How to Reduce Your Daily Calorie Intake

Losing weight, if broken down to it's simplest form, is really a math equation. If you burn more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. If you take in more calories than you need, you will gain. To lose weight, you need to do a combination of burning calories (exercise) and reducing your calorie intake through food. Here's how to reduce your daily calorie intake.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The ability to read the food label
• A little self control
• A food journal

1. Determine your daily calorie goals. This is an important first step because it is your starting point. Refer to the article in the resources section for information on calculating your calorie needs.

2. Keep a daily food journal. I will guarantee you that if you have to write down everything that you eat or drink in a given day, you will consume less. This will mean reduced calorie intake.

3. Read the food labels of all the foods that you are consuming. You will need to know the calorie content of each. This will help you what items can be reduced or omitted to result in calorie cuts.

4. Avoid mindless type eating and be deliberate with your food choices. The book that I have listed in my resources section is a "must read". It address the issue of mindless eating very well. Keep snack type foods out of sight. Don't buy large bags of candy or chips, single serving sizes will do. Also, eat on smaller plates. The portions will actually appear larger to your eyes.

5. Don't drink your calories. Too much alcohol and soda will certainly lead to weight gain. If you want to reduce your daily calorie intake, look first to the beverages that you consume.

6. Avoid eating after 8 p.m. This is a good recommendation for most people that work normal schedules. It's important to have a time before bed that you will cease eating. This is because you don't need extra calories before bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Always include exercise as a part of any weight loss program.
• Consult a Registered Dietitian for all of your nutrition advice.

Resources

• Mindless Eating Book
• Figure Out Your Calorie Needs For Weight Loss
• How to Cut 500 Calories A Day
• How to Read the Food Label
• Eat Healthy Anywhere

[hdubs]

on 3/15/2009 I adhere to all of these tips--the only way I can guarantee I'll lose weight is if I adhere to appropiate portion sizes and keep a detailed log of my caloric intake--it makes me so aware of what I'm consuming.