I think any decent discussion about dieting should always begin with calories in versus calories out. Why? It’s not that I don’t agree that most people’s problems have little do with the amount they are eating and more so the type of foods they are eating. I think people who have decided to become masters of their own body should dedicate a great deal of time into learning about how metabolism works, what starches, fats, proteins and fruits and veggies do to their metabolism. For the most part I think a large percentage of americans are fat because they eat far too many processed sugars and starches. I do not believe in the attitude that fat makes us fat and that low-fat diets are the way to go. I actually believe that low carb (or should I say medium carb) diets are a win-win situation for most people looking to take off 20-50 pounds of fat.
But when someone comes to me and says, hey I want to lose weight the first thing I usually have them do is count calories. Why? It’s so old school? If they go low-carb they won’t have to count calories, they’ll just not eat carbs, it’s so simple! But it’s not. People lie, above all else, to themselves. People are ignorant. The first five to ten pounds can melt off just by stopping and looking at what we eat. Things get trickier after that but the first real diet breakthrough for anyone comes when they can look at a plate and correctly guesstimate how many calories, carbs, fats and proteins are awaiting their falsely starved fat cells.
Counting Calories is about CONTROL. It’s about AWARENESS and above all else it’s about becoming MINDFUL OF WHAT WE EAT. I recommend anyone considering a change in their diet to spend three months just looking at the calorie content of the food they put in their mouth. I think they’ll learn a ton about themselves and a ton about the foods they eat. And when the time comes to take those fat loss efforts even further you will be armed with the ability to know what you are putting in your mouth and how to make better choices for yourself.
The last most important reason to count calories is to begin taking a creator mindset. A responsibility towards your lifestyle where the food is no longer making you fat but YOU are making choices about what you eat. I think a lot of excuses will melt away with those first ten pounds and then we can really get into the nooks and crannies and find out what type of eating will best benefit you in the long term pursuit of physical supremacy.
