Decoding CICO: The Calorie-In, Calorie-Out Diet Explained

Diets like the Keto diet and the Paleo diet aren't necessarily backed by research and are often just old diet plans disguised with new flashy language. They also often lead to failure and regaining the weight lost. So what is the CICO diet and how is it different?

What Is the CICO Diet?

CICO stands for Calories In, Calories Out, and there aren't any specific requirements for it. What you need to do is simply consume fewer calories (calories in) than you burn (calories out). It's simple yet super effective. But here's why it works so well.

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To lose weight, you want to consume fewer calories than your body needs to remain active. With the CICO diet, you track your daily calories and then try to lower them as much as possible. If, for example, you need 2,600 calories, you can take them down to 2,200. It's all about calorie deficit. Another great thing is that you can have whatever you want as long as you don't go over your limit.

Is the CICO Diet Healthy?

Counting your calories shouldn't be a problem for your physical health, but sometimes mental health is more important. The CICO diet is a great way to see which are the high-calorie foods you consume. Once you realize all those sugary beverages and savory snacks are the problem, you'll try to find alternatives with fewer calories. There are lots of useful apps that can help you keep track of your daily calorie intake. At first, it might be annoying and time-consuming, but once you get the hang of it, counting calories won't be a problem. You'll also become more conscious of what you're having. The goal of CICO is to keep things simple, so if you struggle to keep up with a diet, it could be a good option for you.