What do you think of this article?? ?

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/calories-are-out/372690/

I'm not completely agree. What do you think? Maybe counting calories is bad if you abuse of sodium, sugar, fat, etc. But here It's cool bcs it's not just calories

Replies

  • stevenlcopeland
    stevenlcopeland Posts: 57 Member
    I have only counted calories one day (today) to see what it was like. Don't know if I will do it again. Counting calories isn't the answer. A change in lifestyle is the answer. We just don't move anymore. Back in the day, people had to move to change a TV channel. People had to exert energy to open their garage door. People would walk to the neighbors house to socialize, not use this thing to sit and socialize. People planted gardens and worked in them. Now they complain how food is poisoning them. Really ?? The poison in today's society is not the food, it is the absolute laziness of not cooking at home when a drive through window is faster so one is not burdened at home while playing on the computer or watching TV. Don't have time to exercise ? Really ? Let me help. While watching TV, during each commercial get up and do squats, jumping jacks, burpees, etc. Try that for the 2 to 3 hours each night while watching TV. I have a full time job that averages 60 hours a week and juggle 3 kids, and still get the honey do's done for my wife. Yet each day I find time for my workout which begins at 4:45 each morning.
  • As much as I adore The Atlantic(It'll always be "The Atlantic Monthly" to me), the article isn't very coherent...if you'll allow me..

    This paragraph really got me:

    "So yes, the first law of thermodynamics remains immutable. Energy balance is a true concept. A person will not lose weight if they eat more calories than they burn, and vice versa. But it’s just not a helpful way to think about food, given the fact that foods all around us are labeled with a calorie number that doesn’t fully tell us how that food will affect our metabolism and future hunger."

    Okay, so energy balance = true, BUT calorie counts don't tell the whole story.

    This is all true. I am a firm believer in KISS(Keep It Simple, Stupid). There is much to be said for the article, but I cannot help but wonder if the piece will not leave people more confused rather than illuminated.

    I dropped almost all of my excess pounds without doing anything more advanced than simply getting back to the physical activity level I once almost took for granted.

    DO I count calories? Yes. Do I think it's the whole story? No. I think calorie counting is the least important of the things we do in order to get really fit...as opposed to simply shedding weight.

    I can't tell anyone else what will work for them. I am perhaps unusually motivated. For me this whole thing has been simple. I hope that my response makes sense.

    Thanks for the link. It does indeed give one "food" for thought. I will just keep on keeping on.