How Many Calories Do I Need To Lose Weight? - Maybe Counting Calories Is Part Of The Problem!

The Truth About Calorie Counting

The struggle people have with their weight loss is invariably followed with the question, "How many calories do I need to lose weight?" The answer to this is not as simple as the question implies, however.

You can calculate your base Metabolic Rate if you want to.

This is the baseline of energy you need to function. And a calorie is a unit of energy so your BMR is the energy requirement for your body to convert a calorie into ….well, energy for the body.

Hmmm…This suggests that stressing on 'How many calories do I need to lose weight" is actually a dynamic question with many variables since your energy requirements change often.

If calories alone regulated out body weights then that would be simple and there would be NO overweight people, right? (Just eat between 1500 and 2500 calories. But that’s actually a wide range.) But obesity has become an epidemic and 35% of American adults alone are in some stage of a 'diet' as I am writing this text.

If calculating your BMR is your only interest then research the Harris-Benedict principle.

However, most of you are interested in not only losing weight and restoring their health but also creating the condition of permanent weight loss in your lives. This means resetting your body so that it regulates your weight naturally and efficiently as it is designed to do.

Losing weight and regaining weight is not a natural condition for you!

It is not natural to be fat. You will not find references to overweight epidemic's in history like you see now in most all western cultures.

Why are people getting fatter?

Obesity is actually a lifestyle disease process. This is where counting calories alone to lose weight will lead you to failure and disappointment. Your body needs activity, nutrition and high quality food choices.

Let me explain.

Most people consume high levels of processed foods. These are highly processed carbohydrates that were originally introduced into our diets at alarming rates back around the 1960's. Since then the thriving food industry has been quick and creative about responding to our demands for fast and convenient food. Good for them - Bad for us.

In fact approximately 90% of every dollar spent on family shopping is spent on highly processed foods.

So what's the big deal about processed calories!

This is where the dilemma of counting calories to lose weight becomes apparent. Processed foods are bad for your body. Sure, all things in moderation are acceptable but chances are very good that your diet is heavy on processed foods.

The problem here is the quality of the calories you ingest are poor and lead to a condition of Insulin resistance. This means your body is no longer efficiently metabolizing  sugar and is quick to convert it to fat and store. Usually on your hips and stomach, right?

Insulin resistance is only the beginning though:

1) Insulin resistance spikes your blood sugar disrupting your metabolism.

2) Spiking your blood sugar triggers the body to release even more Insulin in order to manage the high blood sugar levels.

3) When your body dumps more insulin into itself to drive down blood sugar levels, those levels then plummet far too below what is normal.

4) These very low blood sugar levels then trigger uncontrollable food cravings and …

This is why you gain weight and this is why you CANNOT lose weight and sustain that weight loss.

You are probably consuming calories you believe are satisfactory and healthy but actually help to create the condition whereby your body will store fat and suffer food cravings. This is the number #1 reason why diets fail!

I urge you to learn more and read our free report on how to achieve natural and permanent weight loss

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Jeremy Hickling lives in Seattle WA with his wife Jan and their 4 daughters. He has over 20 years of fitness experience.

His personal struggle with food cravings and weight gain led him to discovering a fast and natural system of permanent weight loss without dieting. To receive a copy of his free weight loss report go to Lose Weight Forever

Lifestyle habits are easy to change and losing weight forever is easier to achieve then you may think. Learn more by clicking ...here!