How to Use a Calorie Counter to Support Your Goals

If you want to accomplish your goals, you've got to write things down. Research shows that writing things down offers multiple benefits, like increasing your likelihood of success by 1.2 to 1.4 times. That's where using a calorie counter app comes in!

Benefits of Using a Calorie Counter

Calorie counting is a specific way of writing and tracking your goals. Some of the benefits of this practice include external storage and encoding:

• External storage- you'll be able to review what you have eaten so you can make smart choices about what to eat next and stay motivated
• Encoding- increased focus on and memory of your goals, your progress, and your plan so mindfulness becomes a habit

It might surprise you how much of a difference this makes!

When you use a calorie counter, you won't find yourself guessing how much you've eaten so far or what the macronutrient (proteins, fats, and carbs) ratios in your food are. Plus, as some calorie tracker reviewers point out, many apps help you measure calories consumed against those you've burned through exercise!

Food-Tracking Apps to Try

One of the easiest ways to count your calories is to use a food-tracking app. There are many options. You can get several for free! Check these out:

MyFitnessPal

Pros:

• Huge database of foods with all macro and micronutrients automatically populated
• Easy, user-friendly design
• Barcode scanner
• Syncs with exercise trackers/wearables
• Lists brand name and restaurant foods

Cons:

• Healthy and unhealthy fats are not differentiated in the ratio charts
• There are multiple entries for some foods, so some calorie counts are inaccurate
• Serving sizes can be hard to calculate

LoseIt!

Pros:

• Easy to record labeled foods
• Can sync with fitness trackers/wearables
• Barcode scanner
• Offers specific challenges you can follow and chat features

Cons:

• Home-cooked meals can be hard to record
• Micronutrients aren't included
• The app can be difficult to navigate

Cron-o-meter

Pros:

• Helps with specific diets like the paleo diet
• Tracks micronutrients well
• Other health devices can sync
• User-friendly

Cons:

• Meals aren't recorded, just individual foods
• App costs money
• Home-cooked meals have to be recorded online, not on the app

Choosing the app that is right for you will depend in part on what your goals are and your style of dieting.

Connecting Your Calorie Counting to Your Goals

For goals like weight loss or bodybuilding, keeping track of your macronutrients is important. Macronutrients are the main classifications of nutrients you need: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The ratios of these macronutrients you consume affects your progress. For example, if you're trying to lose weight on the Keto Diet, you'll want a high ratio of fat to carbs. (I’d be wary of naming an actual diet like the Keto.  *yes it gets desired results, BUT it is not sustainable for a long time and healthy.

Combined with a workout plan fit for your needs, a calorie-counting app can help you reach your goals. If you're not sure how to make adjustments to your diet based on the data from your app or how to adapt your workout for your goals, come meet with a personal trainer fitness professional or one of our nutrition experts.

You can also get started tracking and planning your diet and workouts using our FREE New You in 28 Days Guide.

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