If you are spending your time counting every single calorie you put into your body, you are wasting your time. According to a study from Stanford University, losing weight is about what you eat, not how much you eat.

Essentially, by cutting back on added sugars, refined grains, and highly processed food along with prioritizing vegetables and whole foods rather than portions, subjects were found to lose a significant amount of weight. By focusing on healthier eating habits, subjects saved themselves the hassle of having to count every single one of those pesky calories and still lose weight.

The study was led by Christopher D. Garner, the director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, and found that regardless of genetics and major change to physical activity, weight loss is easily accessible with the prescribed diet above. In fact, participants were never given a number of calories to aim for. Instead, by focusing on healthier eating, participants found their appetite was satisfied more easily, and did not even have to think about overeating.

Having to think about each and every single thing you put into your body is stressful, tedious, and according to Dr. Garner, absolutely unnecessary. As long as you focus on eating vegetables and whole foods rather than highly processed foods, refined grains, and added sugars,  weight loss is soon to follow.