If you’re like most people, you’re concerned about your weight. It doesn’t matter if you want to shed a few pounds or have a lot to lose, you need to create a calorie deficit to reach your goal.
Keto diet is all the rage these days.
The principle of this diet is that by giving up carbohydrates and eating more fat, you will lose large amounts of weight. The theory is great, but a lot of people fail because they overeat and aren’t in a calorie deficit. Sure, you can eat two double cheeseburgers and keep the bun as planned, but you also have to consider the calories.
It doesn’t matter what diet strategy you follow or how you choose to eat; The bottom line is that you need to eat less to lose weight. According to Today’s Dietitian, for every 3,500 calories you eat, you’ll gain one pound. Therefore, to lose a pound, you must also create a deficit of the same amount.
It is believed to be safe to lose 1-2 pounds per week on a diet. To accomplish this task, you must ensure that you create a calorie deficit of 7,000 in your week. It sounds like a big task, but it’s not that hard when you break it all down into daily increments.
Contents
Create a calorie deficit
Remember those who try to solve mathematical problems. Many kids hated them because they had to look at the whole picture and then break it down into smaller parts. Diets are a lot like those math equations in that you have to break them down into daily segments.
Much like those word problems, if you look at the bigger picture, it can get pretty overwhelming. However, when you break it down into smaller parts, it becomes easier to accomplish the task at hand. So here are some ways to create a calorie deficiency each day to help you on your weight loss journey.
1. Eat your calories, don’t drink them
Drinking water is one of the biggest issues facing most dieters. Some people hate the taste of plain water. However, science shows that your body needs water, as it is made up of around 60%.
Of course, sodas, sports and energy drinks, and juices taste much better. However, have you considered the sugar levels in these drinks? Take, for example, Mountain Dew. It’s one of the most popular soft drinks out there. However, a standard 12-ounce can contains 170 calories, according to Fat Secret. In addition to many calories, it contains 46 grams of pure sugar.
Now suppose you drink a soft drink with each of your main meals. Before you eat a single bite, you have already consumed 510 calories. If you strive to eat 1,500 calories a day, one-third of your calories will go to something that doesn’t provide you with any food. Plus, you won’t survive on 1,000 calories a day, so you’ll have a hard time sticking to your plan if you don’t give up the sodas.
If you want to find an easy way to lose calories, switch to plain water. Those who absolutely can’t stand it can try adding a little lemon flavor for a healthy boost.
2. Use a smaller plate
How many times have you sat down to dinner hungry and filled your plate to the brim? About halfway through the meal, you realize that your eyes were bigger than your stomach. The key here is that you eat with your eyes first.
So using this theory you should use a smaller chainring. When people from other countries visit the United States, they are often overwhelmed by the size and portions of the dishes. It’s no wonder America has an obesity epidemic because people are eating too much.
Upgrade from a standard 14″ dinner plate to a 10″ dinner plate. You’ll notice that you’ll be more inclined to eat less, and you’ll trick your brain into thinking you’re eating more.
3. Skip the sauces
Do you like sauces and condiments? You can easily add hundreds of extra calories to your meals by bending over for a dip. Few people dislike ketchup, but many don’t realize that it contains as much sugar as ice cream. A cup of tomato sauce contains about 27 grams of sugar and the same amount of vanilla ice cream contains about 22 grams.
When you add condiments to your meals, you accumulate unnecessary calories. Skimp on these items or opt for calorie-free options like mustard.
4. Forget the sugar in your coffee
Do you prefer a sugar cube or two in your coffee? Not only is sugar not good for you, but you’re adding unnecessary calories to your day. Try using natural sweeteners like honey or even spices like cinnamon to enhance the flavor of your coffee. It will be healthier and help save calories for real food.
5. Count your calories
One of the easiest ways to create a calorie deficit is to count calories. If you mindlessly eat during the day, then it is difficult to control your intake. By using an app that helps you see all the nutritional information for your intake, you can quickly learn how to cut out a few extra calories for the day.
6. Stock up on veggies
If you want to get proper nutrition with fewer calories, you need to fill up on vegetables. Filling up on greens and other sustainable vegetables can fill your stomach without causing you to consume too many calories. Plus, all the fiber in these natural plants will help keep your digestive system running smoothly.
7. Make sure every meal contains protein
Your body needs large amounts of protein. Protein helps balance blood sugar and fuel your system. You should have about four ounces at each meal, and it can help fill you up so you eat less.
8. Do food swaps
Of course, you want those fries because your stomach craves them. However, it will be more calorie efficient to choose an extra serving of vegetables or even a bit of fruit. Learning how to make changes to fatty, high-calorie items can become easy once you’ve done it a few times.
9. Don’t overload the cheese
Have you ever been to those fancy Italian restaurants that fill your main course with mounds of freshly grated cheese? Sure, it tastes good, but it also takes on weight. Cheese is not a low calorie food and it won’t help you lose weight if you eat too much of it.
There’s nothing worse than losing 500 calories from your daily cheese intake when there are so many other things that would taste better. A cup of mozzarella cheese contains 341 calories.
10. Read labels
Just because a product uses catchy keywords doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Read on if you see things like:
- Low fat
- Keto-friendly
- Sugar free
- fat free
- healthy heart
- Biological
According to the National Institutes of Health, eliminating highly processed foods leads to better health, weight loss, and reduced risk of metabolic disease.
So remember…
Marketing tactics don’t care about their bottom line because they want to sell the product. No law prohibits them from saying these phrases, even if it is not 100% true. So read labels and make sure there are no hidden sugars or calories in your favorite foods. After all, few people know that tomato sauce is a very unhealthy option.
11. Avoid second helpings
No matter how good the food was at dinner, don’t go back for a second helping. Essentially, when you eat two servings, you’re eating twice as many calories as you need in one meal. You will not create a calorie deficit with these practices.
12. Opt for a thin crust pizza instead of a skillet
If pizza is one of your favorite foods, you’ll want to find ways to eat it with fewer calories. You can do this more easily when you switch to a thin crust and use vegetables as a filling instead of meat. Most pizzerias have a large number of toppings as well as various crust offerings. Some even have cauliflower-based crusts, which is an even better option.
Final Thoughts on Creating a Calorie Deficit Every Day
Many people are eager to jump on the next fad diet and hope to lose a lot of weight. Perhaps the diet has become more complicated than necessary. You see, according to science, a pound contains 3,500 calories, so you just need to create a deficit to reduce your waistline.
Instead of approaching your diet as a huge task that requires days of planning and buying supplements and gadgets you don’t need, why not just count your calories? Calorie counting has worked for people for centuries and is a free way to stay healthy.
Don’t make creating a calorie deficit overwhelming. Start small by cutting out sodas, adding more vegetables, using a smaller plate, drinking more water, and making healthier choices for your favorite foods. You should see the pounds start to melt away as you make healthier choices in your eating habits.
By Chris Butler. Articles in English