Exercising like crazy but still unable to lose those few extra pounds?
Chances are it’s not your workout, it’s what you’re eating.
But “I’m eating healthy!” you say.
Are you? There’s more to dropping pounds than chomping on a bunch of lettuce, skipping carbs, restricting calorie intake, and piling on the protein.
If you’re not seeing the results you want, chances are you may need to track what you eat to see where your regimen is falling short.
An app like MyFitnessPal is a game-changer. It will allow you to set your current and desired weight, your activity level, log your exercise, and pick your nutrition goals – such as a 50% carbs, 30% fat, 20% protein daily intake. What you may discover is that your “healthy eating” isn’t healthy at all.
Let’s talk about calorie restriction.
When you don’t eat enough your body’s metabolism can slow down, and you can begin to store fat. It’s a delicate balance figuring out how many calories to cut to lose weight vs. gain. When I dialed into an app, I found out I wasn’t eating enough! As soon as I added more calories to my diet – the pounds started to melt off.
Next up, all that protein you’re reaching for all the time? Not only can too much of that steak be bad for you, it can turn into fat as well. By monitoring your food consumption, you can determine if you’re eating the right amount. I found I wasn’t consuming enough protein – others may be going overboard.
Another huge eye opener that tracking will help you with is really looking at your carb intake.
Bet you think you’re eating too much pasta right? Bet you’re not eating enough.
Because “carbs” has become such an evil word most of us avoid them like the plague. That is not good – we need carbs for energy!
I wasn’t a major carb hater like some, but the brainwashing had seeped into my consciousness. When I used the app I discovered how little carbs I was eating. I was astounded! No wonder I was tired all the time. The same thing happened to my friend. She was undereating carbs as well. For a month I struggled to down more carbs! And guess what… I lost weight.
With the help of a meal tracker, the answer to why you’re not reaching your desired number on the scale may finally become apparent. As always discuss your weight loss goals with a doctor. Check out some top food app trackers in this curated list by Forbes, and get the summer camming body you’re hoping for!
Photo credit: iStock.com/iuliia_n
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Alyssa Collins hails from Minnesota, where snowy days were the perfect excuse to stay warm inside and write. Over the years, she turned that joy into a career and has authored numerous articles for various publications (under pen names). Email Alyssa via alyssa@ynot.com.
