To count or not to count?

Getting back to basics with calories

Despite all the diet strategies out there, weight management still comes down to the most basic principle: the calories you take in versus those you burn off. Fad diets may promise that avoiding carbs or eating a mountain of grapefruit is the secret to weight loss but really, it's all about the calories.

Calories represent the energy in food. Your body has a constant demand for energy and uses the calories from food to keep itself functioning. Energy from calories fuels your every action - from sleeping to marathon running.

Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are all nutrients which contain calories and are the main energy sources for your body. The amount of energy or calorie content in each varies. Carbohydrates and proteins have about four calories per gram whilst fats have about nine calories in each gram. Alcohol also is a source of calories providing about seven calories per gram.

This allows us to make better sense of the confusion we see on a food label. Take time to read the labels and understand the ramifications of what you're putting into your mouth!
Regardless of where they come from the calories you eat are either converted to physical energy or stored in your body as fat. These stored calories will remain in your body as fat unless you use them up, either by reducing your calorie intake so your body draws on its own energy reserves or by increasing physical activity to burn more calories. Priceline also offers products that can help reduce fat absorption such as Fat Blaster^{¥Δ^} Fat Magnet Tablets.

Celebrity Slim brings back the balance

Celebrity Slim offers you lots of options to reduce your calorie intake if you are wanting to lose weight. The Celebrity Slim^{¥Δ^} Starter Pack provides everything you need to get you on your way. They also now offer Celebrity Slim^{¥Δ^} Perfect Balanced meals ideal for anyone on the go looking for a calorie controlled, 97% fat free lunch or dinner. Or, when it's snack time you can try a Celebrity Slim^{¥Δ^} Savoury Snack available in a range of great flavours.
Your weight is a balancing act, but the equation is simple: if you eat more calories than you burn, you'll gain weight.

Reducing calories doesn't have to be difficult. It can be as simple as cutting out one extra high-calorie indulgence a day, swapping high-calorie foods for lower calorie options, like Celebrity Slim, and reducing portion sizes.

Your weight-loss success depends on your commitment. Are you motivated to make long-term lifestyle changes that require eating healthy foods? Be honest. Knowing you need to make changes in your life and feeling up to the challenge are two different things.
Have you addressed distractions in your life that could affect your commitments to a weight-loss program? If you're dealing with major life events like marital problems, job stress, illness or financial worries, consider giving your life a chance to calm down before you start.

Weight loss takes time and effort

Accept that there's no quick fix. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is a lifelong process. You may lose weight quickly, but over the long run it's best to lose weight at a moderate but steady pace. Aim for a weight loss of half a kilogram each week. And ask yourself these questions:

Are you ready to change your eating habits? Sounds easy to do in theory, but in practice, it can be difficult. When you try to lose weight the biggest battle often lay in changing established behaviour and developing new lifestyle habits. But it can be done.
Are you motivated to get physically active? Increasing your level of physical activity is essential to losing weight and keeping it off.

Are you realistic about your weight-loss goal? Remember, losing as little as five to ten per cent of your weight can greatly improve your health when you're overweight.
Do you have family and friends to support your weight-loss efforts? If helps to have someone in your corner. If you don't have somebody to rely on, rely on a friendly staff member at your local Priceline.

Do you have time to keep records of your food intake and physical activity? Keeping records increases your chance of success. It's actually really helpful to track your progress. The Celebrity Slim^{¥Δ^} Food Diary is designed to help you keep track of your food intake and is a compact A6 size making it easy to keep in your bag and take with you wherever you go

If you're ready for weight-loss but worried that you'll become discouraged quickly, think of the future. As you become more physically active and make dietary changes, you'll feel better and have more energy. Rather than thinking of weight-loss as short term drudgery, view it as an enjoyable, permanent lifestyle change. Here's to a new you!

¥Always read the label. Use only as directed. ΔVitamin supplements may only be of assistance if the dietary vitamin intake is inadequate. ^It is advisable to consult your doctor before starting any weight loss program.