| If you're trying to lose weight chances are you've tried | | | | controlled diets can work. If you take a person who |
| a portion control diet of some kind at least once. One | | | | constantly eats more calories than he needs and you |
| of the key reasons for portion control diets is because | | | | make his meals into smaller portions he's going to lose |
| studies have shown that Americans drastically | | | | weight because he's eating fewer calories than he did |
| underestimate how many calories they consume per | | | | on his normal diet. Again, it's the calories consumed |
| day. | | | | that's responsible. |
| Most Americans consume far more calories than they | | | | So, does this mean you have to write down every |
| actually need and this is one of the reasons why we | | | | single calorie you eat for the rest of your life? Not if |
| have such an alarming rate of obesity. A portion | | | | you don't want to (and who does anyway?) It just |
| controlled diet can help reduce the number of calories | | | | requires a bit of planning as does a portion control diet. |
| consumed and lead to weight loss. However, there is a | | | | Once you know how many calories you must |
| problem with portion control diets that creators of | | | | consume to maintain your current bodyweight you |
| these diets never tell you about. Controlling portions is a | | | | need to subtract enough calories from that number to |
| key to successful weight loss but not all portions are | | | | create an energy deficit required to lose weight. |
| equal. Two equal sized portions of food may not | | | | So, if you will lose weight consuming 1,500 calories per |
| contain the same number of calories. | | | | day then simply divide that number up into 4 or 5 |
| For example, 1 slice of papa murphy's de-lite meat | | | | meals. That's 300 calories per meal if you eat 5 meals |
| pizza contains 190 calories while the same serving of | | | | each day. You don't have to write down the calories |
| their de-lite veggie pizza contains 150 calories (why do | | | | once you know how to approximate how many you're |
| I have pizza on my mind?). Same portion size but not | | | | eating per meal. I find it interesting that most people do |
| the same number of calories. | | | | not "have the time" to count calories yet they spend |
| That's a problem with focusing solely on portion control | | | | twice the amount of time counting how many grams |
| rather than considering the calories consumed. In the | | | | of carbohydrates, protein and fat they consume. |
| end, calories consumed versus calories burned | | | | Personally, I find calorie counting much easier (and less |
| determines whether or not you lose weight. There's | | | | of a headache)than obsessing over grams of this and |
| just no way around this whether you believe in it or | | | | that. Unless you're getting super-lean for a bodybuilding |
| not. Even if you never eat another carbohydrate in | | | | or fitness competition of some kind you don't need to |
| your life you will gain weight if you eat too many | | | | worry about the details. Let me put it this way, the |
| calories regardless if you eat protein, fat or ideal | | | | details will never give you the results you want without |
| portion sizes. | | | | the fundamentals firmly in place. In other words, the |
| Most people end up making weight loss into rocket | | | | grams of this and that are meaningless and won't help |
| science when it's a very simple concept. They try to | | | | you lose weight if you are overeating. |
| eat proper portion sized meals, eliminate or reduce | | | | Now, you don't have to write down calories but you do |
| carbohydrates, stop eating fat, starve themselves, go | | | | need a basic understanding of calorie counting. One |
| on grapefruit diets or try many other fad diets. But, | | | | way to do this is to purchase a small book that |
| what is often misunderstood is the fact that consuming | | | | contains the calories of all kinds of different foods. I |
| more calories than you burn results in weight gain. I'm | | | | recommend an easier alternative using a great online |
| not saying you don't need to pay attention to nutrients | | | | resource called Diet There you can find the calories |
| or portion sizes, you just don't need to complicate | | | | and nutrition facts for just about any restaurant or |
| things so much. | | | | food you can imagine. |
| The reason why low-carbohydrate diets work initially is | | | | It's free to use. Bookmark it so you can refer to it |
| because they trick you into eating fewer calories than | | | | often. It takes some time to learn how to "eyeball" the |
| you did when eating carbs. Sure you can eat all the | | | | calories you consume but the time you invest in |
| other foods you want, but they do have certain rules | | | | learning it will pay long-term dividends in helping you |
| that ensure a calorie deficit is achieved whether they | | | | lose weight and keep it off. |
| tell you or not. | | | | The point to all of this is to help simplify the confusion |
| Weight loss or weight gain always comes down to the | | | | of losing weight. While portion control is important, |
| calories in the end. And, that's the reason why portion | | | | counting calories consumed is what matters most. |