We talk about calories a lot. When you are looking to change your body composition, energy balance is the key. Calories are a measure of energy.
So are all calories equal? As a unit of measurement yes, but they are not all the same. Like a mile is always a mile, a calorie Is always a calorie. But it doesn’t tell you what it’s comprised of.
Calories tell us how much energy is in the foods (or drinks) we consume. One calorie is the amount of heat required to increase 1g of water by 1ºc. Food is measured in a bomb calorimeter to calculate its energy value.
We know foods are different, as in what they provide. Some foods have more nutrients than others. Some take more energy to breakdown than others and others have different bioavailability when eaten. Certain foods will fill you up more than others. The calorie content tells you nothing about the taste and enjoyment of what you eat.
Do you ever have to count calories? It can be helpful as a quantitive measure if you’re trying to lose or gain weight. It can be a good educational tool by showing you the energy content of what you eat too.
There are also plenty of non-tracking methods for dieting. Just note the way they all work (when they work) is by reducing your energy (calorie!) intake. You don’t have to count calories, but they do always count.