Try counting calories for a month

Calorie counting isn`t for everyone ​. However, experts agree that for some who are trying to lose a specific amount of weight within a particular time frame, especially due to health reasons, it can be a super helpful tool. VanDoren suggests trying it for a month rather than committing to this lifestyle change long-term. Tracking calories, even temporarily, can give you valuable insight into the energy density of all your favorite foods so you can tweak your intake accordingly to shed pounds. "If you decide you want to stop calorie counting after one month, that`s totally fine—you now have acquired new knowledge you can use for the future," says VanDoren. If counting calories just isn`t your thing, try counting macros instead, says Dr. Christopher McGowan, MD, a gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist at WakeMed Health & Hospitals and True You Weight Loss. Dr. McGowan typically recommends following a 30/40/30 regimen (30% protein, 40% carbs, and 30% fat) for weight loss.