Why calorie counting is ridiculous

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I don't care whether she thinks it's ridiculous. I think the Biggest Loser is ridiculous. Also I think alternative medicine is ridiculous, and a few posts down she's supporting that. Also she's selling products (the ad for her cookbook is at the bottom of the article) so there's that.







I may be grouchy this morning.

wesg79

well its working for me, i don't plan to count forever but I find it a huge help in curbing my over eating especially when im bored...after a month ive found it goes hand in hand, im given 2100 cal/day for what i want and ive only lost 12 lbs in the first month but its working and going the right direction, and in order to stay within those 2100 cal i cant eat crap food unless i want crap food for breakfast and water for the rest of the day. im sure if i was within 5 lbs of my ideal weight for age/height i might need to go all crazy to loose them last few lbs but the bulk of my weight like many is probably just over eating, or choosing the wrong foods or eating food you thought were a "healthier" choice only to find out not true (Wendy's cesar salad being on par with a baconator for example)

csuhar

It seems to me she is forgetting that people are WAY less active today than they were "pre-1970s". Technology is wonderful but it has made us lazier. Sure the people hunting the wild boar are not going to worry about the calories, but that is because they probably don't spend 9 hours a day glued to a computer. That's my take...

Nailed it! :happy:

Exatly my thought. Pre-1970s, if you wanted to play football, you went down the street, grabbed every kid you could find, and played football in a vacant lot (or the street, itself, if you were daring). You didn't sit on your butt and play Madden NFL on your game console.

Add in the fact that it's easier to have food (of any quality) in your hand while you're sitting around versus while you're off doing stuff, and you have an additional intake they didn't have before. So kids get used to eating more than they should as a child and the habit just continues.

SapiensPisces

well its working for me, i don't plan to count forever but I find it a huge help in curbing my over eating especially when im bored...after a month ive found it goes hand in hand, im given 2100 cal/day for what i want and ive only lost 12 lbs in the first month but its working and going the right direction, and in order to stay within those 2100 cal i cant eat crap food unless i want crap food for breakfast and water for the rest of the day. im sure if i was within 5 lbs of my ideal weight for age/height i might need to go all crazy to loose them last few lbs but the bulk of my weight like many is probably just over eating, or choosing the wrong foods or eating food you thought were a "healthier" choice only to find out not true (Wendy's cesar salad being on par with a baconator for example)

12 lbs lost in a month is really good progress. Keep at it!

graceire

There's a whole lot of correlation being mistaken for causation going on in that (utterly ridiculous) blog.

Also, can't stand Biggest Loser. Despise is not too strong an adjective in this case.

SugaryLynx

TL:DR translation: "I have no idea what the *kitten* I'm talking about, so please feel free to ignore me."

Funny, that's exactly how I read it. I think I got to "calorie counting makes people fatter and sad." Then stopped.

Blue801

:ohwell:

AccioFitness

TL:DR translation: "I have no idea what the *kitten* I'm talking about, so please feel free to ignore me."

Yup.

Cranquistador

hurr

wheird

In for ignoring the scientific facts! :laugh:

RaeLB

LOL

leighann881

I stopped reading at the first incorrect fact... something about the 1970s and calorie counting... this is hogwash. I can eat 6 lbs of all-natural, organic cheesecake (infused with the sweat of the great yogis in the world) daily. I'm not going to lose. Calories count.

GeekdGirl

"Don't count calories, it'll make you fatter! However, if you purchase The Biggest Loser protein shakes, snacks, and workout DVDs, all of your wildest dreams will come true."

verptwerp

calibriintx

"Don't count calories, it'll make you fatter! However, if you purchase The Biggest Loser protein shakes, snacks, and workout DVDs, all of your wildest dreams will come true."

SapiensPisces

"Don't count calories, it'll make you fatter! However, if you purchase The Biggest Loser protein shakes, snacks, and workout DVDs, all of your wildest dreams will come true."

danasings

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Wait, she's serious? :noway:

I have never been more successful with weight loss/maintenance than I have since joining MFP and counting calories. Yes, I have times when I take a break or go off rails, but I always come back. Why?!?! Because it works, that's why.

Things were much different in the 70s. To compare today's lifestyle to that one is absurd.

roxylola

Also, no fat animals??? Never seen a UK native pony then, unless their grass intake is restricted they get really fat, to the point where they are ill as a result and still stuffing their faces, even the ones in Wales on the moors with no addtional food whatsoever.

And my dog would be fat if I let her eat as much as she wanted.

Galatea_Stone

Gimmicks are ridiculous. TV shows putting people through an unsustainable and drastic program instead of teaching smarter, healthier habits is ridiculous.

Complaining about the better, wiser, and more sustainable program is just good business sense.

She knows she's full of crap, but she's trying to sell crap, so she needs to make the better plan look like more crap than her crappy plan she's selling.

angel7472

there is another factor that no one mentioned. Back in the 1970s the plates were smaller. Since then the manufacturers have been making plates bigger so as we look at our plates and they look empty we pile more on thinking that we are eating the correct amount. I also agree that in the 1970s we as a society were a lot more active than we are now. Also parents and others are penalized for making our children go outside and play! Ive actually kicked my kids outside and had them complain that they are bored!!!! Makes me mad as all heck! Those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s had the actual ability to go outside play and not come home till our parents yelled for us. Now I look around and all I see are people who complain that they dont have time to exercise but can sit on their smartphone and tablets for hours on end then go home and sit on the computer WHILE watching tv and eating junk food and take out. smhl

mxmkenney

If you are not into calorie counting, then why bother doing MFP? No makes you log on here you know...

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Also, no fat animals??? Never seen a UK native pony then, unless their grass intake is restricted they get really fat, to the point where they are ill as a result and still stuffing their faces, even the ones in Wales on the moors with no addtional food whatsoever.

And my dog would be fat if I let her eat as much as she wanted.

Well clearly that grass is processed toxic crap.

:flowerforyou:

losingit512

It seems to me she is forgetting that people are WAY less active today than they were "pre-1970s". Technology is wonderful but it has made us lazier. Sure the people hunting the wild boar are not going to worry about the calories, but that is because they probably don't spend 9 hours a day glued to a computer. That's my take...

EXACTLY what I was going to say. I also like how she mentioned domesticated animals which generally mean, WAY less movement than their ferrel siblings. This woman grinds MY gears.

SunofaBeach14

TL:DR translation: "I have no idea what the *kitten* I'm talking about, so please feel free to ignore me."

Thanks. I made to line 3 before I stopped, but it's good to know I didn't miss anything

SunofaBeach14

Also, no fat animals??? Never seen a UK native pony then, unless their grass intake is restricted they get really fat, to the point where they are ill as a result and still stuffing their faces, even the ones in Wales on the moors with no addtional food whatsoever.

And my dog would be fat if I let her eat as much as she wanted.

Well clearly that grass is processed toxic crap.

:flowerforyou:

Umm, processed grass . . .

BeingKevin

I wish I would have heard this before I wasted the last year and a half of my life.

I_Will_End_You

This one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

BoxerBrawler

Oy! Yes... people were more active, people used better foods, not as much processed or fast food crap going around. Things were slower, like my family actually sat down to have a well rounded dinner together every night vs. today where both folks have to work so it's easier picking something up, take out, etc. or throwing something in the microwave. Portion sizes have gotten out of control since the pre 70s. More chemical, additives, etc.

Wow...

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Also, no fat animals??? Never seen a UK native pony then, unless their grass intake is restricted they get really fat, to the point where they are ill as a result and still stuffing their faces, even the ones in Wales on the moors with no addtional food whatsoever.

And my dog would be fat if I let her eat as much as she wanted.

Well clearly that grass is processed toxic crap.

:flowerforyou:

Umm, processed grass . . .

Shush you, you didn't even read the article.

:flowerforyou:

BoxerBrawler

This one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

I second that. Can I get a third and motion to move this post?