This is our first installment of our “Myths About Weight Loss” series. We want to inspire you to have a happy belly, balanced body, mind, and spirit, and especially to prioritize your good health. Read all about how counting calories is not the best way to lose weight.
Myth #1: Counting calories is the best way for sustainable weight loss.
The theory that calorie reduction will drive sustained weight loss is a huge myth. It’s just physiologically not true. Calories play a small role but are not the whole truth. This myth assumes our metabolism remains constant when actually it’s influenced by our food and our lifestyle choices.
Calorie counting is also problematic because it makes us use food as a dieting tool. I don’t believe we were meant to micro-manage our food intake. It takes away from satisfaction and pleasure from eating and socializing. Being at a healthy weight for our unique body is naturally the result of a balanced approach to eating and living.
- Calories are not created equal. Calories from an apple are metabolized and used far differently than from a sugar-free fudgsicle.
- Severe calorie restriction suppresses thyroid hormone which slows our metabolism. If your metabolism slows down, you will not lose weight.
- Dieters are reluctant to eat fat. Fat is the very thing that keeps us satisfied between meals. If you don’t eat enough fat, it’s only a matter of time before you crave and eat the foods you were working so hard to restrict.
Calorie counting will not lead to sustained weight loss, but eating a diet that promotes fat burning will. Remember that if you’re satiated, you’ll consume less food naturally.
Here are some tips that you should keep in mind about healthy weight loss:
- Put the scale in the closet.
- Use an article of clothing tried on weekly to assess progress.
- Try not to be obsessive. Usually people struggling with weight usually are.
- Eat good fats from nuts, seeds, grass-fed/wild caught animals.
- Avoid trans-fats and fried foods.
- Eat plenty of organic leafy green vegetables.
- Eat organic and nutrient dense whole foods, not broken, processed foods.
- And most importantly, slow the heck down.
- Savor your food long enough to hear your satiety cues. They’re there, but we usually are too distracted to notice when we don’t need to eat more food.
If you eat well balanced meals with few indulgences and your clothes aren’t fitting better, I would consider looking into sources of inflammation, stress, and hormonal imbalance. We help people who have tried everything and can’t seem to lose weight. Learn more about scheduling an initial consultation here.
Favorite Recipe
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Champion Breakfast Smoothie
Favorite Resources
Why We Get Fat
Learn to eat for nutrition and enjoyment.
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