Sunday, February 1, 2009

Calories Can Really Make a Difference to Any Weight Loss Plan

By Shana Leslie

I bet your thinking, oh no, here we go again another diet where I have to count calories. I hate counting calories, just about as much as I hate weighing all my food portions.

In order to lose weight you will have to become more aware of what you are eating daily and try to eat smaller portions than normal. Counting calories and weighing your food on food scales can be frustrating, but unless you are going to make the effort to reduce your portions, this is what you will have to do in order to lose weight.

However there is a real difference between counting calories and knowing the calorie counts for the foods you are eating. Not being aware of what you are eating and the amount of calories you consume on a daily basis, is just asking for trouble. Most of us are overweight because we had no idea of the extremely high calorie intake we were consuming each day. Not being aware of the calories in the foods we eat each day is like setting ourselves up for failure no matter what weight loss plan we are following.

A banana has 105 calories approximately, an apple has 71 calories approximately, and an orange has 61 calories approximately. Even though fruits don't have a huge calorie count you would not want to eat a banana daily, when you could choose something with less calories.

Losing weight is all about calories...even fruits and vegetables in the lower calorie food group have different calorie values. Did you know that a medium banana is approximately 105 calories, a medium apple is approximately 71 calories and a medium orange is approximately 61 calories? I know your thinking, big deal.

People are clueless to the fact that even fruits and vegetables vary in the amount of calories they have. Did you know that a banana has the most calories coming in at 105 approximately for a medium size, an apple 71 calories for a medium size and an orange approximately 61 calories for a medium size? This comparison shows that even when it comes to fruits and vegetables you have to pick your foods wisely if you are wanting to lose weight.

Eating sensibly doesn't have to be that hard, it just has to be a well thought out balanced nutritious meal. I enjoy lots of fruits and vegetables, which amazingly become delicious after eating them for awhile. I can say this because I used to hate eating fruits and vegetables. Now I love them.

Calories play a major role in weight loss and once you learn to be more aware of the nutritious value in what you are eating, the pounds will start falling off for you as well. - 16650

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