By fitlifemonthly 
If you’re thinking about losing weight, your first thought might be to count calories and eat less. But, according to Terry Fairclough, a top personal trainer and co-founder of Your Body Programme, that’s not always the best approach.
There are plenty of opinions about the best diet for weight loss. Should you count calories? Go low-fat, low-carb, or high-protein? Should you fast or eat small, regular meals? While all these approaches might be relevant depending on your body type and activity level, one thing you shouldn’t do is under-eat.
Many people think slashing calories is the way to get that beach-ready body. Sure, you might see the pounds drop off, but you could be losing more than just fat. The goal is usually fat loss, not just weight loss. Today’s Western diet often leads to overeating, so some people might need to cut back a bit on calories. However, drastically cutting calories isn’t the answer.
Your body converts what you eat into glucose, a sugar that fuels your cells. When you cut calories, what you’re actually losing initially is stored carbohydrate and water, not fat. If you keep cutting calories too much, your body starts holding onto fat and breaking down protein instead. Protein is crucial because it helps burn fat while your muscles are at rest, making it important to consume a balanced amount of fats, carbs, and protein.
There’s a misconception that eating fat will make you fat. In reality, fat is an essential, long-lasting energy source, crucial for exercise and getting in shape. Plus, excessive calorie restriction can lead to nutrient deficiencies, which can affect every aspect of your health, from your immune system to your metabolism.
Under-eating can lead to a host of health issues like fatigue, malnutrition, and hormone imbalances. It also stresses your body, leading to the release of cortisol, a stress hormone that makes it even harder to lose fat. This stress hormone can also cause weight gain, especially around the belly.
Consistent under-eating can slow your metabolism, making it difficult to lose weight because your body starts storing more fat. Skipping out on essential nutrients can mess with your sleep, making your health and productivity take a hit.
Even bodybuilders who cut calories for competitions eventually increase them again afterward, but doing this incorrectly can lead to health problems. The key is to consume the right amount of calories, carbs, fats, and protein tailored to your body type and goals.
At Your Body Programme, we help people figure out their calorie needs based on their specific body types. By not restricting calories and focusing on proper nourishment, we’ve repeatedly shown that increasing calories can help with fat loss.
A healthy diet should include plenty of lean proteins like chicken, fish, eggs, and legumes, and healthy carbs like fruits, veggies, quinoa, and brown rice. Don’t forget healthy fats such as avocados, nuts, and olive oil.
Terry Fairclough, a Personal Trainer and Nutritional Therapist with Your Body Programme, emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet tailored to individual needs to ensure optimal health and metabolism.