Should you be counting calories for each workout?

Total calories burned while exercising

If you're trying to lose weight, do you religiously keep track of all those calories you burn at the gym or while working out at home?

According to personal trainer Scott Lucett, and fitness expert Jessica Smith, doing this could be counter productive to your fitness or weight loss goals.

Can you trust the numbers?

No, says Lucett. That number on the treadmill is a general number and a lot of variables play into that.

For example, if you lean on the bars while you walk or run, this offsets your weight and you won't get an accurate calorie reading.

Why you shouldn't obsess over your total calories burned

Jessica Smith suggests focusing on how you feel, rather than the number of calories you burn for two reasons:

1. The “I burned it, I earned it” way of thinking. If you burn a set number of calories, you might feel tempted to indulge in a big slice of cake, compared to if you burned fewer calories.

2. Your workout is only a small part of your day. If you spend all your energy doing a 1 000-calorie workout, you're going to feel exhausted, drained and sore for the rest of the day.

How to stop the calorie-counting obsession

Instead of pushing (or punishing) yourself to reach some magic number, shift your focus to all those incredible internal benefits of exercise.

Things like an increase in energy, feeling more positive, better sleep, and improved health.

Exercising should be enjoyed, so don't get caught up over counting calories. Focus on doing the types of exercises that you enjoy and reaping the full benefits (including calorie burning).

Recommended reading: 10 Benefits to doing online and home workout videos

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