Cutting through the clutter - weight loss basics vs. weight

rbloedow

Do you think there is too much focus on big changes which usually yield small results, and not enough focus on the basics of weight loss?

I just feel like there are too many people around who are more worried about how to micromanage weight loss (which supplements to take, simple vs. complex carbs, the best types of sugar, adkins vs. grapefruit diets, blah blah balh) - so much that they lose focus on the basics of weight loss - Calories in vs calories out.

I am reminded of this professor who ate nothing but twinkies, nutty bars, and powedered donuts....and lost 27lbs over two months: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html

Opinions?

resitstress

Ah, but the somewhat simplistic approach - i.e. calories in vs calories out' - presumes all calories are equal and they aren't....

Soup11

AGREED
Calories in/Calories out is the main focus for weight loss!!!

Keep in mind- there are other factors of our health impacted by our diet and exercise that our "weight" alone does not measure!! Although the twinkie and donut diet sounds pretty awesome I am sure there were effects on health beyond the "weight loss"! Just my opinion!!

Lift_hard_eat_big

Ah, but the somewhat simplistic approach - i.e. calories in vs calories out' - presumes all calories are equal and they aren't....

What makes a carb calorie different than a protein calorie or a fat calorie?

SergeantSunshine_reused

Ah, but the somewhat simplistic approach - i.e. calories in vs calories out' - presumes all calories are equal and they aren't....

might want to take a look at what he posted at the bottom then.

I have to admit I am one of the people who worries about every little thing. Sometimes I take a big breath in and realize I need to tone it down a bit and live :flowerforyou:

JennysMan

While the general formula described is essentially true, there are a lot of other variables that impact it. Like learning anything in life, those wishing to lose weight and become healthier "in general" need learn the basics first...lower their caloric intake (eat less) and increase their metabolic burn (exercise more). Once these skills are mastered, it makes sense to learning more about the nuances of weight loss, plus learning what works and doesn't work with his or her own body. In general, we are all the same, yet we are all different.

I basically agree with you comments, but at some point, you have to learn more than eat less and exercise more.

SergeantSunshine_reused

Ah, but the somewhat simplistic approach - i.e. calories in vs calories out' - presumes all calories are equal and they aren't....

What makes a carb calorie different than a protein calorie or a fat calorie?

I think they mean that twinkie calories arent the same as broccoli calories? This old argument

NoAdditives

Ah, but the somewhat simplistic approach - i.e. calories in vs calories out' - presumes all calories are equal and they aren't....

Exactly. And people focusing on things like types of carbs, types of sugar, etc. is because because they are trying to not only lose weight but improve the overall health of their diet. Making small changes like whole grain bread for white bread and other similar changes also help keep us feeling full and satisfied for longer because they digest slower. I'm pretty sure that everyone here who is trying to lose weight is eating at a calorie deficit since that's how the system is set up. But, since it's all calculated for us that doesn't have to be our main focus so we focus on making healthy changes to our diet so that we can eventually not have to count calories and so that we don't keep on making the same bad choices we made before.

Jemmuno

Interesting article and study though we do have to remember this isn't concrete though, even the professor himself doesn't advise anyone to do this. It seems to me that the study came down to moderation its ok if you go out and have a hamburger once in a while just don't do it everyday twice a day. When you cook your meals eat one serving not 3 or 4. Thats mostly what I'm getting out of this.

NoAdditives

Ah, but the somewhat simplistic approach - i.e. calories in vs calories out' - presumes all calories are equal and they aren't....

What makes a carb calorie different than a protein calorie or a fat calorie?

How it affects your body, whether or not it provides actual nutrition or just fast energy, etc....

melsinct

Remember we are all in different stages of our loss. I have lost almost 30 pounds, am 3 pounds from goal...my focus is less on the weight and more on the macro-nutrients, general toning of my body, etc. because I am not looking for big 5 or 10 pound losses. Some people are on MFP and have zero pounds to lose- they just want to be healthier.

moushtie

I think the issue is with people who are just new to all this, getting over obsessed with the % and the details, and missing the big picture of simply watching their calories, or burning out because they can't keep up with all these other "rules". Sometimes I have to remind people to not sweat the details. Ok, their diet could use a few tweaks, but they don't have to have a panic attack over it.

ashawley

Personally, I think that calories in VS. calories out is the easiest and smartest way to START your weight loss program.

Once you get used to the basics of learning to control what and how much you eat, only THEN should you really try and take in the nuances of what you eat to help you focus on the areas you need work in.

Most importantly, you need to make a choice that you're in this for the long haul.

rbloedow

Just to be clear - I don't think that calories in vs. calories out is the only focus....but I think that people forget that the simple formula makes up about 80% of weight loss. We need to focus on changes that bring us the most good, be it weight or health in general, but we also need to maintain perspective on the basics. I remember watching a show where a 500lb man was saying that he ate healthy food...(oranges for example) but he totally neglected to realize that eating 5-6 oranges in a row wasn't helping him at all.

I myself have switched from eating as little processed food as possible, but I keep in mind that managing what I eat is not an all or nothing process. I may eat whole wheat and lean ground turkey when possible, but if I'm at a friend's house and they've got some ground chuck on Wonder bread, it's going to be ok to eat it, lol.

NoAdditives

Just to be clear - I don't think that calories in vs. calories out is the only focus....but I think that people forget that the simple formula makes up about 80% of weight loss.

But even that isn't entirely true. There are plenty of people (I'm one of them) that rely more on exercise for weight loss, the calories aren't the important part. Because of my genetic history I can't have a very big calorie deficit. If I do, my body stops burning fat and starts storing it instead. Exercise is the only way I can actually burn fat, for the most part, my diet doesn't matter.

Lift_hard_eat_big

Personally, I think that calories in VS. calories out is the easiest and smartest way to START your weight loss program.

Once you get used to the basics of learning to control what and how much you eat, only THEN should you really try and take in the nuances of what you eat to help you focus on the areas you need work in.

Most importantly, you need to make a choice that you're in this for the long haul.

This is a great approach! If you can't sustain you're good eating habits indefinately, you won't maintain your weight loss.

scyian

I agree with keeping weight loss simple. I've never been on a fad diet since I want to be a healthy person

BTW, I'm from the UK and I've never had a Twinkie... are they really that great?

EdensMummy

Glad you said this, I have always wondered what the hell is a twinkie? Someone please tell me...

Back to the subject matter in hand, I think people have different goals...some people want to lose weight and eat clean and change their entire food ethos, others just want to lose weight and be fitter. How simplistic you want to be depends probably on why you're here in the first place.

For example, my sis in law and I are both on here and trying to lose weight, but she wants to clean up her diet, eat as little processed food as possible and so forth. I just want to lose weight by eating more healthily and exercising more, but I am still happy to chuck in a ready meal at lunch time as long as it's low calorie!

The simple principal though is a good one - it runs along the same lines as that government campaign - eat less, move more!!!