A Calorie is NOT just a Calorie
Replies
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There's nothing wrong with mac donalds once in a while.
But is you at it all the time I think it would prove the point a calorie is not just a calorie.
Except it proves the opposite, which you would know if you got your information from multiple diverse sources and actually had some experience and knowledge in the subject of nutrition and weight loss.
Okay, what nutrition would you get from a burger and fries from MacDonalds????
Protein, carbohydrates, and fat. They're called macronutrients for a reason.
Is this a trick question?0 -
Or maybe just do everything people on MFP say?? Is that what you mean?
That is the "I follow foods on a list", a la primal, way of seeing things.
Set good calorie/macro goals for your body goals, and consistently meet those goals, and you will consistently reach those goals. That is what people on MFP say, and by "people" I mean those of us that have reached goal after goal without issue, not fat people trying to tell other fat people how to not be fat. Weight loss, is after all, pathetically easy; muscle gain and body comp goals are a bit harder, but not much.
What list? are they keeping something from me.0 -
I eat primal.
Wanted to see how other diets stack up.
And I'll be honest not that impressed with MFP.
Some (not all) seem to be a bit naïve and uneducated about how food is broken down in the body,
By educated you of course mean the story made up that cherrypicks a bit of research (generally from low level, low respect journals) that somewhat supports it (ignoring all the stuff that doesn't) despite rejecting and downright laughing at the "wrong" mainstream establishment interpretation of said research and all other research.
Who's the naïve one?
You think that Mark, a suppliment salesman, gets it right, while thousands of pH level nutrition researchers are wrong. Gotcha.
Never go to just one source of information the best way to get information is to go through multiple sources.
Or maybe just do everything people on MFP say?? Is that what you mean?
So, because we're saying: eat a calorie deficit, eat any type of foods at moderation, weigh foods to be accurate, and we've been doing this for a while, doing our research, and we've all been successful at it, we don't know what we're talking about? And you, who is following a fad diet that is not nutritionally sound, still has weight to lose, and hasn't done the research, want to discount everything we're saying? Why are you even in the forums?0 -
Eeek. Thanks! ♡You know, people who argue this typically lack logging consistency or are desperately grasping at straws to make up reasons in their mind to why their loss is slower than they like. I'm 5'3.5" 119 lbs and lose 1 lb a week on 1700 calories of fast food, ice cream, pizza, etc. So, calories seem to be calories for me. Maybe I'm just a magical fairy though. I would be okay with this. As long as I got wings.
Magical fairy or not, the hip flexor indicates you've kicked a little *kitten*, or a whole lot of *kitten*. Strange as it is 22 pounds lighter, calories seem to be calories for me as well. Oh, and magically, 1/3 of my BF is gone too; how did this happen? IDK, pizza, Doritos, an apple with or without pesticiides, coloring or not, old account, consitent logging, eating at deficit to TDEE....must be magic.
You must be magical, too. But it's okay, it's much more fun with pixie dust and dragons anyway. I want Rainbow Brites pony...0 -
There's nothing wrong with mac donalds once in a while.
But is you at it all the time I think it would prove the point a calorie is not just a calorie.
Except it proves the opposite, which you would know if you got your information from multiple diverse sources and actually had some experience and knowledge in the subject of nutrition and weight loss.
Wait that's an avocado your describing.
Okay, what nutrition would you get from a burger and fries from MacDonalds????
Protein, carbohydrates, and fat. They're called macronutrients for a reason.
Is this a trick question?0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
You seriously seem to believe that people who enjoy "unhealthy" food simply don't eat vegetables or whatever.0 -
I've been struggling with knowing the truth if it matters where my calories come from.. found this AWESOME article that puts logic to it all. Worth the read
http://authoritynutrition.com/debunking-the-calorie-myth/
I read the majority of this article. As I read more and more the author contradicted herself more and more. A calorie is not a calorie, lets define calorie-its a unit of measurement, but its not the same.....Yea I had to hold back my anger at this article because there is no science backing her claims and her claims are ridiculous! Here are my thoughts:
I'm sorry but a calorie is a calorie, just like a pound is a pound. What you are talking about is that not all nutrients are created the same. a Calorie-just like you stated is a unit of measurement. It has no effect on hormones, the nutrients in the food, or lack there of are what effect our body. The authors conclusion of "Eating behavior is largely subconscious, controlled by hormones and neural circuits. It can be downright impossible to control these sorts of behaviors in the long term." is down right wrong. As a Registered Dietitian I have seen the general population make these LIFESTYLE changes for healthier body and weight loss. Yes being at a healthy weight does not mean you will have perfect health as genetics play a role in everything, but being overweight does mean you are at increased risk for many chronic, avoidable diseases like Heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and stroke to name a few. I agree that different nutrients effect your body differently and that we need to watch the types of foods we are eating along with calories.
The increase in caloric intake is a mentality that America has. Over the last 20 years our portions have grown, why? not really sure of one specific cause, but the idea that it is impossible for the general population to decrease their portions and change their eating HABITS is completely asinine. The way we eat, the amounts we eat, and what we eat are all habits that we have formed over the years. It takes time to form a habit and time to break one. If you work at it, then healthy eating and weight loss can be achieved and maintained (with less effort than the initial weight loss). The claim "Some people may be able to consciously eat less calories and manage it with portion control and / or calorie counting. But they have to stick with it for life." just makes me believe the author is a quick fix type of person like many Americans. I want it fixed and I want it now. The author does not take the time to learn the tools and skills needed to lead a healthy life because she doesn't want to maintain it? really? These claims are not science based and are very inaccurate.0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
Carrots are gross tho. Cookies are tasty. Sounds like one of us is getting screwed in this scenario.0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
That's probably because they got ate by the dinosaurs! Sorry, had to bring a little humor into this heated debate. LOL!0 -
Let's see lost 97 lbs eating whatever I wanted just at a deficit. That includes fast food, ice cream, cookies, veggies, etc. and I'm looking at my latest blood work results every test is better than it was 3 months ago, and the difference from a year ago is drastic improvements. But I guess that's all a fluke since I didn't follow primal or some other fad.0
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I've been struggling with knowing the truth if it matters where my calories come from.. found this AWESOME article that puts logic to it all. Worth the read
http://authoritynutrition.com/debunking-the-calorie-myth/
A great article.
For everyone who is dismissing it and backing their a calorie is just a calorie - did you lose your weight by eating a low calorie count of junk food or by eating healthy.
Well done on all of your successes. I am sure though at the heart of each of them what you ate was the result of the success you had.
It appears that she hasn't consistently followed ANY diet from the evidence from her other posts? She's all over the board.
So? Weight loss isn't easy and people stumble. I have. Willing to bet you have too. If she's struggling that just means she needs even more support good advice to follow.
Oh, and I totally agree with that. I wasn't judging her; I was stating an observation on what perspective she's coming from.0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
You seriously seem to believe that people who enjoy "unhealthy" food simply don't eat vegetables or whatever.
This one time, on a dare, I stuck a whole celery stick in my mouth0 -
Do you even science?
Strong first post...for real!
Great bikini...for real.....go M!0 -
I eat primal.
Wanted to see how other diets stack up.
And I'll be honest not that impressed with MFP.
Some (not all) seem to be a bit naïve and uneducated about how food is broken down in the body,
By educated you of course mean the story made up that cherrypicks a bit of research (generally from low level, low respect journals) that somewhat supports it (ignoring all the stuff that doesn't) despite rejecting and downright laughing at the "wrong" mainstream establishment interpretation of said research and all other research.
Who's the naïve one?
You think that Mark, a suppliment salesman, gets it right, while thousands of pH level nutrition researchers are wrong. Gotcha.
Never go to just one source of information the best way to get information is to go through multiple sources.
Or maybe just do everything people on MFP say?? Is that what you mean?
So, because we're saying: eat a calorie deficit, eat any type of foods at moderation, weigh foods to be accurate, and we've been doing this for a while, doing our research, and we've all been successful at it, we don't know what we're talking about? And you, who is following a fad diet that is not nutritionally sound, still has weight to lose, and hasn't done the research, want to discount everything we're saying? Why are you even in the forums?
I don't know.
I kinda stumbled in and now I'm hooked.
One of your members posted an article which does not in anyway state that what you are doing will not be successful, they just explained how the food you consume is dealt with by your bodies and a lot of you have just dismissed it because it does not fit into the paradigm you have been told.
Believe it or not the earth is not flat.0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
That's probably because they got ate by the dinosaurs! Sorry, had to bring a little humor into this heated debate. LOL!
I don't think there were any dinosaurs where around in Palaeolithic times????0 -
a lot of you have just dismissed it because it does not fit into the paradigm you have been told.
Told by whom? We're not the ones following fad diets based on some book.
Seriously, stick around and read more. MFP is full of people whoa re extremely scientifically literate and do a lot of reading of primary research (that is, actual peer-reviewed scientific journal articles). MFP, as a community, greatly respects actual primary science and evidence, as opposed to diet books and websites. We eschew all these diet fads and books like primal et al. because they are nonsense based on faulty science or misinformation.
We don't dismiss the information because it doesn't fit what we've been "told." We dismiss the information because we know the whole story. We dismiss the information because we can identify the flaws in logic, the gaps in knowledge, and the misinformation.
There's a pretty big difference.0 -
I eat primal.
Wanted to see how other diets stack up.
And I'll be honest not that impressed with MFP.
Some (not all) seem to be a bit naïve and uneducated about how food is broken down in the body,
By educated you of course mean the story made up that cherrypicks a bit of research (generally from low level, low respect journals) that somewhat supports it (ignoring all the stuff that doesn't) despite rejecting and downright laughing at the "wrong" mainstream establishment interpretation of said research and all other research.
Who's the naïve one?
You think that Mark, a suppliment salesman, gets it right, while thousands of pH level nutrition researchers are wrong. Gotcha.
Never go to just one source of information the best way to get information is to go through multiple sources.
Or maybe just do everything people on MFP say?? Is that what you mean?
So, because we're saying: eat a calorie deficit, eat any type of foods at moderation, weigh foods to be accurate, and we've been doing this for a while, doing our research, and we've all been successful at it, we don't know what we're talking about? And you, who is following a fad diet that is not nutritionally sound, still has weight to lose, and hasn't done the research, want to discount everything we're saying? Why are you even in the forums?
I don't know.
I kinda stumbled in and now I'm hooked.
One of your members posted an article which does not in anyway state that what you are doing will not be successful, they just explained how the food you consume is dealt with by your bodies and a lot of you have just dismissed it because it does not fit into the paradigm you have been told.
Believe it or not the earth is not flat.
How is sayng a calorie is not a calorie not a true? It's a unit of energy. It's like saying an ohm is not an ohm. Or a watt is not a watt.
Regardless of the source, it;s just a unit of measurement. Maybe it's a guy thing? An inch really is an inch. That's a confusing one, sometimes.....:happy:0 -
I eat primal.
Wanted to see how other diets stack up.
And I'll be honest not that impressed with MFP.
Some (not all) seem to be a bit naïve and uneducated about how food is broken down in the body,
By educated you of course mean the story made up that cherrypicks a bit of research (generally from low level, low respect journals) that somewhat supports it (ignoring all the stuff that doesn't) despite rejecting and downright laughing at the "wrong" mainstream establishment interpretation of said research and all other research.
Who's the naïve one?
You think that Mark, a suppliment salesman, gets it right, while thousands of pH level nutrition researchers are wrong. Gotcha.
Never go to just one source of information the best way to get information is to go through multiple sources.
Or maybe just do everything people on MFP say?? Is that what you mean?
So, because we're saying: eat a calorie deficit, eat any type of foods at moderation, weigh foods to be accurate, and we've been doing this for a while, doing our research, and we've all been successful at it, we don't know what we're talking about? And you, who is following a fad diet that is not nutritionally sound, still has weight to lose, and hasn't done the research, want to discount everything we're saying? Why are you even in the forums?
I don't know.
I kinda stumbled in and now I'm hooked.
One of your members posted an article which does not in anyway state that what you are doing will not be successful, they just explained how the food you consume is dealt with by your bodies and a lot of you have just dismissed it because it does not fit into the paradigm you have been told.
Believe it or not the earth is not flat.
That article is crap, with constant contradictions and nothing cited. Crap is crap is crap.
As it would happen calories are calories are calorie so the title of this thread? Also crap.
Macros and nutrition are a separate (though related) issue. But the thread didn't state "All food choices aren't equal" or "The Body doesn't break down all macronutrients the same." It says a calorie isn't a calorie. And that's false.0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
That's probably because they got ate by the dinosaurs! Sorry, had to bring a little humor into this heated debate. LOL!
I don't think there were any dinosaurs where around in Palaeolithic times????
Clearly there were because. .. Flintstones0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
Carrots are gross tho. Cookies are tasty. Sounds like one of us is getting screwed in this scenario.
Yeah but I have my carrots cooked in scrummy butter. Along with my wine and chocolate (not in butter though).0 -
Believe it or not the earth is not flat.
Yet you partake in the religion of earth flatness (paleo/primal), one of the main schticks being that the roundess of the earth is a big corporate dupe, and that all mainstream scientists who believe the world is round are wrong.0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
That's probably because they got ate by the dinosaurs! Sorry, had to bring a little humor into this heated debate. LOL!
I don't think there were any dinosaurs where around in Palaeolithic times????
Clearly there were because. .. Flintstones
You are quite right and the women were hot!!!!!!0 -
Believe it or not the earth is not flat.
Yet you partake in the religion of earth flatness (paleo/primal), one of the main schticks being that the roundess of the earth is a big corporate dupe, and that all mainstream scientists who believe the world is round are wrong.
?0 -
Sorry I must have been mistake, I though you lost weight by eating mainly junk?
Or have you sneakily been eating healthy stuff.
There's nothing wrong with mac donalds once in a while.
But is you at it all the time I think it would prove the point a calorie is not just a calorie.
I don't see where anyone said they were mainly eating junk. Maybe I missed it. I believe we are all eating a mix of foods. Because there are no bad foods.0 -
There's nothing wrong with mac donalds once in a while.
But is you at it all the time I think it would prove the point a calorie is not just a calorie.
Except it proves the opposite, which you would know if you got your information from multiple diverse sources and actually had some experience and knowledge in the subject of nutrition and weight loss.
Okay, what nutrition would you get from a burger and fries from MacDonalds????
Med Fries:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fast-foods-generic/8054/2
Calcium - 19.9 mg - 2%
Iron - 1.0 mg - 6%
Magnesium - 37.4 mg - 9%
Phosphorus - 154 mg - 15%
Potassium - 655 mg - 19%
Sodium - 266 mg -11%
Zinc - 0.5 mg - 3%
Copper - 0.1 mg 7%
Manganese -0.3 mg - 13%
Vitamin C - 8.5 mg - 14%
Thiamin - 0.4 mg - 26%
Niacin - 3.2 mg - 16%
Vitamin B6 - 0.6 mg - 30%
Folate - 70.2mcg - 18%
Pantothenic Acid - 0.8 mg - 8%
Plus protein, carbs (fiber) and fat
Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fast-foods-generic/8051/20 -
Even I couldn't make out why is everyone so critical about the article...
It's pretty decent and very much the truth...that's what we've been taught from school isn't it
Balanced diet, include protiens less of sugar,...etc
I read first two pages of response and was hoping at least 1 person would back him.0 -
CAN'T. STOP. READING.
This is very interesting.
"newish" person over here, sorry!0 -
You guys really seem narrow minded.
This is my first experience with MFP - are you a cult?
Eat in moderation, at a calorie deficit, including a good amount of whole foods, but also including foods with somewhat lower nutritional value.
OR
Eat from a specific list of foods, made up by someone who wants to copy the diet of primitive ancestors, when it wasn't really how they ate anyway, plus they only lived to 40 anyway.
Which is plan is more "narrow minded"?
Not sure which diet your referring to but it's not primal?
The other day I ate a whole cookie - would you get away with eating a whole carrot?
Carrots are gross tho. Cookies are tasty. Sounds like one of us is getting screwed in this scenario.
Yeah but I have my carrots cooked in scrummy butter. Along with my wine and chocolate (not in butter though).
Still gross0 -
Believe it or not the earth is not flat.
Yet you partake in the religion of earth flatness (paleo/primal), one of the main schticks being that the roundess of the earth is a big corporate dupe, and that all mainstream scientists who believe the world is round are wrong.
?
Perhaps you don't understand nutrition and where paleo/primal fits in as well as you think you do.0 -
all you people saying you lost weight reducing calories, great for you, but you'd look and feel better if your calories came from better sources. my weight loss was slower and i looked "soft" eating whatever i wanted for my calories, even though i kept them low, like 1200-1400. then i found i could eat up to 1800-2000 calories of good, clean, non-processed foods, without gaining, and i look a lot leaner then when i was still eating junk. plus, why in the hell would you want to fuel your body with pizza, ice cream and soda? that is not fuel to me. i have always liked the term "empty calories" because frankly that's what they are. you aren't benefiting your brain or organs very much when you eat crap. plus not to mention you are supporting the food giants who care NOTHING about you and only about profit.
Here's a little news flash...the vast majority of us who eat "junk" food and pizza, etc...we don't make that stuff the bulk of our diets. I would assume there are a handful of people who do, but the vast majority of us eat very nutrient dense diets...I myself get around 6-8 servings of vegetables per day and a couple servings of fruit...I get most of my fats from things like nuts, avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, etc...I eat lots of lean proteins including fish 2-3 times per week...and I eat whole oats and other whole grains...
I also eat regular old wheat flour tortillas on a regular basis because they are a staple food in NM. I eat quite a bit of regular old semolina flour pasta...I eat pizza at my favorite local pizzeria pretty much every Friday night with the family and make a pilgrimage to the Urban Hot Dog Company for a big old polish sausage and basket of fries at least a couple times per month. I eat ice cream a couple of times per week and regularly indulge in dark chocolate. I drink the occasional full sugar soda and I love beer and bourbon.
The point being that it doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition and this is what gets lost on so many people. All of these arguments are the same...and compare 100% "clean eating" or whatever to 100% junk food eating...the truth is that comparison is pretty stupid because nobody thrives really on 100% junk food and I've yet to meat anyone who is actually 100% "clean" 100% of the time either.0
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