A typical calorie counter logs the number of calories that they consume each day. The idea is that if they keep their calories at a certain level, they will lose a guaranteed amount of pounds each week.

Well, that is not always the case. Here's why.

Just like eating only one food for your diet, being a calorie counter can be just as harmful, and causes many people to gain weight as fast as they take it off.

For nearly a decade, scientists and nutritionists have known that all calories are not equal. Calories from certain foods are worse than calories from another. So, it's not just how much you eat, but what you eat that counts.

In a blind study, two groups were given the exact same amount of calories each day for six months. When the study ended, one group lost almost twice as much as the other. Scientists believe that our bodies can digest the fat of some foods much better than others. In this study, almonds had the fat that was best digested.

Just because being a calorie counter isn't the best for you, you should still check the label of foods for calories. Most low calorie foods are good for you, and consuming too many calories will cause you to gain weight, regardless of their source.

Calorie Counters - Food for Thought

If you are a calorie counter, and are going to continue to count calories, why not count the calories of only healthy foods? Let's say your daily calorie count is at 1,500. When you are getting ready to eat, it's possible to replace the calories of some unhealthy food, with the calories of healthy food. Instead of eating a pork steak that has 500 calories, you can eat that same amount of calories in tofu.

A high fiber snack has more nutrition and will help with weight loss better than a cookie with high fat, even if they had the same number of calories.

Calorie Counters Need to Focus on Exercise

Everyone knows that the best, and only way to lose weight and keep it off, is through a combination of diet and exercise. When you exercise, you cannot function correctly on limited calories. You will require more.

Try switching to protein shakes, eating fruits, green vegetables and legumes, and foods with high grain content for better nutrition. Such foods give us energy to work out more, while keeping us healthy.

As you can see, there are no reasons to be a calorie counter unless you want to make sure that you are not adding too many calories to gain more pounds. Like with most dieting, the combination of getting enough exercise and eating the right healthy foods is always the best for weight loss.

There might be some calorie counters who could argue that counting works for them. Everyone is different, and if calorie counting works for you, I guess there is no reason to change. However, scientists have labeled it as a method where most people end up gaining weight. You might want to stay away from it.

So, work out more often, eat nutritious and healthy foods, and don't worry about being a calorie counter.