Not do you count them but, specifically why do you?

A question most people have an answer for but don’t realize it isn’t the solution to the question.

For some people the answer to the aforementioned question is, “so I know exactly how much energy I’m consuming, so I can make sure I expel more or less to grow or lose weight” an answer I would respect but always challenge by asking if they knew how many calories they actually absorbed and thus could use for energy.

Kilocalories are the measurement of a substances (food and drink specifically) ability to raise the temperature of 1L/1kg of water by one degree Celsius, this method has been refined and averaged over the years and we usually go off the Atwater factors for measuring calories of Protein (4cal/g), Carbs (4cal/g), Fats (9cal/g) and Alcohol (7cal/g).

This is all great information but can be quite useless when you introduce the idea of True Absorption, a problem I’ve dealt with 98% of the time when coaching new clients. True absorption is the term I employ to explain that you are more than likely not absorbing or using 100% of the calories you consume. So why would it matter if you increase your calories from 2200 to 2400 if you were only utilizing 1700 in the first place?

A good example I have found is bodybuilder from Australia named Stan Turek, who can eat 2-3 meals a day and look better than bodybuilders who eat 5-6 meals of the same size, reason being his attention to detail with Gut health, Micronutrient consumption, Organ function, Enzyme consumption before food and nutrient partitioning.

The reason a true absorption level occurs and is ever changing is the very reason I rarely utilize the calorie counting method when coaching unless it’s a high level athlete preparing for a bodybuilding competition. Because if your

• Gut health isn’t optimal (Proper chewing, Stomach acid pH and level, Enzyme abundance and Gall Bladder bile production)
• Your liver/pancreas/thyroid gland isn’t performing at 100% (filtration, insulin response, metabolism)
• Your diet is perfectly consistent
• You experience high levels of stress and anxiety

I’m not saying counting calories is a bad thing, or that you shouldn’t do it, what I am saying is you should focus more on the calories your utilizing rather than consuming, there is no 100% way to measure exact expenditure as you would have to measure minute details including each change in gradient when running, or the time spent sitting vs. standing in the day, or the exact utilization of calories as you would have to make sure your chicken is the same breed and brand every day or your vegetables and fruits are the same ripeness every day, my point being foods and drinks are very likely not going to be the same caloric value consistently.

“What I’m saying is that there is a damn good chance the caloric level your consuming at isn’t what your body is utilizing.”

You’ll know this not from being above or below your caloric maintenance value but instead by the energy you get from foods, the bloating and digestion distress you feel how long you are sore for after your workouts or your cravings for certain foods, if your not getting energy from your carbs, bacteria and stress has gotten to them first, if your having prolonged muscle soreness then your protein is going to waste and if your bloating after meals, the bacteria is having a party with your food that your not invited to.

To increase absorption and use of calories I recommend, chewing your food thoroughly, unfiltered Apple cider vinegar (contains the mother) 1 tbsp. in the morning, ox bile 125mg – 150mg each morning, low sugar/alcohol diet, taking digestive enzymes, specifically Betain HCL, Protease (Aspergillopepsin), Cellulose, Amylase and Lipase before each meal, Sedative before bed and after training to reduce cortisol load on the liver, lots of good Veg Low FODMAP if possible and eating wholefoods rich in micronutrients, to open the cell and let the rest of the vitamins minerals and macro nutrients be absorbed into it.