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Nutrition Expert Reveals Why Counting Calories Is A Waste Of Time

In order to maximise our fitness regimes, we’re often told we should keep a close on eye on the foods we eat and the calories we put into our bodies. The recommended daily calorie intake for men is 2,500. But if you want to bulk up and add muscle, you should put more into your body, and if you want to trim the fat, then you should cut down.

While these practices can provide results, Max Lugavere, nutrition expert and author of The New York Times bestseller Genius Foods, says you should be careful when it comes to processed foods. In a recent Instagram post, he says that the labels on the products we buy can be misleading.

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A post shared by Max Lugavere (@maxlugavere) on Dec 19, 2019 at 12:06pm PST

This isn’t so that they can be more appealing to us as consumers, but legally, they can have a high margin of error. This means that if a product says it has 100 calories, for example, it could actually have up to 120, resulting in a higher calorie intake than the one you’re aiming for.

His solution? Eat real food instead. Not only can you still easily reach your desired calorie intake amount, but you also have a meal that is more satiating due to the levels of fibre, protein, and water. He references a 2019 study carried out by Hall et al. that wanted to observe the effects processed and non-processed foods can have on the participating group.

The group of 20 participants was randomly split into two groups. Half the group started on a processed food diet for two weeks, immediately followed by two weeks of unprocessed food. The other half did the opposite.

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A post shared by Max Lugavere (@maxlugavere) on Nov 20, 2019 at 12:02pm PST

The results showed that while energy intake was greater from the processed foods, protein levels were low, compared to when natural, unprocessed foods were consumed. The researchers found that those who had a high energy intake (the processed foods) gained weight during the trial, whereas those who consumed unprocessed foods lost weight, over the same two week period.

So if you’re looking to lose your ever-expanding belly, throw out the junk foods and stick to a diet of healthy, unprocessed foods and you’ll soon find the pounds (and the mental burden of tracking your calories) start falling off. We understand if you want to wait until after Christmas, of course.

Don’t be shy

As Heidi told us, one of the first things she noticed when travelling in Europe and South America is that when it comes to approaching women in a bar, Australian guys “don’t have the balls” of their overseas equivalents, and are worried about “looking like a freak” in front of their mates. To many Aussie women who travel overseas, this can either be a relief or a pain in the arse, depending on the circumstances. For Australian men, however, it means that when trying to attract the attention of the sultry eyes across the bar, of course you still need to be polite and respectful, but also a little more direct than you are accustomed to.

Use Tinder

In this globalised world this is fast becoming a piece of generic advice. But the point remains: Tinder is hot in Brazil, with a market (10 million users and counting) second only to the United States. Plus, as travel website Culture Trip adds, “There is no stigma at all attached to using dating apps in Brazil so don’t feel shy about downloading them and searching for a date.”

“Dating aside, it’s also a great way of practicing your Portuguese.”

Time your trip

According to Culture Trip, “For casual hookups, there is no time in Rio quite like Carnival, where kissing and casual flings are all part of the celebrations.” It is also known as a time when there are higher levels of infidelity among relationships, which is something that is (apparently) “largely accepted as part and parcel of the party.” This isn’t the case for everyone, however.

“To meet people at Carnival, simply join a bloco (a moving street party) and feel free to mingle, flirt, and enjoy.”

Pay the bill

While there aren’t any really any rules per se for paying the bill on the first date, quite often, the man will insist on paying for the woman. Our advice; you should always offer to pay or split the bill (for gay couples, it is normal to split the bill and pay half each).

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A post shared by Matheus Costa (@maatheuscosta) on Dec 18, 2019 at 4:10pm PST

Master the art of ‘small talk’

No: we don’t mean the weather. We mean adding prefixes onto the ends of words to make them (and by extension, you) cuter. As the BBC reporter Ian Walker wrote earlier this year, this is one of the first things language learners realise when they arrive in Brazil: “I’d barely been in Brazil 24 hours when I was let in on a segredinho (a little secret).”“In a barzinho (a local bar) as the sun went down, a new Brazilian amiguinho (a good friend) I’d met in my Rio de Janeiro hostel had a frosted bottle of Antarctica beer sweating in his hand,” Walker continued. “Chatting about our night ahead, he poured our drinks and told me, “If you want to speak with a girl tonight, don’t ask her to have a cerveja [a beer]; ask her if she’d like a cervejinha (a little beer) instead.”

“She’ll love it if you use this word.”

Don’t have set expectations of sex (or the lack thereof) for the first date

No set-in-stone rules for this and this should always come down to what you (and your partner) are comfortable with and feeling keen to do. However, whatever you decide, don’t be too shocked if you end up at a pay-per-hour motel: “As it is common for Brazilians to stay living with their family until later in life, dating couples often rent a motel for a couple of hours in order to get some privacy,” (Culture Trip).

“Motels in Brazil are designed specifically for sex and many come complete with a hot tub, sauna, condoms, and mirrored ceilings.”

Keep your options open

Like any urban metropolis, if you’re in Rio or Sao Paulo, saying, “let’s catch up again” doesn’t necessarily mean that you will do, and if you’re on Tinder you should always assume your date is talking to other people. Everyone likes to keep their options open, so try to embrace the laid back vibes.

Don’t be close minded as to acceptable locations to meet (or find) a date

Strike up a conversation in bars or clubs, visit outdoor street parties, or even just head to the beach.

Don’t be upset if your date is late

It’s a cultural thing.

Be prepared for a little more PDA than you’re used to

Still confused? Check the word ‘carinhoso’ in the dictionary.

Set your overall expectations

As Culture Trip writes, “In a country that simply oozes sexuality, sensuality, and a fun-loving spirit, dating in Brazil can be relatively easy.” So far so good. However, “While casual hookups are pretty straightforward, making it last long term can be a bit trickier,” the travel website adds.In other words: if you’re looking for a holiday romance, it’s hard to imagine a better place than Brazil (“where the passionate residents will make you swoon”).But – particularly for any expats who have moved to the land of Neymar – you need to set your expectations realistically and be patient if you are looking for something long term.

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