Canola oil is only 7 percent. A calorie is still a calorie, regardless of whether it comes from fat, protein or carbohydrates. Eat more calories than your body can use and you'll gain weight. To lose one pound, you have to reduce caloric intake by 3,500 or burn off that many calories by exercising. Even though the number of calories eaten and burned is the basis of weight control, counting calories doesn't work for everyone.
Some people find it restrictive.
Others become obsessed with numbers, and begin thinking about foods only in terms of how fattening or nonfattening they are. Some will even stop eating certain healthy foods because of their calorie counts. For these reasons, many nutritionists recommend watching portion sizes instead of tracing calories. Bottom-line, calories do matter. When you're attempting to lose weight, it helps to know how many calories are right for you.