All calories may not be equal

earthakin66

Has anyone else read the book "Always Hungry"? It really explains everything that I have always felt intuitively. What if he is right about not all calories being equal? That different foods (and therefore calories) biologically impact us in different ways?
I highly recommend the book, here is the website: http://drdavidludwig.com
No counting calories, eat until satisfied, cut way down on refined carbohydrates and eat plenty of fat. Countless health benefits including weight loss and best of all, no hunger.

Anyone want to join me on a 6 month experiment? Send a friend request.

Vegplotter

I don't think you'll get many takers here. We've all been conned by such " diet without dieting " books. (Generally written by stick insects with a
a rather partial grasp of medical knowledge.)
I'm firmly of the view that most of us need the discipline of calorie counting and recording our weight, especially those of us who've become overweight. It rather implies that we don't recognise satiety and that we've forgotten what hunger feels like.
If you are one of the exceptions, then good luck with your experiment.
And by the way all calories ARE equal - but some fill you up for longer. The issue is that we need to eat the filling ones and the not so filling in order to enjoy a balanced diet.
Whatever you do, don't cut out the basic food groups which are: Protein, carbs, veg, dairy and fruit.

SophieSmall95

All calories ARE equal because a calorie is just a unit of energy.

Different macros certainly do pay different roles in the body. But in terms of weight calories are the only thing that matter, to say otherwise is just plain wrong, misleading and uneducated.

If you lose weight following that it is because you are eating less calories than you burn, whether you count them or not calories are the weightloss factor.

kimny72

I spent the first 40 years of my life trying to eat intuitively until I was satisfied, not eat so many carbs, make "healthier" choices, eat the right foods. Then I came here, started counting calories, lost the weight and changed my life.

gonetothedogs19

According to Ludwig - "Until we address the underlying drivers of weight gain – which are fat cells stuck in calorie storage overdrive – we are going to be in a battle between mind and metabolism that we just can’t win. Cutting back on calories won’t do it. That doesn’t change biology. To change biology, you have to change the kinds of foods you’re eating."

And - "Simply cutting back on calories as we’ve been told actually makes the situation worse. When we cut back on calories, our body responds by increasing hunger and slowing metabolism. It responds in an effort to save calories. And that makes weight loss progressively more and more difficult on a standard low calorie diet. It creates a battle between mind and metabolism that we’re doomed to lose."

Bottom line - if you are counting calories, weighing, measuring and logging religiously, and cannot lose weight (a common complaint on this site), try this approach. Why not? And why would you continue doing something that is not working?

earthakin66

So I'm looking for people who have read the book and are interested in discussing that, no point in discussing the book with people who haven't read it. There is plenty of science to back it up (written by a doctor, by the way, not a stick insect- was that a typo?).

callsitlikeiseeit

i guess im a special snowflake then.

to think ive lost 80 some pounds in the past 2 years (and really, most of that was within the first year, this year ive not been focusing on it as much) all while eating the same things i always have, simply much LESS of it.

i still get drunk with my boyfriend (yup - definitely gotta make room for those cals), still eat chocolate, still eat out - and what i want to eat, not necessarily off the 'light' menu, still eat burgers and pizza and bread.

im special.

yup.

all that said, yes, in terms of weight loss, a calorie IS a calorie. In terms of nutrition, and satiety, they can definitely differ. I can eat 1400cals in chocolate and beer or 1400 cals in protein, veg, some fat and carbs, and one definitely is BETTER for me nutritionally, as well as keeping me fuller, longer.

earthakin66

I'm not saying that everyone should stop counting calories. Go ahead and count them and eat whatever you want! I'm looking for someone who has read the book who might be interested in keeping in touch while we follow the guidelines.

gonetothedogs19

earthakin66 wrote: »

So I'm looking for people who have read the book and are interested in discussing that, no point in discussing the book with people who haven't read it. There is plenty of science to back it up (written by a doctor, by the way, not a stick insect- was that a typo?).

You will not find many people here. Calories In, Calories Out (CICO) is the mantra. Doesn't matter where the calories come from.

Obviously nobody is recommending it (repeat, nobody is recommending it), but in theory, they believe you could eat 2,000 calories of donuts every day for a couple of years, or eat 2,000 calories of a healthy diet for a couple of years, and your weight would be EXACTLY the same.

Like what you eat has no impact on your metabolism or fat storage. Nothing. Your body is a bunsen burner. Calories In, Calories Out.

Not buying it. However, there are people here who have been very successful with CICO. I am happy for them.

SophieSmall95

earthakin66 wrote: »

So I'm looking for people who have read the book and are interested in discussing that, no point in discussing the book with people who haven't read it. There is plenty of science to back it up (written by a doctor, by the way, not a stick insect- was that a typo?).

I'm familiar with Ludwig's work.You just appear to not be happy with people calling out the BS.

Just because he is a doctor does not make him right. Especially when bias and money are involved. He makes money selling this "information". That ought to make you wary of anything he says. Only peer reviewed scientific articles and meta studies that have as little bias as possible are good sources of scientific information in my book.

hjlourenshj

gonetothedogs19 wrote: »

Bottom line - if you are counting calories, weighing, measuring and logging religiously, and cannot lose weight (a common complaint on this site), try this approach. Why not? And why would you continue doing something that is not working?

't

Its just impossible to not lose weight when you are in a deficit. So the common complaint on this site is 100% the cause of mistakes in counting. Its that simple. Don't spin it towards something else

gonetothedogs19

SophieSmall95 wrote: »

earthakin66 wrote: »

So I'm looking for people who have read the book and are interested in discussing that, no point in discussing the book with people who haven't read it. There is plenty of science to back it up (written by a doctor, by the way, not a stick insect- was that a typo?).

I'm familiar with Ludwig's work.You just appear to not be happy with people calling out the BS.

Just because he is a doctor does not make him right. Especially when bias and money are involved. He makes money selling this "information". That ought to make you wary of anything he says. Only peer reviewed scientific articles and meta studies that have as little bias as possible are good sources of scientific information in my book.

In other words, anyone who writes a book and makes money is a crook?

The man is a professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Perhaps he knows something? Perhaps he wants to spread a message that could reduce our obesity and diabetes epidemic.

daniip_la

earthakin66 wrote: »

There is plenty of science to back it up (written by a doctor, by the way, not a stick insect- was that a typo?).

"The goal in Phase 1 is to calm down fat cells and take the body out of starvation mode."

That line I pasted is directly from the website you linked.

That is not science.

Your cells are simply cells, they don't need to be calmed. And starvation mode is not a thing. Not exactly a good start when he's spouting fake-science all over the place.

earthakin66

Why isn't it science? Isn't chronic inflammation real?

gonetothedogs19

hjlourenshj wrote: »

gonetothedogs19 wrote: »

Bottom line - if you are counting calories, weighing, measuring and logging religiously, and cannot lose weight (a common complaint on this site), try this approach. Why not? And why would you continue doing something that is not working?

't

Its just impossible to not lose weight when you are in a deficit. So the common complaint on this site is 100% the cause of mistakes in counting. Its that simple. Don't spin it towards something else

How hard is it to count calories? One ounce of cereal with skim milk (the amount is stated on the cereal box) for breakfast. Two cans of tuna fish and whatever the portion of mayonnaise is on the label for lunch. 100-calorie pre-packaged snack. A couple of pre-made burgers on a bun for dinner with a salad and a low-cal dressing.

This is not exactly rocket science.

SophieSmall95

gonetothedogs19 wrote: »

SophieSmall95 wrote: »

earthakin66 wrote: »

So I'm looking for people who have read the book and are interested in discussing that, no point in discussing the book with people who haven't read it. There is plenty of science to back it up (written by a doctor, by the way, not a stick insect- was that a typo?).

I'm familiar with Ludwig's work.You just appear to not be happy with people calling out the BS.

Just because he is a doctor does not make him right. Especially when bias and money are involved. He makes money selling this "information". That ought to make you wary of anything he says. Only peer reviewed scientific articles and meta studies that have as little bias as possible are good sources of scientific information in my book.

In other words, anyone who writes a book and makes money is a crook?

The man is a professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Perhaps he knows something? Perhaps he wants to spread a message that could reduce our obesity and diabetes epidemic.

I see you like to put words into people's mouths.

Having read some of his work he is selling lies and things which do not align with science.

As @daniip_la said he is spouting fake science and selling it "The goal in Phase 1 is to calm down fat cells and take the body out of starvation mode." That is incorrect and not how the body works. You cannot train your cells to do anything it is complete nonsense.

This is not to say the man isn't educated. But that does not mean he is being honest is the work he sells personally away form the university and his job. To blindly trust just because he is a doctor is frankly...not smart.

richln

earthakin66 wrote: »

I'm not saying that everyone should stop counting calories. Go ahead and count them and eat whatever you want! I'm looking for someone who has read the book who might be interested in keeping in touch while we follow the guidelines.

There are plenty of low carb/clean eating/Ludwig fan groups in the groups section if you don't want to hear any of the criticism. But you are going to get a lot of criticism in this forum.

earthakin66

I don't mind hearing criticism, I just wonder why everyone feels the need to offer that. Thanks for the tip, I'll look over in groups.

gonetothedogs19

SophieSmall95 wrote: »

gonetothedogs19 wrote: »

SophieSmall95 wrote: »

earthakin66 wrote: »

So I'm looking for people who have read the book and are interested in discussing that, no point in discussing the book with people who haven't read it. There is plenty of science to back it up (written by a doctor, by the way, not a stick insect- was that a typo?).

I'm familiar with Ludwig's work.You just appear to not be happy with people calling out the BS.

Just because he is a doctor does not make him right. Especially when bias and money are involved. He makes money selling this "information". That ought to make you wary of anything he says. Only peer reviewed scientific articles and meta studies that have as little bias as possible are good sources of scientific information in my book.

In other words, anyone who writes a book and makes money is a crook?

The man is a professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Perhaps he knows something? Perhaps he wants to spread a message that could reduce our obesity and diabetes epidemic.

I see you like to put words into people's mouths.

Having read some of his work he is selling lies and things which do not align with science.

As @daniip_la said he is spouting fake science and selling it "The goal in Phase 1 is to calm down fat cells and take the body out of starvation mode." That is incorrect and not how the body works. You cannot train your cells to do anything it is complete nonsense.

This is not to say the man isn't educated. But that does not mean he is being honest is the work he sells personally away form the university and his job. To blindly trust just because he is a doctor is frankly...not smart.

You sound like the vegans who think you will get heart disease if you eat a few eggs every now and then or have a piece of fish. Like the vegans, you are totally set in your ways (CICO), and anything that challenges your belief is "fake science."

The fact is that many people post here that are not losing weight counting calories. And the retort is they are not counting correctly.

Really, how hard is it to count calories if you simplify your meals and purchase products where there can be no doubt? (like a cup of cereal with the posted portion of skim milk, or anything that comes in a package).

rybo

earthakin66 wrote: »

Has anyone else read the book "Always Hungry"? It really explains everything that I have always felt intuitively. What if he is right about not all calories being equal? That different foods (and therefore calories) biologically impact us in different ways?
I highly recommend the book, here is the website: http://drdavidludwig.com
No counting calories, eat until satisfied, cut way down on refined carbohydrates and eat plenty of fat. Countless health benefits including weight loss and best of all, no hunger.

Anyone want to join me on a 6 month experiment? Send a friend request.

While I haven't read the book, I do agree with your premise. Sadly as you are seeing, it's not a very accepted way of thinking around here. While I believe there are few universal solutions, I do think a LOT more people who are struggling, would be far better served trying to eat this way rather than attempting to squeeze a myriad of processed foods into their calorie limit.

hjlourenshj

earthakin66 wrote: »

I don't mind hearing criticism, I just wonder why everyone feels the need to offer that. Thanks for the tip, I'll look over in groups.

Because the underlying mechanism of this diet, and all diets is that you are cutting down on Calories IN.