"To count or not to count your calories: that is the question!"

Calories are a relatively new discovery. It was only in 1824 that Nicolas Clément coined the term "calorie" while lecturing on the topic of energy. Surprisingly, before anyone knew what a calorie was, very few people seemed to struggle with weight issues.

I wonder how they managed their waistlines without even knowing what a calorie was never mind count them!
 

So, what exactly is a calorie?
In a lab, calories are calculated by burning food and measuring the resulting heat. It’s all very scientific, but whether our bodies "burn" calories in the same way is up for debate.

After all, our bodies are not uniform incinerators. Each of us has a unique microbiome, meaning that a one-size-fits-all approach to calorie counting might not be the most accurate method.

Adding to the confusion, the FDA allows a 20% margin of error on food labels. This means that the snack you thought was 100 calories could actually be 120. Or 80. Or somewhere in between.

This variance can easily throw off your daily calorie count and make the already tedious process even more frustrating.

Despite these challenges, tracking calories can still be a useful tool, particularly if you’re trying to get a handle on your eating habits.

Much like tracking your spending for a month can reveal unexpected expenses, keeping a check on your calories can reveal how much you're really eating.

Many of us consume more than we realize and seeing the numbers in black and white can be a real eye-opener.

Once you’ve got a rough idea of your actual calorie intake versus what you think you're consuming, you can start making adjustments.

Maybe cut out a snack here, skip a meal there. Prioritizing protein can help you feel fuller longer, naturally reducing your food intake and helping you maintain muscle mass, which is crucial for overall health.

Personally, I find calorie counting tedious and annoying. It’s like tracking every penny you spend. It can be incredibly enlightening but excruciatingly painful.

Yet, many people swear by it, finding it keeps them accountable and helps them lose and maintain their weight.

In the end, while drastically reducing your food intake will inevitably lead to weight loss, knowing how many calories you’re consuming can be an important part of that process.

If you are a numbers person and like to track calories, here is my general rule of thumb whether you’re looking to lose, maintain or gain weight.

Take your weight and multiply by numbers below to establish total calories you can consume per day:

7, 8 or 9 - Extreme weight loss.

10, 11, 12 - Moderate weight loss.

13, 14, 15 – Maintenance.

16, 17, 18 - Moderate weight gain.

19, 20, 21 - Extreme weight gain.

If you find that counting calories works for you, by all means, use it. If not, there are other ways to manage your weight that might suit you better. Either way, understanding and adjusting your food/calorie intake is key to achieving your health goals.