A lot of talk about changing what you eat...

winstonh

Hey folks,

There's a lot of talk amongst some of my co-workers about how you should switch up your diet so your body doesn't get used to eating the same foods. I do not see how it is possible that the human body recognises eating patterns and decides to process foods diufferently because it's seen it before. Here's my example:

I smoked for 27 yrs (and drank copious amounts of coffee) and I can count on my hand the number of times I've had breakfast during that time. But since I quit smoking, I've started eating breakfast even though the though of it repulsed me (now I look forward to it!). I finally found that I love a certain grain cereal with whatever fruit I can find mixed with the same yogurt and I've been basically eating that for breakfast for the past 5 months.

Is this a wive's tale or is there some solid science on this? I tried googling but came up flat.

Thanks!!

babyblake11

its said to actually be better for you to eat the same thing every day if its all balanced

winstonh

Thanks babyblake but I was wondering where the numbers and proof either way is. It's not that I don't trust ya, I just like to read dry, sciency type stuff like that!

rml_16

I'm pretty consistent with what I eat daily and it hasn't hurt me at all.

rml_16

LOL

I googled and found this thread. :-)

Still looking, but I've never seen anything sciency to back that up.

Rae6503

I'm with you. There is a lot of bullcrap diet advice out there. Some call it "bro-science" (there's even a funny picture). Basically if things don't make sense to me (like yeah, how does your body know it's getting the same brand of cereal?) then I don't buy into it. Simple is generally better.

winstonh

Hey look at us being all famous!

TavistockToad

Maybe they mean the number of calories? as having a 'treat/cheat' day is often a good way to boost metabolism & kickstart weight loss again after a plateau.

DMRN0125

When people tell you to switch up what your eating, its usually in reference to people who eat cereal for breakfast, turkey on rye for lunch and a grilled chicken breast and baked potato for dinner-for a month straight. It refers to the whole picture because eating the same foods for each meal, day in and day out can create nutritional deficiencies because we need a variety of food to keep us healthy. If you are varying your lunch, dinner and snacks, i dont see the problem in eating something that works for you for breakfast.

That being said, our bodies do grow accustomed to changes in diet and our metabolisms can slow down slightly if every day at 8am on the dot it receives 200 calories, 8g of fat, 7g of sugar, etc. But that is referring to long long time. As long as your body has excess fat to burn, and your creating a calorie deficit (by eating less/moving more) you will continue to lose weight. The rate is the only variable that will change.

And a new study did come out this past summer stating that people who ate the same thing day in day out lost more weight. However, the reason for this was due to boredom of the food which led the test subjects to eat less of the meal with each passing day. It had nothing to do with physiology.

(I am a Certified Nutritionist, but am overweight so take what I say with a grain of salt )

maidentl

Well, I just read Dr. Oz's book YOU: On a Diet and he says that there are studies showing that people who don't eat much variety actually lose more weight. His theory on it seems to be that you automate your eating and are therefore less likely to overeat. He actually recommends it. I don't see how it could be detrimental, you body doesn't know that it's corn flakes (or whatever) going in every day, it just breaks that down and uses what it needs and gets rid of the rest.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I've never heard this theory on the same foods, I've heard it about the number of calories and sources of those calories "to keep it guessing" (read an article on bodybuilding.com last week that said something with simple carbs and sugars like a pop tart may be good every once in a while) but not that "if you eat squash every day your body will become inefficient at using the nutrients in squash." Maybe someone read an article and misunderstood?

ckspores

I prefer to mix up what I eat mainly because I get bored with foods easily and I like the variety in my diet.

I find it easier to stick with it if I'm not bored.

Bluestar083

I eat the same cereal for years at a time! Weekends are a bit different but during the week-its same/same. At the moment it is 2 vita brits. Morning tea is always natural muesli and natural yoghurt. Lunch is one of 3 dishes (salmon&rice&vegies, soup&english muffin, vegan sausage&eng muffin&carrot) and afternoon tea and dinner I mix it up a bit, but not much (just wont bore you with the 5 meals I eat for dinner!) Its only when I go on holiday and eat out of this pattern that I put on weight!
So I would agree with Dr Oz!

joejccva71

You can mix it up every day or eat the exact same thing. Food type does not matter as long as you are getting your macro and micronutrients everyday that coincide with your daily calorie intake pertaining to your goals.

Your body does not know the difference between eating a slice of pizza and eating a 6oz chicken breast with veggies. It understands macronutrients, micronutrients, and it cares about your energy intake versus your expedenture.

winstonh

I've never heard this theory on the same foods, I've heard it about the number of calories and sources of those calories "to keep it guessing" (read an article on bodybuilding.com last week that said something with simple carbs and sugars like a pop tart may be good every once in a while) but not that "if you eat squash every day your body will become inefficient at using the nutrients in squash." Maybe someone read an article and misunderstood?

I've heard it from more than one person but the most vocal proponent of this theory here in the office would totally misunderstand an article she read so that would make sense.

I eat lots of different foods but breakfast has been pretty much the same for me for six months. Anyway, thanks for your help everyone!

joejccva71

Well, I just read Dr. Oz's book YOU: On a Diet and he says that there are studies showing that people who don't eat much variety actually lose more weight. His theory on it seems to be that you automate your eating and are therefore less likely to overeat. He actually recommends it. I don't see how it could be detrimental, you body doesn't know that it's corn flakes (or whatever) going in every day, it just breaks that down and uses what it needs and gets rid of the rest.

Dr Oz also approves the HCG diet.

Losing weight is about energy intake vs expedenture and fulfilling your macro and micronutrient intake minimums. Eating the same thing vs eating different foods have absolutely no effect on losing weight.

aj_rock

Actually watched a couple BBC documentaries on 'tricks' to help you lose weight. Apparently when you have less variety in your diet, you tend to eat less. Just look up BBC docs on youtube and you'll find one.

Nutrition wise, as long as macros and micros are in order (eating enough and getting vitamins), the repetitivity of what you eat should matter little.

I know you want scienc-ey back up, so look up Lyle McDonald. He's got some thoroughly researched articles on such subjects.

lmarshel

I've seen more than one article over the years indicating that people who eat the same meals day in and day out tend to lose more weight or maintain their weight. I think the key is in consistency. It's not for everyone, but if I'm eating the same cheerios and milk with a cup of fruit every morning for breakfast and know that meets my calorie needs for that meal it's easier for me to stay on track.

rml_16

I've definitely heard to change what you're eating, not how much. There's one person I know who says to look at the five foods you eat most and don't eat them for a while.

I don't agree with it, but I have heard it.

I suppose it might work because it would force you to change the calories you're consuming (it's tough to make an exact exchange of one food for another and have the same calories), but that's a different thing than just changing what you're eating.

rml_16

Well, I just read Dr. Oz's book YOU: On a Diet and he says that there are studies showing that people who don't eat much variety actually lose more weight. His theory on it seems to be that you automate your eating and are therefore less likely to overeat. He actually recommends it. I don't see how it could be detrimental, you body doesn't know that it's corn flakes (or whatever) going in every day, it just breaks that down and uses what it needs and gets rid of the rest.

Dr Oz also approves the HCG diet.

Losing weight is about energy intake vs expedenture and fulfilling your macro and micronutrient intake minimums. Eating the same thing vs eating different foods have absolutely no effect on losing weight.

No, he doesn't. That was an Internet myth.

He most definitely is against the HCG diet.

Directly from his website: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/hcg-diet-fact-vs-fiction

maidentl

Yeah, I saw his show on HCG and I wouldn't exactly call it a ringing endorsement. He said if you're hell-bent on trying it to make sure you do it under a doctor's supervision because it's an unsafe amount of calories. And I don't really see how that has anything to do with what I said anyway.

thomasdyre

Dr. Oz said about HCG was: There needed to be alot more research. There is evidence it works. If you are going to do the HCG diet, only do it with the guidence of a Doctor, do not buy HCG on the internet or other source. Personally he would never reccomend less than 1200 calories a day for any person.