The calorie theory is the belief that calories are the sole reason for gaining and losing weight regardless of the macronutrient (carbohydrates, fats & protein) content or the quality of the food product itself. There are many studies that prove this theory to be correct for weight loss, basically meaning you could eat junk food all day long and still lose fat as long as you were eating fewer calories than you burnt.
What these studies don’t take into account is the health of that person after consuming junk food and this theory alone doesn’t mean that it is the quickest way for someone to burn body fat. Foods play a major role in your wellbeing from your sleep to your hormonal regulation to your energy levels. So, yes the calorie theory (consuming fewer calories than you burn) will cause you to lose weight but will make you feel lethargic and run down if you are consuming the wrong types of foods.
Carbohydrate theory or Calorie Theory. Which is best?
We recommend that you consider both of these fat loss theories if you are aiming to burn body fat and improve your general health.
Reducing your sugar intake or foods that have a glycemic index can be relatively simple. Read the packaging of food products, keep away from cakes, biscuits, sweets, fizzy drinks and don’t add sugar to your food or drink.
Counting calories on the other hand is a little trickier and more time consuming. It is hard to know how many calories are in certain foods if they are not packaged, like vegetables, meats and fish. There are apps that can be used such as ‘MyFitness Pal’ that give you an indication of both the macronutrient and calorie content of foods to help you know what you are consuming throughout the day.
Try a food diary for a week! Write down everything you consume with rough amounts and calories. At the end of the week calculate your average daily carbohydrate, protein, fats and calorie intake.
Your carbohydrates should be below 50% of your diet if you have an average sedentary job. If you’re not losing weight after eating ‘clean’ try dropping your calories down by 150-200 calories per day.
The nutritional recommendations above are simply recommendations. If you feel any adverse affect due to changes in your diet, advice your physician immediately.
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