How do you know if a certain diet is right for you? Deciphering between facts and myths can be exhausting. If you’re considering a calorie deficit diet, are you sure you know what you’re getting yourself into? First and foremost, is it just another diet that will cause your weight to yo-yo?
Is a Calorie Deficit Diet Plan Right for Me?
Not all bodies are created equal, nor are all calories. For example, eating 500 calories of decadent chocolate cake is a world of difference from enjoying a 500-calorie salad. Calorie counting doesn’t necessarily take different types of food into account.
The recommended daily caloric intake for women over 40 is 1,600-2,400. Depending on your body type, exact age, activity level, stress, and many other factors, your calorie consumption should be somewhere in that range. But, if you’ve never counted calories before, you’ll likely need to get a grasp on your eating habits. If you find you’re eating far greater processed snacks than healthy foods, that’s where you should focus your thoughts and energy. You don’t necessarily need to start losing weight by counting calories. In fact, that’s not what we recommend.
What is a Calorie Deficit Diet?
So, what exactly is a calorie deficit diet?
A calorie-deficit diet is one where you reduce the number of calories you consume on a day-to-day basis. The idea is to burn more calories than you are consuming. But it’s just not that simple. If you were to eat just a small portion of fatty food, that could equal the same amount of calories as an entire healthy meal! To lose weight and sustain long-term weight loss, you’ll want to consume fish, fruits, vegetables, poultry, and low-fat to no-fat dairy.
Without first changing your lifestyle by straightening out your food choices, cutting calories will not do you any good.
For more information on calorie-deficit diets, and more ways to lose weight, we can help. Contact us to get started on a structured, individualized 10-week program that’s guaranteed to help you lose those pounds and maintain weight loss!