fat

Question
Is it important in a weight loss diet to count fat? If so why? UI thought all there was to it was counting calories.
And what about exercise? Why Pius it so important? or is it?

UI have been trying for years to loose weight and haven't been able to do it yet. I get so hungry that I 'pig out' and then when I take one day off... there goes the diet.. I have more trouble trying to keep it up. And I really want to do it as well as I need to do it. I'm assuming I've been doing it wrong all these years.

Answer
Hi Joyce,

There are many thoughts about what actually helps people lose weight--besides reducing calories. One school of thought is that people can lose more weight following a diet low in fat, because fat is such a concentrated source of calories that your body loves to hold on to. But others find lower carb works for them.

Exercise is the way to burn extra calories, so it can really help weight loss:
In order to lose one pound a week, you'll have to eat 500 fewer calories a day, and that can be tough. If you exercise for a half-hour extra each day and burn 200 calories, you only need to eat 300 fewer calories to be in deficit of 500 per day and lose one pound that week.

There are many online sites that let you enter a food diary and they calculate your daily calorie intake for you (like SparkPeople, Fit Day, and Livestrong).

Maybe in the past you've been trying to do too much, too fast.
I encourage people to make small changes that will add up over time.

If you can walk 20 minutes a day to burn 100 calories; substitute a beverage with something lower-calorie (such as a diet soda for regular, a low-fat milk for whole milk, or use milk in your coffee instead of cream) to eliminate 100 calories a day; have a healthier snack (swap cookies for fruit or a high-fiber cereal bar); you'll be able to lose 3 pounds a month with these small changes that might be easy for you to keep up.
It sounds too slow for most people, but this time next year you'll be 36 pounds lighter--and that's enough for a lot of people to get where they want to be!

See more products and ideas at my website: http://www.mycoachlaurie.com

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