Calories Management for Slimming and Losing Weight

Weight Loss - Weight watchers often watch what they eat. Since unburned calories turn into fat, the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories that you consume. The recommended calorie intake varies for every person but the idea is to get as much nutrients as possible and to maintain an optimal energy level without excessive calorie intake.
The ideal calorie intake depends largely on the physical activities that a person engages in. Remember that food serves as the body's fuel. People who lead inactive lifestyles require lower calories than those who are athletic or lead active lifestyles.
If you want to lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than your body has been accustomed to. To lose 1 lb. in 7 days, you must lower your calorie intake by about 500 calories per day.
It should be easy to measure calorie intake since nutritional information is already available on the packaging and food labels of food sold in the stores. There is also information on the Internet, from books and magazines regarding the calorie content of most foods.
Generally, the body's metabolism rate lowers with age and to maintain your ideal weight, you must lower your daily calorie intake by 10% annually beginning the age of 25. Since this may be difficult to follow, the best way is still to increase your physical activity.

Eating For Weight Loss

Weight Loss - Carbohydrates provide the body with energy. They contain 4 kilocalories per gram and because carbohydrates are easier to digest than protein or fat, they are the most energy-efficient body fuel.

While carbohydrates contain lower calories than fat, which contains 9 kilocalories per gram, unburned carbohydrates are still stored in the body as fat. This is why many diet programs recommend the reduction of carbohydrates intake. Since most overweight individuals lead inactive lifestyles, they are unable to burn the excess calories they get from too much carbohydrate in their diets.
Carbohydrates are split in to two classifications: Simple and Complex.
Complex carbohydrates like potatoes, squash, pasta and breads, because they contain fiber and starch, take longer to digest and therefore are not easily dispensed to the body as glucose.
Simple carbohydrates like table sugar or fruits are great sources of quick energy but too much of these simple sugars, when they come in low-fiber diets, may also lead to health problems.
The healthier option is to take high-fiber carbohydrates because high-fiber diets are known to lower the incidence of high-cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Still even with high-fiber, carbohydrates must be taken in moderation because aside from them, most meals contain other energy sources like protein and fat.

Atkins Diet : High Protein, Low Carbohydrate Diets

Diet Tips - One of the most popular weight-loss methods is the low-carbohydrate diet. Since this method only requires the reduction of carbohydrates in the diet and still allows the dieter to partake in full meals, it will not leave you starving. The most popular low-carbohydrate diet is the one developed by Dr. Robert Atkins. The Atkins Diet or Atkins, developed in the 1960s is still acknowledged as an effective slimming program today.
The Atkins has four phases. The first phase or the induction phase will require the dieter to closely monitor his carbohydrates intake as only a maximum of 20 grams of carbohydrates per day is allowed. Any alcoholic beverages or drinks containing caffeine are also prohibited. Although the dieter is allowed to take most meats and other foods during this time, he will experience the highest weight-loss during this period.
After two weeks, the dieter may move to the Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase where an additional 5 grams may be added to the daily carbohydrates target every week. It is recommended that the dieter stick to this phase until he reaches within 10 pounds of his ideal weight. Dr. Atkins has created a ladder that the dieter may follow regarding the right kind of foods to include in the diet during this phase.
The Pre-maintenance phase allows the dieter to add 10 net grams to his daily intake target per week until he finds the ideal carbohydrates intake that will allow him to lose less than one pound per week or to keep a stable energy level without weight-gain.

The maintenance phase is intended for keeping the carbohydrates intake to the optimum level for energy-efficiency and preventing weight gain. The first three phases should have embedded good eating habits to the dieter. Healthier food choices are emphasized in this phase.