Citrition Nutrition

Many people eat less in the summer months than they did in the winter. And, yet, despite eating less, they still find that they can’t lose weight. This is a very common complaint. What most people don’t realize is that despite eating less, they are drinking more. Calories all count whether you are eating them or drinking them. Those extra calories could be from more nights of happy hour or just more lemonade. On these hot days, it’s common to be thirsty. If the beverages you are drinking are sweetened iced tea, soda, lemonade, juice smoothies…you are getting LOTS of extra calories from your beverages. It’s also more common to go out for drinks when it’s nice outside than in the winter where all you want to do is get inside. So, remember to watch how many calories you are consuming from beverages. And, water is always a great way to go — save calories and money.

A client asked me this question the other day and I think it’s a common one. Of course if you are eating a snack, it’s better to choose a healthy one such as a string cheese than a bag of cookies. However, just because it’s healthy doesn’t mean it doesn’t have calories. You can still gain weight if you are consuming more calories than you need. So, remember to listen to your body and eat when you are hungry rather than eating out of boredom. And, definitely opt for nutritious snacks over empty calories.

A client asked me a question yesterday that I think is a common one. Should you pay attention to fat, carbs or calories? Although all of those are important for different health reasons, when it comes to weight loss, the one that matters most is calories. Your body does not know the difference between a calorie that came from fat or one that came from carbs. It only knows that you fed it a calorie. So, always look to see how many calories you are eating. You cannot lose weight by eating the same number of calories, but fewer grams of carbs.