You Eat!
What you eat is even more important!
I saw a ridiculous video a few months ago, basically saying that food choice isn’t as important as calorie counting for fat loss.
In the short term calorie deficit will make you lose weight even if the calories come from poor food choices.
Hormonal Imbalances
In the longer-term poor food choices can cause hormonal imbalances leading to an increase in body fat.
Many poor personal trainers with limited nutrition knowledge go ‘calorie counting mad’ to try and get quick results, however, this isn’t giving the client any nutrition knowledge, and like all the crash diets, long term this just doesn’t work!
Work with a good quality, experienced Personal Trainer who’ll help you in a way that is both achievable and sustainable.
Calorie Counting or Better Food Choices?
I would focus on educating the client into making better food choices rather than being obsessed with pure calorie counting.
Not only is this not educating someone it can also lead to obsessive behaviour and compromised mental well-being.
Focussing on what you eat often means the calories will take care of themselves.
For example if you consume more nutritious food, which is higher in fibre, contains a good source of protein, with complex carbohydrates you will feel full for longer, meaning you are less likely to snack on more unhealthy options, therfore consuming less calories.
Balancing Insulin Levels
The most important part of fat loss is balancing insulin levels in the body.
Insulin is released when you have a high carbohydrate meal, especially when the meal contains quick-release sugars as these will cause the blood sugar to rise rapidly.
This means more insulin is released so the cells of the body can take up this excess sugar from the blood.
Insulin Resistance
Over time the more often blood sugar has spiked, the cells of the body can eventually become insulin resistant.
This unfortunately means the sugar can no longer be taken up by these cells, therefore causing the sugar to be dumped around the stomach in the adipose tissue where it will be stored as fat.
Body Fat Reduction
For body fat reduction, balancing insulin levels is more important than calorie counting.
The reason for this is that balancing insulin levels means, you will have fewer blood sugar highs and lows therefore you will feel fuller for longer, meaning you are likely to eat fewer calories anyway! Win win!
Not to mention better food choices will mean you have more energy to train harder, therefore getting more out of your workouts and ultimately burning more calories.
Read my blog on why better food choices are more important than calorie counting for sustainable weight loss.
Key Takeaways
Calorie intake is important for fat loss.
If you eat too many calories you WILL put weight on.
Though, food choice is more important in the long-term as this will balance your insulin levels, leading you to want to snack less and therefore likely lead to less calorie intake anyway.
Better food choices will lead to a more nutrient-rich diet therefore again leading to more energy, meaning less snacking and better training!
In my personal experience I find educating the individual on food choices means that the calories then tend to take care of themselves, which leads to sustainable fat loss.
You can work with me and combine Nutrition Consultancy with Personal Training to optimise your weight loss goals.
Personal Training is available at the Colmore Building in Birmingham city centre and outdoors in the North Birmingham area.
Nutrition Consultancy is done online so please get in touch wherever you are in the world.
