For the longest time, many people need clarification on the idea of tracking food intake for weight loss. If you find yourself puzzled by the same, learning about the benefits of tracking your food intake will help you formulate an opinion.
Table Of Contents
What is tracking food intake, anyway?
What are calories, and why are they important?
So, what are kilocalories?
Why do you need to count your calories?
How will tracking food intake help with weight loss?
How can you track your food intake?
What is tracking food intake, anyway?
Simply put, you’re taking into account everything you’ve consumed. Everything is tracked – from your morning coffee to that late-night glass of wine. The reason behind this is simpler still: you’re logging in the number of calories you’ve consumed.
What are calories, and why are they important?
A calorie is essentially the amount of heat energy that is required to increase the temperature of 1g of water by 1°C. You get your energy from the things you consume on a daily basis, regardless of how big or small they may be. This energy is then utilized to perform basic functions throughout the day, such as breathing, maintaining your heartbeat, and formulating thoughts.
So, what are kilocalories?
The energy you get from any food source that you consume is usually logged in calories that rank in the thousands – kilocalories (kcal). However, many people just use the terms calories and kilocalories interchangeably, despite their varying numerical values, according to their own convenience, thus making the usage of calories in place of kilocalories quite common.
Why do you need to count your calories?
The age-old question that asks, “Is a caloric deficit diet essential for weight loss?” is one that requires due attention. While many researchers agree upon the fact that you must consume fewer calories than you burn – making a caloric deficit diet ideal – many also agree that what you consume in that low-caloric diet will also impact your weight loss journey.
All calories are not the same, despite sharing a numerical value. You could be consuming something that chalks up to 300 calories. Yet, its nutritional value could be next-to-nothing, or immense, depending on your choice.
By logging in your calories and tracking your food intake, you’re not only forming a more in-depth relationship with your body by understanding what you’re putting in it but are also creating a map of potential habits that can help you unearth patterns on which you need to work.
How will tracking food intake help with weight loss?
- Understanding what you’re eating: This is vital when it comes to figuring out what you’re doing right or wrong, and how you can improve upon your current diet, thereby facilitating your weight loss goals.
- Factoring in nutritional value: Your body requires certain nutrients to function effectively, and counting your calories, alongside tracking what you’re eating, will help you determine the nutritional value of the food and drinks you consume. While all bodies are different and weight loss isn’t necessarily formulaic, a well-balanced, low-calorie, nutrient-rich diet is considered ideal for weight loss.
- Becoming more regular with your diet: Once you get into the flow of things, you’ll also start to notice active changes you make in order to reach your weight loss goal. Tracking food intake makes this a lot easier than random guesswork and relying on your memory.
- Setting up realistic targets: Food tracking allows you to attach quantifiable numbers to your weight loss journey. You have something measurable to go by, instead of relying on guesswork.
- Holding you accountable: When you log in all your food intake, you set up bounds of accountability for yourself. Suddenly, you’re answerable to something that you can quantify and measure, and thereby adjust according to your expectations and targets. Not only does this impact how mindful you are while consuming calories, but it also fosters a more positive relationship with food that you now understand better.
How can you track your food intake?
Firstly, you have to understand that you’re logging in everything you consume – no matter how minute it may seem. You’re also logging in portion sizes to be as accurate as possible. In addition to this, you can log in when and where you’re eating, and with whom, to identify any patterns of behavior that need changing.
Secondly, consistency is key. You’re accountable to yourself, which means that if you slack off, the only person who stands to be impacted by it is you. This will inculcate a great deal of discipline in your life as well.
You can keep a physical food journal and embellish it as per your heart’s desire, or you can opt for the Healthi app that makes the entire process extremely easy. With Healthi, you can count calories, track your progress, make notes, follow tailor-made meal plans, and be a part of a larger community for increased motivation. Additionally, Healthi follows a BITE system, that assigns a BITE value to a particular food item that aligns with your weight loss plan. The lower the value, the more aligned that particular food item is with your plan. This gives you the best possible options in terms of consumption, and can help you make better food choices,
To conclude, tracking food intake is, in fact, beneficial for weight loss. With the help of realistic, fair expectations, consistency, and discipline, you’re sure to be well on your way to achieving your goals.
