Cutting calories to help you burn more body fat is not advisable and does not guarantee fat loss.
When people first start to diet to lose weight, the first thing many do is restrict their calorie intake.
I can see why this may seem like a good idea and why people think that the less food you are consuming, the less chance of fat storage. However, this isn't the best way to lose fat and no way is it the most healthy.
When you cut down on the amount of calories which you are consuming, your metabolism alters very quickly to help preserve energy levels. The result of this means that you will burn fewer calories per day.
This will most likely have you feeling tired, under the weather and constantly hungry very quickly, all of which causes you stress and release of cortisol (stress hormone), which causes havoc on your fat loss goals and will also cause your hormones to be completely out of sync.
It is highly likely that while you restrict the amount of calories you are eating, you will lose muscle tone.
Having a healthy amount of muscle tone is key for fat loss and also having an toned / athletic body shape. Muscle helps you to burn more calories, especially when you recover after taking part in resistance / weighted training.
When you consume less food / calories, your body will become very resistant to burning fat for fuel. Your metabolism will slow to a point where it becomes close to impossible to burn fat or train with any intensity.
Your body requires a specific number of calories to maintain bodily functions. This varies from person to person, but the average is from 1200-1500 calories per day. So dropping your calorie intake below this level is in no way advisable.
Calories are not equal. You can eat a heap of green leafy vegetables and some protein with every meal while keeping calorie intake on the low side.
It is important to note that if you are training with any kind of intensity you will need more calories to help your body recover. There has been significant research proving that after a resistance training session your body will burn more calories for up to 48 hours.
The key is to try and eat little and often, and focus on plenty of green veg and good quality protein sources.
When you consistently eat good food choices and whole foods, you need not worry about calories.
Calories are something that you should monitor if you are eating a high amount of processed, takeaway or sugary foods.
