Calorie Counting
Forget all the fad diets out there, the old fashioned method of calorie counting to monitor what we eat is back.. and what's more it's back in style.
Long gone are the days of 'Atikins' 'Beach' and 'Cambridge' as people are now starting to embrace old methods of weight-loss that have been tried and tested.
Women seem to constantly be on a diet of some sort and are never happy with their weight, shape or figure. What's even more depressing is the fact that everything seems to be bad for us now, with fruit even being restricted for fear of a sugar overload!
Is it any wonder we've started to go back to basics and look at exactly how many calories we are consuming a day? We like to know what we're putting in to our bodies now, whereas before we probably didn't care, as long as it tasted good and did the job.
Big companies have had to bow to public pressure and put the calorie and fat content on all their products, just so people have the option at looking at what they are eating.
It makes sense really, as cigarette packets have had health warnings all over them for some time now, so that people can make an informed choice as to whether they want to put that stuff into their lungs or not. Of course it doesn't act as a deterrent for addicts, but at least the cigarette companies are complying with health laws by putting a warning on the packet.
So really, it was only a matter of time before fatty foods got the same sort of treatment. At the minute we only have the calories plastered on the front of each product, but in future the label could have sentences like 'This product will make you obese if you consume too much.' Tell us something we don't know!
Coca-Cola and M&M's are the latest companies to put calorie contents on its products and American restaurant chain Applebees have also had to put the calorie content of each meal on their menus, so customers can see just how much fat they are putting into their bodies.
It comes to something when you go out for a meal to enjoy yourself and unwind, only to find next to your desired meal choice is a figure which probably exceeds your daily calorie intake.
American's are feeling this calorie wave the most at the moment, with the health-conscious demanding lower fat options from their favourite brands. Dunkin' Donuts for one recently added a low-calorie egg white breakfast sandwich, and McDonald's claim to have reduced their fries to 500 calories from the 570 that is was last year.
Everyone knows that women are supposed to consume 2000 calories a day, which sounds like a lot, but when you consider your favourite bar of chocolate is around 300 calories, it doesn't leave you with much room for a calorie splurge.
And it can get obsessive too, Victoria Beckham has admitted that during her Spice Girl days she knew the calorie content of everything, and it can become almost an obsession.
So how can you calorie count safely? Well we believe in everything in moderation- why not have a day off a week where you go 'to hell with the calories, I want a burger!' you'll feel better for it too, because you're not restricting yourself.
With calorie counting back in fashion, so to speak, does this mean the end of all fad diets? or is it just as dangerous to count the calorie content of everything you eat? Let us know what you think....