when on a diet what should you do watch your calories or what in the food?

Answer 1

If your diet should keep or make you slim, don't view only the eating (calories, unhealthy fats) side, but also your movement. You may visit a gymn, but if you regularly walk shorter distances instead of using a car or bus, you are already doing a lot.

Answer 2

When you're on a diet, you should do both. Whole foods are great for you, but you can still go overboard (for example, whole grain bread is good for you...a whole loaf of it in one day is going overboard). Low calorie foods are also good for you, but if they're nutritional crap, then they're not worth eating. Alot of over-processed foods that are low-calorie have very few vitamins and minerals, and no fibre. It can be hard to be this vigilant all the time, so instead of counting every calorie, I also suggest choosing whole foods (whole grains, fruits, veggies, yogurt, etc) more often, and watching your portion sizes.

Answer 3

Really, you need to do both. Some "healthy" foods are high in calories, like peanut butter. In moderation they're great for your body and give you nutrients you need to burn calories. But peanut butter is VERY high in calories. Look for healthy foods, lean meats, fiber, whole grains and plenty of FRESH fruits, vegetables and lots and lots of water. Water is very important for overall health.

Visit www.calorieking.com to look up foods that aren't labeled or fast foods (if you have to eat fast food, I don't recommend it). Also, go to http://www.stevenscreek.com/goodies/calories.shtml to calculate how many calories you burn in a typical day, then try to reduce your caloric intake by about 500 calories per day. This will help you lose, in a healthy way, about 1 pound a week. Don't fall into diet fads that say you can lose 40 pounds in two weeks. They don't work and it's not healthy.

Answer 4

Calories are one factor, but you may want to pay closer attention as to how many are from fat. Also, look at the contents, sugar unburned will turn to more calories and that will turn to fat. Look at sodium, too much of that will cause you to retain water! So it is important to look at both. You are better off going with all natural foods as oppossed to process foods if you are striving to loose weight...

Answer 5

Both if possible...but calories is the most important. You will lose weight by eating only chocolate and ice cream as long as you don't eat too much of them...right?

Answer 6

Its all about the calories

Answer 7

weight loss depends on calories in vs. calories out. you have to burn more then you take in

Answer 8

Calories -- it doesn't matter really what you but how much. Its all about moderation

Answer 9

what what??