CALORIE COUNTING FOR WEIGHT LOSS || Should You Do It?

LOOKING FOR EASY HEALTHY RECIPES? CHECK OUT MY COOKING CHANNEL, CLEAN & DELICIOUS!

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Open
0:17 Intro - Does counting calories work
0:34 Shift the question
1:25 Check out my free 3-part mind-body weight loss series
2:05 Does calorie counting work for weight loss?
3:14 Not all calories are the same
3:48 Quality of calories
4:53 Why counting works for some and not for others
7:01 Simple, powerful questions when considering counting calories
7:23 Clean eating freed me
9:35 Outro

My name is Dani Spies, and I am a Life & Weight Loss coach. I show people how to take a kind, sane, sustainable approach to permanent weight loss without the need for crazy rules and traditional dieting techniques. Thanks for being here!
XO, Dani

#countingcalories #caloriecoutning #weightloss

[Dani_Spies]

I'm excited to hear what you're experience is with calorie counting! Please share in the comments below. XO - Dani

[robinjalkanen]

I have counted calories on many 'dieting' ventures over the years, and every the novelty wore off after a month and I quit. It had me focusing on food in a negative way that didn't work for me. Now I use a method that is much more freeing for me. Each meal and has built-in calorie-control and only requires that I count to 3. 1/3 plate healthy protien, 1/3 whole grain/starchy veg, 2/3 fruit/veg. MUCH more sustainable for me. No more obsessing, scanning, logging, counting. .just enjoying my whole foods of choice that day.

[outofmyelement]

My experience with counting calories is some positive: It DOES make me very aware of portion sizes - mine tend to sneak up over time. But overall, counting calories and logging all the food I eat makes me focus MORE on food. I find myself constantly "weighing" my food choices (both literally and figuratively) all. the. time. I'd much rather be in a space where I can enjoy food, but not obsess over it. I want food to be enjoyable nourishment, not the focus of my every thought!

[playingthemomgame]

I love that mindset of “look at all the foods I get to eat” when choosing healthier options, versus considering all the foods I can’t eat. I hope to adapt that mindset!

[TammyRead-sb]

I have more connection and love when I don't count. I just become aware of nutrition and clean eating. I eat when I'm hungry stop when I'm full. I learn to cope with emotions rather than eating them.

[AAngela]

This video is amazing! Thank you! The perspective of not needing to be a black and white answer is so good. I tend to think that way, and it is very limiting. Sometimes I want to count and sometimes I am very much just wanting to listen to my body. The counting sometimes helps me be more aware of my salt and potassium intake. I struggle with water retention and swollen ankles since being on blood pressure meds. It really is more about listening to your body. If it feels good to count do it. If it feels good to just focus on intuitive eating do that. Each day or season may be different as to what feels right. Thank you ! The way you present things is so welcoming and approachable ! ❤❤❤

[sararetka]

As someone who studied nutrition in college I've been aware of how to count calories for almost 20 years now. It's something that I've used on and off. I'm always curious about how many calories are in a new recipe that I make. But I also hate the amount of time/effort that it takes (especially as a SAHM of 2 toddlers🤪). My relationship with food has been complicated since I was in middle school, and my body image struggles started in early college because of a long-time bf who had body image issues and projected them onto me (despite neither of us being even slightly overweight). I thought I had my relationship with food figured out, but since having 2 kids I've reverted back a bit and turn to it when I'm stressed. It's a work in progress, but I would ideally like to get back to being *aware* and *mindful* of calories, but not always tracking everything I eat. Love your channel btw🫶

[sarahhenderson]

I love learning about health, nutrition and fitness and have heard about counting calories for years. The thought of doing it though feels so restrictive in my own personal opinion. It feels like it zaps all the fun and joy of eating a delicious meal. I’m really making a more conscious effort in eating only Whole Foods these days and stopping when I feel satiated.

[PbLigand]

Hi Dani. I have been counting calories for about 6 years very successfully. It took me a little over a year to lose the weight I needed to lose. I have been maintaining ever since. ***Side note, I reverse dieted back to eating a maintenance calorie amount. Also worth mentioning, not all calories are the same. Whole foods go a very very long way in terms of nutrition and satiety. I hope this helps!

[joyfulmommy]

I had a lot of success when I started counting calories. I only did it for about a month or so, at first, but it helped me be more aware of what I was consuming each day. I focus on eating mostly whole, unprocessed foods, but I will occasionally go back to calorie counting for a little while, when I feel like I’ve gotten a little off track.

[Demonizar]

Never bothered with calorie intake, but knew that if eating junk food like a pizza one day a week I know that some kind of body exercise is required to burn it off. Always feel hungry after a cheat meal as well after consuming healthy food for so long has made the processed stuff less appealing ( thankfully )

[susiewestcoast]

I sometimes wish I had a little fairy 🧚‍♀️ that sat on my shoulder and counted up my calories throughout the day. I think of calories like money. Most of us have a debit bank card. If we know how much we’re spending vs how much we have left in the bank, we may be more mindful of how we spend. I would love a running tally of calories spent throughout the day!

Unfortunately, until I find this magic fairy, the time it takes me to count calories is not sustainable as a daily practice. Especially when making home cooked meals. Convenience foods are far easier to count calories for, but I don’t want to make cooking food from scratch even more complicated/time consuming.

[cblevins]

I am currently tracking my macros (again 🙄) and so far feel great. It really helps me focus on fiber and protein and I eat so much less “junk” food when I’m tracking. Inevitably I will get fatigued with tracking and think I can just do it eating mindfully and the next thing you know I’ve gained additional weight and am eating above my maintenance. Really hope to someday get to the point of intuitive eating while in maintenance. For now, I’m trying to lose some body fat and then will focus on maintenance.

[selenajg]

Today is my second day counting calories so I don’t know how it will work for me in the long run. So far it has been great in teaching me about portions and calorie dense foods. It’s an excellent teacher

[susiewestcoast]

Love this discussion! Learning to count calories, even if we only practice it for a couple short weeks, gives us some important baseline knowledge that can help inform our daily dietary decisions.

I typically don’t “count” calories, but find the general awareness incredibly useful. Example, if I’m going to indulge in a treat, I may opt for a 100 calorie ice cream bar vs a 1000 calorie dessert like a giant piece of cake with ice cream. I am less concerned with calories when I’m munching on a healthy snack.

Occasionally, I will devote a week or so counting calories as a reset though. This a helpful when I find I’m mindlessly eating a lot, or binge eating frequently in the evenings. It just brings that awareness back, allows me to evaluate what’s going on, and motivates me to create or return back to some healthy habits. ✨

[ashleybankscoaching]

I love your take on this ! It's funny because I let social media get in my head about tracking calories. It's often labeled as restrictive. But, when I go within myself about it, I find that I really like it and don't find it restricting at all. I like having the peace of mind of knowing my numbers. I'm aware that it's not the end all be all When it comes to being healthy and having a healthy relationship with food. But when I want to know what I'm taking in I love it

[marjoleint]

Counting calories with the paid version of the Yazio-app, Eating more protein, 10.000 steps and a workout (30 minutes) everyday, drinking 2, 5 liters water, weighing myself every single day and 16:8 Intermittent fasting has made a huge, huge difference. The weight is falling off and before it was so difficult to loose weight. Now I’ve lost 12 pounds in 3 weeks.

[imlv]

Thank you soo much, your content is soo helpful❤Can you please make video on intermittent fasting, please?❤❤❤❤

[yvelissesamboy]

I need help with my weight loss journey as I’m going to start to put in practice some of you suggestions yve samboy

[marygrott]

I've started incorporating more whole foods lately. I count calories sometimes, as a tool to help me when I need to be more focused.