Calories or Carbs – What to Count for Weight Loss

Calories or Carbs – What to Count for Weight Loss

Calories or Carbs – What to Count for Weight Loss

Posted: May 22, 2025 | admin

How many diets are there! And how do you choose the one that suits you? It’s not an easy question. Is it better to choose a keto diet, a low-calorie diet, or intermittent fasting? Whichever diet you choose, it’s important to evaluate its results correctly. This way you’ll understand how effective it is. And whether you should adjust your diet. Many people count calories when trying to lose weight. This way, you can control how much you can eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner to achieve the weight loss you aim for.

With this strategy, you consume fewer calories than you burn. But there is another! Carb counting limits carbohydrates instead of calories. Low-calorie or low-carb methods are very popular and have their characteristics. Let us take a closer look.

Low Carb or Low Calorie for Weight Loss

There are two famous weight loss methods: calorie counting and carbohydrate counting. Energy or calories come from three macronutrients. So, protein, fat, and carbohydrates are the three macronutrients the body needs to develop and grow healthy. They can affect:

  • Appetite hormone responses
  • Metabolism rate
  • How hungry or full you are
  • Muscle recovery

Macronutrient counting is becoming popular. It is similar to calorie counting, but it is different in considering where exactly your calories come from.

Difference between Calories and Carbs

Calories are units of energy contained in food that our body can either use immediately or store for later. The energy value of food is usually measured in larger units—kilocalories, 1 kilocalorie equals 1000 calories. When you eat, your body converts calories from food into energy. Energy powers your body’s everyday activities. Excess energy can be stored as fat, which is how we gain weight.

What are carbohydrates? They are natural organic compounds made up of carbon and water molecules. They are the body’s primary “fuel” that supplies energy for all processes occurring in the human body. Our body stores carbohydrates as glycogen deposited in the muscles and liver.
Carbohydrates are one of the three main macronutrients (proteins and fats) we get from food. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose (sugar), the primary energy source for your cells. Glucose can also be stored for later use. Carbohydrates provide four calories per gram.

Types of Carbohydrates

There are several different types of carbohydrates:

  • Sugars are monosaccharides and disaccharides (the smallest and simplest types of carbohydrates) that occur naturally or are added to foods and drinks. Sugars are simple carbohydrates found in fruits and milk. They are an ingredient in desserts and soft drinks.
  • Starches are complex carbohydrates made up of a long chain of sugars. Starchy foods are potatoes, bread, and rice. Starches take longer for the body to break down.
  • Fiber is the indigestible part of carbohydrates—whole grains, legumes, and fruits. Fiber will help you stay full and minimize blood sugar spikes. You need to eat more fiber-rich foods because they are incredibly healthy.

The Role of Calories and Carbohydrates in Weight Control

Let’s study the role of calories and carbohydrates in weight control.

Calories

Calorie counting involves applying the principle of “calories in, calories out.” Eating fewer calories than your body needs creates an energy deficit. This can force your body to burn fat stores for energy. This process leads to the desired weight loss. Many diets are based on this principle. When you eat fewer calories than you burn, you lose weight. When you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. It seems simple. But it should be remembered that human metabolism is complex. Certain mechanisms compensate for limited calorie intake. Note the slowdown in the metabolic rate, which can lead to a plateau in weight loss and weight gain again.

Carbohydrates

The carbohydrate-insulin model is a theory about the role of carbohydrates in weight control. This theory states that a diet high in carbohydrates (especially refined carbohydrates and added sugars) increases insulin levels. This tends to promote fat storage and weight gain. Decided to follow this approach? Then you need to limit the total amount of carbohydrates you consume. They should be replaced with fat and protein. However, people can lose weight by following different macronutrient distributions, including low-fat and high-carbohydrate diets. However, there are many proponents of low-carbohydrate diets. These diets can be an effective short-term strategy for weight loss. However, more research is needed to determine whether the carbohydrate-insulin model is correct.

Calorie Counting vs. Carbohydrate Counting

Calorie counting involves tracking your daily calorie intake. The goal is to achieve a calorie deficit of about 500 calories daily. Burning 3,500 more calories than you consume can result in losing one pound. However, it is important to remember the individual approach. It is better to adjust your diet with a specialist. Your goals, your weight level, and your overall health are important. Carb counting involves tracking your daily carbohydrate intake. Here are some goals for counting carbohydrates:

  • Low-carb diet (10–45% of total calories from carbohydrates).
  • Very low-carb diet (<10% of total calories from carbohydrates).

In some cases, carbohydrates are replaced with protein or fat. Some people follow a high-fat, low-carb diet, while others follow a high-protein, low-carb diet. It is important to choose what works best for you.

One example is getting about 45 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates. Eating 1,800 calories per day would result in about 810 calories from carbohydrates, or 202.5 grams per day.

Conclusions

Do you want to lose weight and are looking for the best strategy? With our experienced specialists, you will find an option that will satisfy you. We practice only an individual approach. We will carefully analyze your condition and help you choose the weight loss path that will be the most effective and safe for you. We specialize in physician-controlled weight loss and wellness medicine.

Our clinic has a team of experienced, certified doctors offering a comprehensive health improvement approach. We guarantee you assistance at all stages of your health improvement. Please make an appointment with us and bring your weight back to normal!

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