What Is a Calorie Counter?

Calorie counters come in many forms, and different types of calorie counters have different features. All are a potentially valuable resource in aiding in the achievement of weight loss goals.

Function

• A calorie counter is simply a method of tracking caloric intake or expenditure. By estimating your body's daily calorie needs, a calorie counter gives you an essential part of the information needed to balance your diet and maintain or achieve a healthy body weight.

Types

• Calorie counters do come in the form of actual physical devices, but there are also many online calculators. In addition, simply keeping a log of your food intake and daily physical activities could serve as a method of calorie counting.

Features

• A basic calorie counter simply estimates the daily calorie requirements for a specific individual. A food calorie counter makes it easy for you to quickly work out how many calories, and sometimes how many fat calories as well, are in a particular meal. There are also counters that estimates caloric expenditure, such as the calorie counter featured on many aerobic exercise machines.

Considerations

• Both the basic and caloric expenditure types of calorie counters factor into consideration a person's gender, height, weight, age and level of fitness activity in arriving at their estimated figures. Food calorie counters simply total up the amount of calories present in the different foods that make up your meal.

Benefits

• Having a clear idea of your daily caloric consumption versus expenditure is important for achieving successful weight loss. Weight loss equals more calories burned than consumed, and calorie counters are an excellent way to determine if you are fulfilling this requirement.