An electronic calorie counter can be one of the most useful tools for dieters.
There was a time when calculating how many calories your meals contained was a tedious affair. These days there are numerous tools and devices available to simplify the process. Included among these are stand-alone devices, add-ons for your smartphone or PDA, and other electronic equipment.
Calorie counter apps are perhaps the most popular option. Being versatile and convenient to use, you will be more likely to use one.
Gone are the days of carrying around a booklet to find out the calorie count of food. You no longer have to search for each item, figure out how many calories your serving size contains, then make a note of this. Nor will you have to worry about forgetting to write it down and throw off your calorie count.
Another problem with the old way was that by necessity the food lists were limited, as no one would want to lug around a hefty book. Calorie counter apps contain an extensive food database. If the food you’re looking for isn’t there, you can add and store it manually.
In this article, we will look at how an electronic calorie counter can help you lose weight.
Why an Electronic Calorie Counter is so Useful
If you are trying to lose weight, you will want to find the most efficient way to do so. This is no secret. You simply have to take in fewer calories than you need to maintain your current weight. Regular exercise will speed up your weight loss, however, losing weight is just 20% exercise and 80% diet-related.
A stumbling block many of us face when dieting is that we do not know how many calories we’re consuming. We also tend to underestimate portion size. And just because something is healthy doesn’t mean it’s low calorie. In fact, some of the most nutritious foods are surprisingly high in calories. For example, one glass of orange juice contains 122 calories. If you’re following a 1,200 calorie diet, that will amount to 1/10th of your daily calorie allowance.
With a calorie counter app, you will be able to avoid the pitfalls above. Along with giving you access to the calorie count of foods, it provides nutritional facts, in just a couple of clicks. Details of each day’s food intake can be saved for future reference. The app will even provide a running total of the calories you’ve consumed throughout the day.
Some calorie counter apps let you scan the barcode of packaged food to check its calorie count and nutritional value. The app may also come preprogrammed with this information for meals that are available at popular restaurant chains. Some apps provide a range of healthy recipes and allow you to add more of your own.
Knowing how many calories you are taking in daily will significantly increase your chance of losing weight. This is especially true if you tend to eat without giving a lot of thought to the food you’re consuming. A couple of candies here and there or a few squares of chocolate don’t take long to eat, so they may seem insignificant. The reality is that the calorie count of these will add up over the course of a week, and every calorie counts when dieting. With an electronic calorie counter, you will be able to quickly check the caloric content of any food you are thinking about eating. You can then decide whether or not to include it in your meal.
If you’re aware of just how many calories that sugary, fat-laden snack you’re eyeing off contains, you will be more likely to pass on eating it. And if you do succumb and have a cookie with your mid-morning coffee, you will know how much extra exercise you need to do, or how many calories to cut from your next meal to compensate.
More Reasons an Electronic Calorie Counter Helps with Weight Loss
Another advantage of an electronic calorie counter is that it can act as a journal. After using it for a week or so you will be able to identify “trouble spots” that could derail your weight loss program. For instance, you may notice that your lunch choices during the working week contain too many calories. Knowing this will enable you to rethink your options. For example, you may look for a coffee shop with low-calorie offerings or prepare lunch yourself.
Some electronic calorie counters track the number of calories you burn during exercise and when going about your day. Knowing exactly how many calories you are burning rather than just estimating this, will further help in your quest to lose weight.
You may be surprised at how many calories you burn during activities you don’t class as exercise. For example, playing with your kids, gardening, and doing housework. Finding out that this activity burned 50 calories, and that one 100, can motivate you to get up off the couch and be more physically active.
Electronic Calorie Counter Summary
Tracking calorie consumption is a proven way to lose weight or maintain your current weight. An electronic calorie counter can assist you with this, providing a simple and efficient means of tracking daily calorie intake and physical activity. This information will help you to stay on track and ultimately reach your fitness goal.
Most calorie counter apps are free to download to your smartphone, so there’s no reason not to install one today!
