How big should your ideal calorie intake be? And how do you really know the limits? First of all, it’s worth mentioning that many people disapprove counting calories. The importance that many nutritionists give to the ‘calories in/calories out’ ratio, i.e. how many calories you spend in relation to calories you eat, makes many people obsessed with reaching a specific number of calories. They think that this will necessarily help lose weight (or gain as appropriate). The reality is much more complex and the source of calories consumed turns out to be as important as their total amount in your dietary regime.

Energy balance is actually the one thing that defines your weight: you might think that since you exercise on a daily basis and eat all the right things, you will automatically lose weight and keep yourself in a good shape. But this is only half true.

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.