Does counting the calories really matter? Why should it be so important? For many people who are paid up members of the 'serial dieters club' It's something they are very used to, but which many of them hate with a thinly disguised loathing! Does it produce results? Does it help you to lose weight?

There's a very simple rule that states that if you want to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume. You need to take control of your energy intake and output.

f that's the case you need to know a bit about calories. Is that difficult? Absolutely not. Our diets do not tend to vary hugely. We don't always eat the same things, but you don't have to be a genius to be able to keep track of what you eat and it doesn't take much to remember roughly how many calories what you eat is worth.

If you change your daily menu it's easy to look up and remember the values of the new food you are eating. What you don't need to do is to get concerned that you may be 15 or 20 calories out in your calculation. Don't forget your portion sizes will vary too.

The best thing to do is to develop what is called an 'informed judgment' about the value of the calories that you consume. Soon you'll be able to look at a plate of food and get the total calorie value pretty accurate.

Your 'informed judgment' should prevent you from making any huge mistakes. 'If in doubt leave it out' will also serve you well so that you end up on the right side of the equation.

Your 'informed judgment' should prevent you from making any huge mistakes. 'If in doubt leave it out' will also serve you well so that you end up on the right side of the equation.

Getting the Calorie habit is important if you are going to be successful at losing weight permanently. Changing your eating habits does involve counting the calories - not obsessively, but with common sense.