Aren't all diets basically the same?

jandsstevenson887

I know this should be obvious but after reading this board recently it just has really struck me that basically (because of the realities of science) all diets are trying to get to the same destination...calorie deficit. Some may do it by eliminating a certain type of food or timing, etc but it is all the same. It's like if you are all driving across the country but in different vehicles and a different map. Only some vehicles, break down and never make it because they are so uncomfortable no one wants to hang around for the whole trip.

I feel like just using MFP (or another logging tool) is just the most common sense way to do it. I haven't given any food up, I don't feel deprived, and yet I am consistently losing weight week after week. It makes you wonder why people are spending gobs of money on plans that overpromise and underdeliver when something free does it better.

I did Paleo last year and ended up in the emergency room. I had horrible painful stomach cramps. They never figured out why but my tests came back that I was very keytonic. I was losing a pound a day but I couldn't safely sustain it and I went right back to eating "normal foods" and gained it all back.

This time I'm eating what I like, working out more and feeling stronger, and the weight loss isn't as dramatic but more consistent. If you are feeling frustrated, keep at it! It will work!

Sabine_Stroehm

What is "keytonic"?

Glad you found what works for you. Hopefully you can do it more safely than your last attempt.

cityruss

Are all the 'diets' the same - No.

Are all diets bound by the same universal rule of energy balance - Yes.

concordancia

Excepting some crazy fads and medically advisable diets, different diets attempt to address adherence, based on different principles. Low carb works because most people won't overeat if they aren't consuming starch and sugar based foods. Meal timing works because most people can convince themselves to wait another hour...

MynameisChester

All diets are the same in the sense that calorie burning must exceed calorie storing to lose weight. There are just different dietary strategies to achieve the same end goal. Some strategies are just more effective for different individuals. Person A may not like to think too much so they just drop a food group and go on their merry way. Person B might be more meticulous so counting everything might be a more effective strategy. Person C doesn't care whether they lose fat, muscle, or an arm so they may just do juicing everyday.

sunnybeaches105

Close enough for me. The difference is that many fad diets lie about the basic fact of energy balance

MynameisChester

sunnybeaches105 wrote: »

Close enough for me. The difference is that many fad diets lie about the basic fact of energy balance

Yea, and I've been suckered into some of these fad diets. Sometimes you just learn the hard way, haha!

kommodevaran

Same process - calorie deficit.
Different methods - counting calories, low carb, low fat, vegan, intermittent fasting, food combining, putting food into expensive tupperware, boot camp...

Different strokes for different folks. I have no problems with any crazy diet as long as they provide proper nutrition and calories, but when they are touted as something "magical" or perceived as "necessary", I want to point out that they aren't, and it should never, never, never, cost you more to eat less.

ogmomma2012

What do you mean by "keytonic" because being in ketosis usually doesn't have that affect, barring some underlying health condition like kidney disease.

Yes, calorie deficit is the main goal for all diets. In particular, for my own health, I do ketogenic (super low carb/high fat) and it's really improved my cholesterol numbers and helped me sustain my calorie deficit.

Mentali

I'm not sure the analogy really holds up that way. Not everyone is getting in a car - some people are taking a comfortable train, winding through the countryside and enjoying themselves on their way to their destination. Some people are taking cars of various speeds and driving various miles per day depending on their determination.

And then some people are exposing themselves to radiation in hopes they'll get flying superpowers.