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Calorie Tracking

How to Track Calories Effectively

Tracking your calories doesn’t have to be complicated! Here’s how you can do it:

1️⃣ Use a Calorie Tracking App 📱 Apps like MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, and Lose It! help log your meals and track calories effortlessly.

2️⃣ Know Your Maintenance Calories 🔢 Use a TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) calculator to estimate how many calories you burn daily.

3️⃣ Weigh & Measure Your Food ⚖️ A food scale and measuring cups ensure accurate portion tracking.

4️⃣ Plan Your Meals Ahead 🍽️ Prepping meals in advance prevents overeating and helps you stay consistent.

How to Read Serving Sizes Correctly

✔ Check the Serving Size – Always look at how much a "serving" is on the nutrition label. ✔ Look at Calories Per Serving – Multiply accordingly if you eat more than one serving. ✔ Weigh Your Portions – Using a scale ensures accurate calorie tracking. ✔ Beware of Hidden Calories – Oils, dressings, and sauces can add extra calories! Tips for Making CICO Work for You

✅ Be Consistent – Track your intake daily. ✅ Focus on Whole Foods – Prioritize nutrient-dense options. ✅ Don’t Overrestrict – Allow yourself some flexibility. ✅ Stay Active – Exercise boosts calorie burn. ✅ Be Patient – Fat loss is a gradual process!

💡 Final Thoughts Understanding CICO can help you take control of your health and fitness. Tracking, awareness, and consistency are key!

Do you track your calories? Let me know in the comments! 💬👇

📌 Follow for more fitness & health tips!

[fitwithdiana]

Calories 101

📢 Welcome to my blog! Today, let’s break down Calories In, Calories Out (CICO)—the fundamental principle behind weight management. If you’ve ever wondered how fat is stored or how to track calories properly, this guide will give you all the answers! 🥑🔥 What is Calories In, Calories Out (CICO)?

CICO is the simple idea that your weight is determined by the balance between: ✅ Calories In – The energy you consume from food and drinks ✅ Calories Out – The energy your body burns through metabolism, movement, and digestion

➡️ If you eat more calories than you burn, you store fat. ➡️ If you burn more than you eat, you lose fat. ➡️ If calories in and out are equal, your weight stays the same.

🔹 Example: If your body burns 2,000 calories daily but you consume 2,500, the extra 500 calories get stored as fat over time. DISCLAIMER: Most people burn around 2,000 calories a day just to stay alive! These calories are burned from your body digesting food, thinking, and keeping your organs functioning—even if you don’t move at all, just from sleeping. Now, imagine if you’re exercising—this can make a massive difference in your body over a month or two!

It’s not necessary to eat less than 1,500 calories if you’re exercising because an average workout burns 300–500 calories. Cutting calories too low can slow down your metabolism and affect your energy levels, so balance is key!

How Fat is Stored & Burned

🔥 How Fat is Made

When you eat more calories than your body needs, the excess energy is converted into triglycerides and stored in fat cells.

Over time, excess fat accumulates in different parts of the body, leading to weight gain.

🏃‍♀️ How Fat is Lost

When you eat fewer calories than you burn, your body breaks down stored fat for energy.

Triglycerides in fat cells are converted into energy, shrinking the fat cells, leading to weight loss.

💡 Key Takeaway: A consistent calorie deficit (eating fewer calories than you burn) is required for weight loss! 💡 Final Thoughts Understanding CICO can help you take control of your health and fitness. Tracking, awareness, and consistency are key!

Do you track your calories? Let me know in the comments! 💬👇

📌 Follow for more fitness & health tips! 🏋️‍♀️💖