The Importance of Calorie Counting
Assuming that you have had some experience building muscle and losing weight, you would know that eating the right foods is critical to expecting proper fitness results. Proper intake of macronutrients is important for burning fat, building muscle, and revving up the metabolic rate to burn more calories. However, despite eating the healthiest of foods, without giving any consideration to the quantity of what you eat, you are bound to hinder your fitness goals.
This is where calorie counting is important. Truth be told, not many of prefer the idea of measuring every grain of food we put into our mouths. But for achieving a specific kind of physique, whether it is lean muscle or mass gain, experts will tell you that keeping count of calorie provides a good foundation to see consistent progress.
What Is Calorie Counting?
Counting calories is monitoring how much food you should consume in accordance with their number of calories. It is often used for weight loss as well as for gaining muscle mass. The idea is that by consuming less than our daily calorie intake, we achieve a calorie deficit to help lose body fat. If one intends to gain muscle mass, the goal is to achieve a calorie surplus to gain additional weight.
Why Count Calories?
Nutritionists will often argue how calories vary according to the type of food you eat and so keeping a strict watch on how many calories you consume is a fool’s errand. While it is true that each food type has different number of calories, nevertheless, counting calories provides a good way of monitoring how much you consume on a daily basis. This is first and foremost a necessary step to becoming a discipline eater, especially for those who easily lose track of how much they need to consume for weight reduction.
Counting calories, furthermore, can equally be important for those intending to put on size and achieve a muscular physique. Hollywood celebrities often go on a 3000-6000 calorie diet to gain a bulkier and muscular physique for specific roles. Actor Hugh Jackman, for example, often started with a 6000 calorie diet for the first few months and then switched to a cutting phase by reducing his calorie intake to 3000 to prepare for the role of Wolverine.
In short, calorie counting offers a good estimate to keep track of your fitness goals and help you achieve your intended physique.
How Many Calories Should You Consume?
There is no ideal amount of calories you should consume to lose weight or build muscle. Rather, it varies according to many different factors, such as your age, physical activity, weight loss or mass gain goals, and height. By considering these factors into account, you are more likely to aim for a calorie intake that is within your mental and physical capacity.
Be aware that calorie counting will only work if you consume the right foods. If your daily calorie intake is 2000, for instance, consuming 2000 calories with pizzas, burgers, and other refined and processed foods will not help you obtain the right results. However, a 2000 calorie diet that consists of egg whites, lean meats and proteins, oats, and sweet potatoes will lead to favorable results.
Sources
https://olumialife.com/knowledge/how-important-is-calorie-counting-3005
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/dos-donts-counting-calories#1
