The concept of counting calories is one of the oldest bastions of weight loss. It makes sense – what goes in has to be less than what is spent in order to lose weight. Of course modern nutritional science has highlighted the value of also considering the balance of macronutrients to accelerate the process – namely reducing carbs, and increasing protein – and there are now online tools to assist this process.
There’s something to be said for accountability. Actually seeing the caloric impact of what you are burning and consuming is inspiring. It can actually become an enjoyable task, entering the foods verses the exercise and seeing the affirming negative calorie balance represented in concrete terms right in front of your eyes! It provides a real ‘pat on the back’ for all your good effort.
Another feature that I love about these sites is that it they have other useful tools like weight tracking charts, menu and exercise plans and recipes. All you have to do is follow the instructions, keep the balance of calories in check- it can really take out all the guesswork!
It’s important to remember when undertaking this kind of self-directed weight loss to consider the health of your diet, not just the caloric balance. Having some experience with healthy weight loss and nutritional knowledge is important so you do not go astray. And if your knowledge is not up to scratch? Always seek the advice of a qualified health care professional to guide you along the way. Losing weight in an unhealthy manner, and without following a nutritionally balanced diet, is often not sustainable and can lead to further problems in the future. If in doubt recruit the help of a weight loss specialist.
What experience have you had with online weight-loss support? Would you recommend it?