You made a great point about the volatility of calorie expenditure. Between this and the inaccuracy of nutrition data, strict calorie counting is like chasing a moving target. However, as you mentioned, a much bigger problem is the fact that it’s very difficult to maintain as a lifelong habit. Even if it weren’t, it can compromise health rather than promoting it, and health should always be the primary motivation behind dietary decisions.

That’s an interesting analogy. It’s certainly important to consider the ratio of macronutrients that we eat, but it doesn’t have to complicated. A rough approximation is generally enough. For example, I know from personal experience that a meal consisting of about two thirds foods that are good sources of protein and fat is best for my metabolism and I generally don’t need to be any more specific than that. If you know your own metabolism and know how to satisfy your appetite, then calorie counting shouldn’t need to be a concern.

I absolutely do leave fat on meat. It’s my favorite part and is also nutritious. However, keep in mind that toxins are stored in fat and conventionally raised animals are likely to be exposed to a much larger amount of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and other chemicals. If you’re going to eat fatty meat, it’s best to make sure that you get it from a quality source.

Calories don’t need to be mathematical modeling in a real-life situation. That sounds out of tune, isn’t it?