6 min read
2026-02-05
Kitchen scales are your main assistant. A “tablespoon” of butter can differ in calorie content by 2 times, depending on whether it is heaped or not.
The most common mistake is not counting the oil for frying and seasoning. One tablespoon of oil is 120 kcal.
The weight of prepared dishes differs from raw ones: cereals gain water, meat loses moisture. Count by weight before cooking.
| Drink (250 ml) | Calories |
|---|---|
| Coffee latte | 150 |
| Orange juice | 112 |
| Cola | 105 |
| Tea with sugar (2 tsp) | 40 |
| Water | 0 |
Write down everything you eat, including snacks. People systematically underestimate consumption by 20-40%.
For every 5 kg you lose, your daily intake decreases by about 50-100 kcal.
The minimum for women is 1200 kcal, for men - 1500 kcal. Lower values slow down your metabolism.
Increase calories to maintenance level every 1-2 weeks. This helps maintain metabolism and hormonal balance.
See also: BMI calculator, Water norm calculator