Calories still count when it comes to weight loss. A 2009 study published in "The New England Journal of Medicine" compared different diets, including low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets, on how effective they were at helping you lose weight. The study proved that you could lose weight following any diet -- as long as it reduced your overall caloric intake. A calorie-counting diet allows you to continue to eat the foods you enjoy, but in controlled, moderate amounts. Many websites offer free calorie-counting diet plans.
MyFitnessPal.com
MyFitnessPal.com is a simple and free online calorie-counting diet. It works by helping you determine how many calories you need to eat each day to get to your goal weight. MyFitnessPal.com encourages slow, steady weight loss and recommends you aim for a 1 lb. per week weight loss goal. The plan includes a food diary to help you track your intake. The website also helps you create your own personal food list to help make your diet tracking even easier. In addition to helping you count calories, MyFitnessPal.com also offers online support through its community of dieters, including discussion on the latest exercise fads and how to stay motivated.
LIVESTRONG.com's MyPlate
LIVESTRONG.com's MyPlate also provides a free online calorie-counting diet plan. In addition to offering calorie goals for weight loss, MyPlate also offers calorie goals for those who want to maintain or even gain weight. The website also features an online food diary to help you keep track of your intake. In addition to diet, MyPlate also places a heavy emphasis on exercise and offers an application that tracks the number of calories you burn. You can create your own calorie-controlled meal plans to keep you on track, and even view meal plans created by other members of the community for ideas. MyPlate also provides recipes of some of your favorite foods, including eggplant Parmesan and meatloaf, with its calorie content.
CaloriesCount.com
Calories Count was created by the Calorie Control Council, a nonprofit organization aimed at teaching you how to control your caloric intake for weight loss. Calories Count also estimates the number of calories you need to achieve your weight loss goals, and includes an online food calorie calculator and food diary to help you track your intake. In addition to helping you keep track of what you eat, Calories Count also provides sample calorie-controlled meal plans to help you get started. Each meal plan includes recipes and a shopping list to make dieting even easier. In addition to helping you make healthier food choices, Calories Count also provides information on how to be more active.
References
- MyFitnessPal.com: Free Calorie Counter, Diet and Exercise Journal
- LIVESTRONG.com: MyPlate
- Calories Count: Healthy Eating and Exercise for Life
- Harvard School of Public Health: The Best Diet is the One You'll Follow
- "The New England Journal of Medicine"; Comparison of Weight-Loss Diets with Different Compositions of Fat, Protein, and Carbohydrates; F. Sacks; 2009
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