6 Common Ways to Consume Hidden Calories
Struggling to lose weight?
Chances are you may be consuming more hidden calories than you realize.
If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that losing weight comes down to creating a calorie deficit.
However, if you’re eating plenty of nutritious foods and moving your body consistently and STILL not seeing results, chances are you’re consuming hidden calories.
Check out 6 of the most common ways to consume hidden calories:
1. High calorie beverages — One 20-oz bottle of coke contains 240 calories. If you consume one of those each day of the week, you’re adding an extra 1680 calories to your week. When it comes to weight loss, ALL calories count… Not just the ones from foods.
2. Overusing high-calorie condiments —1 Tablespoon of ranch dressing contains 73 calories, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil contains 120 calories. This does NOT mean these foods are “bad.” Heck, olive oil has plenty of benefits that aid to our health. However, it’s easy to over-consume these calorically-dense condiments while trying to lose weight.
3. All salads are automatically healthy, right?! I wish! Calories from toppings like cheese, nuts, tortilla strips, croutons, etc. can add up quickly. If you’re trying to lose weight, be mindful to choose plenty of veggies and lean proteins in your salad.
4. Choosing high-calorie snacks. Snacks like trail mix and nuts can be healthy… meaning that they are loaded with nutrients, but they also contain more calories than snacks like fruits, veggies, and hard-boiled eggs. It’s easy to eat more calories than you realize by choosing calorically-dense snacks.
5. Underestimating portion sizes. You may *think* you’re eating a 150-calorie serving of pretzels, but are you accurately measuring out your portion? If you’re trying to lose weight, try your best to accurately track your portion sizes.
6. Mindless Snacking. Focus on only eating a meal or nutritious snack when you feel physical hunger, as opposed to every time you walk past the pantry.
Have you experienced hidden calories other places?