How Does Reverse Calorie Counting Work?
I am reading your book, The Real You Diet, and I really like the new approach. I am just wondering if you could further explain reverse calorie counting. Are you supposed to log your daily calories but not set a limit? I have always had trouble with regular calorie counting but I would like to try reverse calorie counting.
Could you please explain this further?
Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D.
iVillage Health Editor-at-Large Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., CNS, is the Today show’s Diet and Nutrition Editor as well as the... Read more
A: I think you'll find success with "reverse calorie counting" - which is for people like you who struggle with calorie limitations. So, for reverse counting, keep a food log for a week - weekdays and weekend, of what you are eating. Write down ALL the food and beverages.
Next, take a look at the times of day of eating, and how much, and then SUBTRACT out some calories from the day. If you can subtract out 500 calories a day, you'll drop about a pound a week. If you subtract, 250 calories a day, you'll drops about 2 pounds a month. Even just cutting out 100 calories a day will drop 10 pounds in a year.
As the example in The Real You Diet says - trim the calories from your day - and if you cut out some calories, that's how you lose weight. So, you don't eat "up" to a certain amount of calories, you trim down. But, you first need to keep a detailed food log to do so - like the example shows, you can trim once you know what you are doing.
Let me know how you are doing - and write back! I'd love to know how this works for you. If you need more advice, I'm here!
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