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“The biggest challenge associated with calorie-counting is that it can be tedious and requires a fair amount of attention to detail, self-discipline, accountability, and consistency,” says Penner “MyFitnessPal users with friends within the app lose twice as much weight as those who join solo,” she says. Penner says that enlisting a friend who will count their calories along with you will provide a support network to help keep you accountable to your goals. This will begin to develop the habit without making it feel overly burdensome at the start.” “In the beginning, this may be as little as one meal every day for a week, or three complete days out of seven. “Commit to tracking only what you know you can achieve,” Penner says. “ every calorie count by getting the majority of your calories from nutrient-rich foods,” she said. How can you make sure to avoid this common mistake? Penner suggests paying close attention to the foods you eat by always thinking about what types of nutrients they’re made up of. “1,500 calories of empty calories, like refined carbohydrates and added sugar, will leave someone feeling vastly different-and likely much worse-than 1,500 calories of fiber-filled carbohydrates, high quality protein, heart-healthy fats, and vitamin and mineral-rich fruits and veggies.” “ too much on calories as a number and not enough on the composition and quality of those calories,” she said. Penner says the number one mistake that people make when using calorie-counting for weight loss is getting stuck in the “calorie is a calorie” mindset. There are, however, simple ways to make your calorie-counting efforts a little less mind-numbing and a lot more efficient.īelow Elle Penner MPH, RD, Registered Dietitian and Food & Nutrition Editor at MyFitnessPal and a member of the California Dietetics Association and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics shares her expert tips for easy and successful calorie-counting. Keeping tabs on every single thing you eat can become tedious and bothersome, especially because keeping a food diary is a habit that takes time to build, and like with any other worthwhile weight loss method, results won’t come right away. Of course, just because it’s a practical and useful tool doesn’t mean that it’s easy. Paying closer attention to both the quantity and quality of what you’re eating can increase accountability and help you to gain a better understanding of your diet and how it’s affecting your goals. For many, keeping a food diary and tracking calorie intake is an effective strategy for successful weight loss.