If you’re like millions of Americans, you will be starting a diet this new year. I remember when I was first starting, I didn’t know which way to turn. Weight Watchers? South Beach? Juicing? Low Carb? Low Cal? Jenny Craig? Atkins? There are SO MANY plans to chose from. For me, I wanted something to work and that wouldn’t break the bank. I had heard that Weight Watchers worked for a lot of people, but essentially…it’s calorie counting with different numbers. You have to take the extra step to look up “points.” For me, I just wanted to simplify it. I decided calorie counting was the “diet” or LIFESTYLE CHANGE for me.

If you’re thinking about calorie counting and need some tips as to HOW, let me explain it for you. I want to make it really simple and be totally real with you. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or comment with any questions.

4 STEPS TO MAKE COUNTING CALORIES EASY

1. TRACK EVERYTHING. It’s easy to assume that you can keep track in your mind or “eyeball” things. You can’t. You will start making exceptions for things and taking bigger servings and before you know it, you will let meals slip. Then days, and weeks, and you get it. Personally, I started out with a food journal. I would literally write everything down and try to make it to 1200 calories. (You read that right, 1200…I made it up myself and it’s been adjusted since then!) I’ve since moved on to an easier way to keep track, My Fitness Pal! It’s an app you can use on your phone to keep track of your calories and your fitness for the day. It also keeps track of your daily values, allows you to connect and follow friends, and even has a networking community for support. I love MFP!

2. MODIFICATION. I stick with what I know. I love meat and potatoes, so I still eat meat and potatoes. I don’t try to freak myself out and make myself try tofu and sweet potatoes when I know I don’t like either of those. Instead of adding in random things I don’t even like…I modify recipes. I like to take fried recipes and make them baked. I take full fat to less fat. I substitute and modify many, many ingredients.  There’s nothing wrong with trying new things, but you will be far more successful if you are eating the things you like. If you like carrots and green beans, you can eat those all you want. Don’t feel the need to eat kale chips because it’s popular. If you don’t like them, don’t waste the money. (See my top 10 diet foods here. Some of the items are pretty unconventional!)

3. MODERATION. I am a food-aholic. I like going to the chinese buffet and just eating everything. I like to try to prove to my fiance that I can eat a whole pack of Oreos. (I can’t.) When you’re counting calories, you can eat anything you want. Most of the time, it’s just as easy as following the suggested serving size. Sometimes, you have to split the candy bar in half and save one for the rainy day. Or even doing some extra working out to be able to eat that piece of cake. You have to take it day by day, all in moderation.

4. PIMP YOUR KITCHEN. Okay, maybe not. I mean, yes, but not in such an Xzibit kind of way. Just make sure your kitchen is well-equipped to handle the measuring, weighing, packing, cooking, etc. If you’re like me, then most of the “cooking” you’ve done is in the microwave, or overseeing some Taco Bell workers cook the food for you. I won’t go into it much more because I had already written a whole article about this back in July. Read my Top 5 Kitchen Tips here.

Hope these tips help! Happy counting!!