Calorie counting is impractical, time consuming and downright inconvenient. Most dieters will do just about anything to avoid it and with good reason. Unfortunately, it can prove very useful if for nothing more than the education it provides about foods and their true nutritional value.

Dieters who do want to skip the calorie counting and get right to the weight loss can take heart though: there are very effective ways to shed pounds without paying attention to the numbers.

Calorie counting in the strictest sense of the words is not really required by most diets. Rather than carrying around a notebook, pen, scale and reference guide, try these things instead:

Get Familiar With Common Foods

Rather than making an effort to count every single calorie, take the time to understand what is really in favorite dishes. Read nutritional labels and look up favorite restaurant dishes. Chances are both exercises will prove quite enlightening. In addition, get very familiar with the potential calorie count in common dishes made at home.

Create A Favorites List

Take the research that has been done to craft a list of foods that are acceptable to eat. This is especially useful for restaurant meals as it can better guide meal planning on the run. It is also a valuable tool for at-home meals, as well. Try to come up with a variety of options that are low in calories and high in nutritional content. The real trick in dieting is often found in making sure every single calorie counts.

Pay Attention To Intake

Keep up with the foods and drinks that are consumed throughout the day. Try to keep them proportion controlled and do stick with items that are on the “favorites list” when at all possible. Eating three reasonably sized meals and a few healthy snacks a day is actually good for the body, so try to do so. Just remember the three meals don’t have to be and shouldn’t be fit for a king. Lighter is better.

Running around with a calorie counting book and trying to stick to a diet can prove impossible for many. Rather than go this route, do some research and come up with a plan to eat lighter and healthier no matter where the day leads. Doing so can produce results.

There are many great ideas to help dieters avoid counting every little calendar. The above are just a few. Learning more tips and tricks can help dieters stay on the right path.

Author's Bio: 

Alexander Sharp is the editor in chief of diet, health and fitness social network SlimNew.Me. A leading online diet website, SlimNew.Me offers expert advice, delicious low fat recipes and workout routines.