Tips for lowering your calorie intake
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On Friday we looked at the pros and cons of calorie counting, with some of the positives being that it teaches you about the amount of energy, fat and sugar in the foods you eat, as well as helps you to be aware and mindful about the choices you make. If you feel that calorie counting could help you on your weight loss journey, then here are a few tips for lowering your overall calorie intake. Start a food diary One way to monitor what you eat is to write it all down! Keep a record of what you have for breakfast, lunch and dinner and how many calories each food has in it. This can help you make sure that you don't overindulge or go over your recommended daily intake. If you are unsure how to measure the amount of calories in food, then there are quite a few smartphone applications out there that can count this for you! Try Calorie Counter by My Fitness Pal or Target Weight for Adults on iTunes. Choose healthy options Many people who are trying to lose weight feel as though they have no choice about the foods they eat, as if they will be limited to lettuce leaves and apples for the rest of their days. Don't worry - this isn't the case! With so many different foods out there, it's not hard to make healthy choices - you just have to find tasty, delicious alternatives to your favourite treats. Take sugar, for example. Think you can't go without two teaspoons in your morning coffee? You could try a healthy sugar instead, like Stevia. Stevia extract is naturally sweet and low in calories, making it the perfect option for those looking to maintain a healthy weight. You can take this attitude and apply it to all sorts of food groups - swap white bread for whole grains, white rice for brown and butter for a low-fat spread. Monitor your portion sizes Another great tip is to monitor your portion sizes. Sometimes it's not about what we eat, it's about how much we eat! You may still be able to have that slice of chocolate cake for morning tea if you cut yourself a small piece. Give yourself a rest day Last but not least, try and nominate a day of the week where you will go easy on the calorie counting. This could be a Friday night, so you can enjoy dinner with the girls without worrying about your food diary. Or it may even be a Sunday, so you can relax and unwind and prepare for the week ahead.
