It's just not only about maths and protein!

sabaraba

So I really like going through these fora here in order to collect new knowledge and ..because it's fun. But I really often read: It's all about the maths! Calories in vs calories out! Nothing matters, only calories in vs calories out!

Now, I've lost a couple of kg, so I know - at least - what works for me...and only claories in vs out..just isn't right, if it was, our bodys were roboters, so that everything could be calculated 100% perfectly and without mistake.

But we ain't. We are something natural, nature was and is never going to be predictable. To some point, of course, you are able to calculate, but you can'tz calculate all the environmental influences or your own psychological and physical differences and whatsoever.

Also the body is ging to react totally different, depending on each person, on carbohydrate/fat/protein intake. For some it just doesn't matter if they eat carbohydrates in the evening, and some will put on weight quiet easily.

And the last one..ALL macronutrients are important, not only proteins, not only carbohydrates and not only fats.
I have a lot os visuable muscle mass, I train 6 times a week ( HIIT, Strength, Pilates..basically everything ) and guess what? I nearly never reach my protein goal..because it's just too high..and I refuse drinking proteinshakes.

I am sure the body can get all it need from natural foods..and proteinshakes are just everything but natural. ( except a very few, of course ).

So, it is important to have a rough idea of what your body needs and calculating your BMR/TDEE is absolutely helpful and necessary..also you should watch your macronutrients..but these are all just approaches.
These calculators don't know your body, but you can learn to get to know it.
And maybe it is really just calories in vs calories out for some people, but I think for many it's just a lot more.

Sarah

_Zardoz_

Oh to be 18 and know everything

sabaraba

Oh to be 18 and know everything

Well, age isn't always an indicator for knowledge, but also didn't I say I KNOW, I said: What works for me .

But I wonder where the difference is, if I wrote this with +10 years .

SnuggleSmacks

To lose weight, the one and only answer really is calories in/calories out.

To maintain good health (or improve health) there are a great deal more considerations, like maintaining a proper balance of macros, eating a wide variety of whole foods for micronutrients and getting plenty of fiber (which always seems to get missed, but is super important for digestion and for gut flora) and like exercise and drinking enough water. All of those things are vital for good health.

But still, to lose weight, it's calories in, calories out. Period.

jenilla1

Oh to be 18 and know everything

Well, age isn't always an indicator for knowledge, but also didn't I say I KNOW, I said: What works for me .

But I wonder where the difference is, if I wrote this with +10 years .

It's all good. There are plenty of 50 year olds who think they know everything just by virtue of having screwed things up for so many more decades than you. :laugh:

P.S. I'm not making any statements in support or against your OP, I'm just letting you know that I agree that age isn't always an indicator for knowledge. (It is, however, an indicator for experience. Too bad some people don't get any smarter with experience - not referring to anyone in this thread!!!)

snikkins

Tagging for later.

sabaraba

Oh to be 18 and know everything

Well, age isn't always an indicator for knowledge, but also didn't I say I KNOW, I said: What works for me .

But I wonder where the difference is, if I wrote this with +10 years .

It's all good. There are plenty of 50 year olds who think they know everything just by virtue of having screwed things up for so many more decades than you. :laugh:

P.S. I'm not making any statements in support or against your OP, I'm just letting you know that I agree that age isn't always an indicator for knowledge. (It is, however, an indicator for experience. Too bad some people don't get any smarter with experience - not referring to anyone in this thread!!!)

Well, right. Of course, I don't have as much experience as a 40 year old..but even a 40 year old could handle the experiences he or she colletcs wrong. There's a difference in saying; Every boy or girl is bad, because once I was rejected..or: Well, you know, I once was rejected, but everyone's different, and therefore every one gets a new chance.

I think it is a little bit conversative to say: You're 18. You know nothing. You are only allowed to ask and be quiet.

stevencloser

It IS only calories in and calories out though. How much those are can differ between people but that's really all there is to it. Nature can be very predictable for people who spent years studying it.

kgeyser

Nothing you said in your OP negated the validity of calories in vs calories out for weight loss. All you did was state factors that might have an impact on the numbers on either side of the equation, which everyone already knows. This is why when people say they are having trouble losing, we ask questions such as "are you weighing/measuring food? How are you estimating your calorie burn? Do you have any medical issues?" to determine where the problem might lie.

As for macros, the importance of each is based on your goals, both physique and training. I think you misinterpret what people mean when they say that a certain macro doesn't matter to them - it means they do not place as much importance on hitting that macro as they do the others for their own personal needs. They still eat that macro and stay within their goals.

SunofaBeach14

pepperpat64

earlyxer

Follow the numbers - the math doesn't lie.

zyxst

Congrats, OP, on figuring out what works for you.

pepperpat64

And the last one..ALL macronutrients are important, not only proteins, not only carbohydrates and not only fats.
I have a lot os visuable muscle mass, I train 6 times a week ( HIIT, Strength, Pilates..basically everything ) and guess what? I nearly never reach my protein goal..because it's just too high..and I refuse drinking proteinshakes.

Um, there are only 3 macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

pepperpat64

Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up raspberry ketones.

ThePhoenixIsRising

It is all the math, where it gets complicated is the out side of the equation. This variable is ever changing. If you assume both ends of the equation are fixed you will fail.

awesomejdad

It is all calories in vs calories out for weight loss. That is all. Macros have to do with overall health and body composition. Everyone has there one "triggers" and weakness to handle on there weight loss journey. That is the variable. However that variable is just another part of the math equation.

vismal

Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up raspberry ketones.

This made me laugh way more then most gif's but it was totally because of the comment about raspberry ketones!!!!

To the OP, while the math will never work out pound for pound, it doesn't mean calories in vs calories out ALWAYS applies to 100% of people. It does. Always. For EVERYONE. Things like glycogen storage, water weight, accuracy of calorie counting and even timing of bowel movements make the scale never exactly like the math says it should be. This doesn't prove CICO is flawed though. This merely proves that if all you use to measure progress is a scale, you will have some difficultly seeing your results show up from time to time.

As far as macros go, there is almost no decent research showing that if calories are equal that fat loss is any different for people. The research that does exist mostly uses self reported intake which to me makes the entire research next to worthless. As far as protein goes, I don't think anyone says you need to take shakes to hit your goals. And if your goal is to high then it's fine to lower you goal, but there is some new research emerging showing more muscle sparing effects when high protein is consumed.

sardelsa

The TDEE calculators are just an estimate since there are many factors that can affect that number ... however, once you find what it is, it is all in the maths.

MsHarryWinston

The math is pretty basic. Calories in calories out. Because a calorie is a unit of energy. There is NO getting around that. When it comes to dropping pounds that really is all there is on the most basic level.

After that it's about fine tuning your results, thats where all the rest comes in. People tend to love protien because it makes you feel full, gives you energy and and helps promote muscle growth so that the pounds your dropping is FAT and not your muscles wasting away. Some people need to eat higher carbs in order to feel really great, that's their main macro. The one they make sure to hit and then they worry about the others but it's the carbs that keep them revving. For me it's protien INSANE amounts of protien and it keeps me going for HOURS. So I will do everything I can to hit my high (140g) of protien a day and not worry AS much about my carbs. But I hit my protien and my fat for sure. That's just how my body is wired. Now I do IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros) so I try to make sure that I hit EVERYTHING when I'm meal planning. But I will dump a couple of crackers if it means freeing up a few extra calories to hit my protien goal for the day.

Different macro ratios work best for peoples OPTIMAL overall weight loss and HEALTH. But in the end none of it matters if your calories in arent less than your calories out.

cwolfman13

It is all the math, where it gets complicated is the out side of the equation. This variable is ever changing. If you assume both ends of the equation are fixed you will fail.

perfectly stated...this is exactly where people fail in both understanding and application.

zoeysasha37

Congrats, OP, on figuring out what works for you.

Lmao!!!

3laine75

Quick!! Reach all your goals now, while you still know everything :laugh:

Chief_Rocka

In for holistic wellness, special snowflakes, and various other shenanigans.

phil6707

So I really like going through these fora here in order to collect new knowledge and ..because it's fun. But I really often read: It's all about the maths! Calories in vs calories out! Nothing matters, only calories in vs calories out!

Now, I've lost a couple of kg, so I know - at least - what works for me...and only claories in vs out..just isn't right, if it was, our bodys were roboters, so that everything could be calculated 100% perfectly and without mistake.

But we ain't. We are something natural, nature was and is never going to be predictable. To some point, of course, you are able to calculate, but you can'tz calculate all the environmental influences or your own psychological and physical differences and whatsoever.

Also the body is ging to react totally different, depending on each person, on carbohydrate/fat/protein intake. For some it just doesn't matter if they eat carbohydrates in the evening, and some will put on weight quiet easily.

And the last one..ALL macronutrients are important, not only proteins, not only carbohydrates and not only fats.
I have a lot os visuable muscle mass, I train 6 times a week ( HIIT, Strength, Pilates..basically everything ) and guess what? I nearly never reach my protein goal..because it's just too high..and I refuse drinking proteinshakes.

I am sure the body can get all it need from natural foods..and proteinshakes are just everything but natural. ( except a very few, of course ).

So, it is important to have a rough idea of what your body needs and calculating your BMR/TDEE is absolutely helpful and necessary..also you should watch your macronutrients..but these are all just approaches.
These calculators don't know your body, but you can learn to get to know it.
And maybe it is really just calories in vs calories out for some people, but I think for many it's just a lot more.

Sarah

For weight loss it is just that calories in vs calories out. For health in general, that is a different business. There is way too many people here that have lost massive amount of weight by calories in vs calories out to have any theory (making sense) saying otherwise.

randomtai

Oh to be 18 and know everything

This.