10 Simple Diet Mistakes that make your Calorie Counting to be far Less Effective

• Mistake #1:  Calories are not created equally.  200 calories in chocolate is not nearly as dense as 200 calories in a colorful salad with protein.  We need more good quality calories that bad quality calories in order to lose weight
• Mistake #2: You are forgetting about macronutrients. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins make up calories.  Carbs and protein yield 4 calories per gram while fats yield 9 calories per gram.  The goal is to eat the correct amount of each  eating 1400 calories out of your 1800 calorie day in just one macronutrient is not good.  Each macronutrient has a purpose and requirement in our body.
• Mistake #3: You are forgetting about Micronutrients. While a donut does contain carbs, fat, and protein (usually 1-2g), the calories are empty.  When you consume food the goal is to look at food and think “What kind of energy is this going to give me? and what kinds of vitamins and minerals will it give me?”  Vitamins and Minerals are equally as important as macronutrients….the good news is they do NOT directly add to the calorie count.
• Mistake #4: Consuming too many calories.  Trying to lose weight?  At the end of the day weight loss is having less calories in versus calories out.  Meaning we need to eat less than what our body burns in activities each day.
• Mistake #5: Not consuming enough calories.  Trying to gain weight?  You need to be consuming more than what your body burns in activities each day.
• Mistake #6: Most people do not know how many calories they should even be consuming.  Advice:  My fitness pal does a decent job at giving you calorie needs based on goals and activity.
• Mistake #7: Overestimating calories burned while exercising.  The calories the machine tells you, is wayyyyyyyy more than reality because it goes off of the machines RPM and not your body’s work.
• Mistake #8:  Assuming all lasagna at a restaurant is the same.  Luckily most restaurants are registered with my fitness pal and give you calorie, macronutrient, and micronutrient breakdown.  However, when a food from a menu does not pop up, it’s hard to find an exact match as recipe and portion size really make a difference.
• Mistake #9:  No Plan. Meal prepping is a must!! I know my entire week’s menu before it has even started…helps me stay focused and organized.  Plus i control what goes into my food and then it becomes easier to track if need be.
• Mistake #10: Drinking calories.  Most people have no necessity for juices.  Skip the liquid calories and go for water!

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