Want To Lose Weight: Count Carbs, Sugar, Fat?

Want To Lose Weight: Count Carbs, Sugar, Fat?

When it comes to fitness goals, losing weight is at the top of the list for many. Before coming to see me, many of my personal training clients are unsure about how to make this happen. There is lots of confusion about whether one should count calories, cut carbs, sugar or fat to drop weight. To get the answer that best fits your own personal goals, it may be helpful to seek out a professional who can use their expertise to develop an individualized plan just for you, someone like us here at Training Innovations!! Stating the obvious, to lose weight one must create a caloric deficit. We all know what this means: burn more calories than you consume. This is done through physical activity or consuming fewer calories throughout the day. Fats, sugars and other carbohydrates make up the total number of calories we consume, which means we should pay attention to these numbers as well.

1. Get the Skinny on Fat! A single gram of fat provides nine calories of energy. A single gram of carbohydrate or protein only provides four calories. If you eat foods high in fat, your total caloric intake can increase quickly because the calorie cost is so high. However, a well balanced diet and depending on your fitness goals, eating a reasonable amount of healthy fat may be beneficial for your diet.

Fat helps you to feel full and satiated for a longer period of time. For that reason, foods that contain healthy fats such as eggs, fish, nuts, or avocado can be a smart addition to your meal plan.

2. Is Sugar The Enemy? Sugar itself isn’t necessarily bad for you if it’s not consumed in large amounts. It should be consumed sparingly and not make up most of our diet. Many Americans consume too much sugar and aren’t even aware of it. Sugar is added to many processed foods or condiments that we pile on. Ketchup, salsa or salad dressings may contain added sugar even though they don’t taste sweet. Now don’t forget about those sugary drinks, many are loaded with sugar. Reduce your sugar intake and in turn you reduce your total caloric intake and the end result may be a drop in your weight.

3. Is Cutting the Carbs The Answer? Carbohydrates, at four calories per gram, are a good source of energy for your body. However, there are good carbs and bad carbs. Overindulging in refined carbs is very easy to do and that can drive your caloric count through the roof. Counting carbs to lose weight is a science. The carbs you keep in your diet should be full of vitamins and minerals that will fuel your body and provide you with the energy you need to meet those fitness goals.

For more information on managing your diet with the proper amounts of fats, carbs, and calories to meet your individual needs or if you’re frustrated with your current level of fitness and thinking about hiring a personal trainer, contact us.