Diet SOS by Lisa Fitzpatrick

Author:Lisa Fitzpatrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Octopus
Published: 2019-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

It may sound simple, but cutting back on the amount of food on your plate will make it much easier to eat less!

Understanding calories

In simple terms, there are two types of calories – those that provide you with energy and those that will leave you raiding the fridge again not long after you’ve eaten. Most people could happily eat their recommended daily amount of calories and still find themselves hungry if they didn’t eat the right sort of foods.

You get the good type of calories from fruit and vegetables, which contain plenty of fibre. Fibre is a great way of consuming calories as it keeps you feeling fuller for longer, which in turn prevents you from reaching for something you shouldn’t. Protein-rich foods such as chicken, fish and lentils are also great. When it comes to calories some foods take more energy to digest than others, so once again make wise choices. You don’t want foods that can be digested too easily as these are more likely to be stored as fat. High-sugar foods break down quickly, leaving you hungry again a short period after eating. Always opt for wholegrain versions instead.

The other way to control the calories is to practise portion control. It may sound simple, but cutting back on the amount of food on your plate will make it much easier to eat less! This is harder to do when you are eating out as you can’t control the serving, but be sensible when choosing and don’t be tempted by the option you know is bound to contain more calories and fat.

Many takeaway and fast-food meals contain more than your recommended daily allowance of calories in one serving, which is slightly scary but true. A large popcorn in the cinema can contain up to 2000 calories!

Should we count calories?

This is one of the diet dilemmas that many women spend hours deliberating over, and the debate is ongoing. How many calories are in a cupcake? If I don’t have a starter, can I eat the carbonara? Are there more calories in a latte or a cappuccino? We torture ourselves wondering how many calories certain foods contain to the point where it can become an unhealthy obsession. But is it helpful for us to try constantly to account for every single ounce of food that passes our lips?

Over the years we have been led to believe that the fewer calories we consume, the more likely we are to stay slim. Yes, there is an element of truth in this, but what is often overlooked is that calories are not the only things that count. When trying to implement a healthy and balanced diet we need to be aware of the fat and sugar content in the foods we eat as well. These are actually the things that cause us to gain weight in the first place, not the calories alone. The recommended daily calorie intake is 2500 for men and 2000 for women, depending on age and level of activity.

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