The ULTIMATE Proof That Calorie Counting Is Sabotaging Your Fitness Goals

07.03.2018 Diet & Food

The number of mixed health messages that we receive each day is off the charts. We have all been told to stop calorie counting but then the next conflicting message that we are given is that “energy out less energy in equals weight loss” so what are we meant to do? We were all in shambles until Madalin Fordsham put everything in perspective.

Madalin was eating just 800 calories a day, and following what is known as a ketogenic diet (low-carb, high-fat and moderate protein diet) – sound familiar? ‘The ketogenic diet had worked for me in the past,’ Ms Frodsham told the Daily Mail. ‘But I found the food so difficult to eat as you’re constantly having to substitute carbohydrates.’ 

After being frustrated with a plateau in her results she got help from a nutrition coach and personal trainer. They recommended continuing the Kayla Itsines workout program but modifying her diet (get Kayla’s 3 minute arm workout here).

Let's just preface this by saying no, I did not have an ED. When I was eating 800 calories a day, I thought I was healthy. I was eating healthy food, but hardly any macronutrients. I was curious to find out what my macros were like before I actually started counting my macros, so I entered my old foods into @myfitnesspal to find out. I was quiet astonished to see how little protein and carbs I was eating. 800 calories seems absurdly low as now I need minimum 1500 calories to be full, but at the time 800 calories was keeping me full because that's what my body was used to. After a while though, salad simply wasn't cutting it, and for all the restrictions I was placing on my diet, I simply wasn't seeing the results I had anticipated. So I got in touch with a PT and nutritional coach and got my macros sorted. When he first told me to eat 50% carbs I nearly died! I was eating about 10% carbs before and could not fathom how 50% carbs would not make me fat. I also freaked out at all the calories. I've been keeping an excel spreadsheet and in the first week of being on macros my average calories for the week was a little over 1000. I remember how hard I struggled to actually eat the size of my meals. I would just put my lunch next to my desk and eat it over the course of 3 hours as I couldn't eat it in one sitting! Now my stomach can take way more and is much happier! In the second week I was averaging 1600 calories a day! It didn't take long for my body to catch up. A part of me may always have that mindset that relates not eating with weight loss and "being good today". Sometimes I may forget to eat lunch just because I got busy and for a second I will revert back to old thinking, and think "ohh, I've done really well today and haven't eaten much at all." That's why I love tracking my macros. It will tell me "Maddy, you need to eat more. Go eat 3 potatoes". And I'll pat myself on the back for being healthy and doing really good today! If you're under feeding yourself in an effort to lose weight, don't do what I did for so long. Don't waste your time eating salad when you could be eating sweet potatoes and banana pancakes. Eat more and get fit. It actually works ??

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So reluctantly Madalin went from 800 calories a day (5% carbs) to 1,800 calories a day (50% carbs) and the results? Well the pictures speak for themselves.

Her workout routine and weight has stayed the same but she’s now lost body fat and gained muscle and abs. Fordsham top tip is ‘counting your macros (not calories) is the way to go,’

Doing it for the booty ??? as some of you know I started BBG 2.0 this week (or Sweat with Kayla week 13). I was excited to try it as I've already completed two rounds of BBG 1.0 (24 weeks) and was ready for the next challenge ?? I gotta tell you, so far I am loving it! ??? I feel that the main difference is that in BBG 1.0 you want to kill yourself for 28 minutes and in BBG 2.0 you're more interested in living ??? BBG 1.0 involves a LOT of jumping ??? think burpees, jump lunges, jump squats, jump everythang ? and BBG 2.0 is more static and involves heavier weights which I love ❤️??❤️ think weighted barbell squats, arms raises, weighted sit-ups etc. I'll do a full review once I finish BBG 2.0 but for now, I'm a fan ???

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'Don't waste your time eating salad when you could be eating sweet potatoes and banana pancakes. Eat more and get fit. It actually works.'

4 weeks apart. Same workout regime (Sweat with Kayla app), same time of day, same lighting, same place, same sleeping patterns. No filter used on either photo. Different clothes yes but please don't pick on me for that! I made the switch from high fat/low carb to the complete opposite, low fat/high carb 4 weeks ago and started counting my macros. I started eating more in between these 4 weeks, going from about 800 calories a day to 1500 calories a day. I thought I had leaned out but it wasn't until I made the comparison that I realised what a difference it had made! I'm sharing this because I always get messages about how to gets abs. And look, I know that life isn't all about abs. But, when you've been working out for 8 months you want to see the best results possible ???? If I'm working out every day then come hell or high water, I'm getting abs as a reward! For those of you that want the secret to abs: Sweat with Kayla plus a diet with 50% carbs, 20% fats and 30% protein. These are the two things that really worked for me, everyone is different so maybe something else worked for you, and if so, that's great! We are all on a journey and its different journey for everyone. ?❤️??

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