Why We Get Fat, and What We Can Do About it - anyone else re

comiclady24 · October 2011

Hello all,

I just wanted to recommend a book called "Why We Get Fat, and What We Can do About it". For months, I exercised and dieted and got so frustrated with my scale, I almost threw it out the window. Now, for the first time in my life, this diet (or life change, I should say) is working, and the weight is coming off - and I'm not even working out!
No logging, no counting, no measuring. I'm in heaven!!!

Anyone else out there try this eating plan? How is it working for you?

MyBeautyIsSkinDeep · October 2011

I might need to get the book sounds worth me taking a peek!! Im all for tryn new things that will help me!!:happy:

martinah4 · October 2011

I just finished reading this book, and LOVED it! I'm actually following an Atkins life-style, but this book totally made sense to me. If you have Netflix streaming, I would highly recommend the movie "Fathead". It's science and humor, and a lot like Taubes' book.
But, I'm like you. I spent years excercising and counting my calories, and getting no where. The only time I'm able to lose weight is when I cut out my carbs.
I'm afraid that years of eating junk food and refined, processed carbs has made me insulin resistant, (although I'm not diabetic). I hope the damage can be repaired, and I'll be able to phase in carbage every now and then.
But, until then, I'm very content with my diet now. Don't even miss carbs!

HMonsterX · October 2011

We got fat because we ate too much, and exercised too little.

What we can do about it is eat less, move more.

There you go, i just saved you $15

martinah4 · October 2011

Don't recall her asking the opinion of a person who obviously hasn't read the book which is the topic of this post. Whatever. Since you seem to be "competitive" and fit, according to your profile, do you ever stop and wonder why, since you're excercising so much, maybe even since you were 13, why you managed to gain at least 54 pounds that you now need to take off? Do you think the solution is to work out even harder and eat even less? How 'bout having an open mind to the idea that what works for some people doesn't work for everyone?
Good luck to you!

sleepytexan · October 2011

I didn't read that book, but there are so many people out there busting their butts exercising and restricting calories like crazy who can't lose.

Interestingly, beginning about 18 mos ago, and over the period of a year, I gained a "mystery" 15 lbs. even though I had been working out 6 days a week for the past 7 years and never before had a weight problem. As soon as I began gaining, I began dieting, but it didn't work--I just kept gaining.

For me, it was the fact that I wasn't eating ENOUGH. My weight gains corresponded with adding in significant new weekly activities without adding any extra calories. When I began dieting, I was cutting my fuel down even further, slowing my metabolism, getting tired and fatter and didn't know why.

Finally I found MFP and a thread that explained it. Amazingly (counterintuitively!), I ate more and lost the weight. I still can't believe how cool it is that I get to eat more and lose weight. I've lost 14 of my 15 lbs. now, so I'm thrilled.

PB67 · October 2011

Ugh.

Taubes is an idiot. Cherry-picks outdated references to support his carbophobia while ignoring more recent, better designed studies that conflict with his pet hypothesis.

Read the following to understand why Taubes is wrong about everything

http://carbsanity.blogspot.com/search/label/Gary Taubes Fact Check

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319]Part 1

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=459]Part 2

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=536]Part 3

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=571]Part 4

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=724]Part 5

martinah4 · October 2011

I'm pretty busy, but maybe I'll get to the links sometime today. I'm my own testimonial, though. Since I went cold-turkey on carbage in February this year--cutting out foods made with flour, pasta, starches, anything out of a box--I've been losing fat steadily and have energy to do high-impact Zumba workouts 2-3 times a week, with plenty of energy to spare.
I get my carbs from good, healthy vegetables, and I haven't upped my protein from what it was before.
As I mentioned before, this works. It works for me, it may not work for you.
FYI, Taubes doesn't promote his own diet, he simply presents an alternative to the bad science that we've been force-fed for the last almost 70 or so years.

martinah4 · October 2011

Sleepy Texan, I'm glad you've found the key to your weight loss, and congrats on your success! You look great (from your pic)!

PB67 · October 2011

I'm my own testimonial, though. Since I went cold-turkey on carbage in February this year--cutting out foods made with flour, pasta, starches, anything out of a box--I've been losing fat steadily and have energy to do high-impact Zumba workouts 2-3 times a week, with plenty of energy to spare.
I get my carbs from good, healthy vegetables, and I haven't upped my protein from what it was before.
As I mentioned before, this works. It works for me, it may not work for you.

Kudos.

Nobody is debating that reducing carbs can be and effective fat-loss strategy. It works because of the reduction in CALORIES, period. Taubes and his ilk, on the other hand, are claiming that calories don't matter --- and this is just plain wrong.

FYI, Taubes doesn't promote his own diet, he simply presents an alternative to the bad science that we've been force-fed for the last almost 70 or so years.

By replacing it with more bad science? I'll pass.

martinah4 · October 2011

I'm my own testimonial, though. Since I went cold-turkey on carbage in February this year--cutting out foods made with flour, pasta, starches, anything out of a box--I've been losing fat steadily and have energy to do high-impact Zumba workouts 2-3 times a week, with plenty of energy to spare.
I get my carbs from good, healthy vegetables, and I haven't upped my protein from what it was before.
As I mentioned before, this works. It works for me, it may not work for you.

Kudos.

Nobody is debating that reducing carbs can be and effective fat-loss strategy. It works because of the reduction in CALORIES, period. Taubes and his ilk, on the other hand, are claiming that calories don't matter --- and this is just plain wrong.

True, by taking out the junk carbs I've reduced my calories. Just like when a calorie counter starts cutting back on calories, he/she automatically reduces the percentage of carbs going in. But instead of using carbs/sugar for fuel, my body uses fat.

FYI, Taubes doesn't promote his own diet, he simply presents an alternative to the bad science that we've been force-fed for the last almost 70 or so years.

By replacing it with more bad science? I'll pass.

Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

daisymae9801 · October 2011

I didn't read that book, but there are so many people out there busting their butts exercising and restricting calories like crazy who can't lose.

Interestingly, beginning about 18 mos ago, and over the period of a year, I gained a "mystery" 15 lbs. even though I had been working out 6 days a week for the past 7 years and never before had a weight problem. As soon as I began gaining, I began dieting, but it didn't work--I just kept gaining.

For me, it was the fact that I wasn't eating ENOUGH. My weight gains corresponded with adding in significant new weekly activities without adding any extra calories. When I began dieting, I was cutting my fuel down even further, slowing my metabolism, getting tired and fatter and didn't know why.

Finally I found MFP and a thread that explained it. Amazingly (counterintuitively!), I ate more and lost the weight. I still can't believe how cool it is that I get to eat more and lose weight. I've lost 14 of my 15 lbs. now, so I'm thrilled.

Eating less calories than you expend won't make you fat. It's impossible.

neanderthin · October 2011

The carbs make us fat guy......urk.

sleepytexan · October 2011

I didn't read that book, but there are so many people out there busting their butts exercising and restricting calories like crazy who can't lose.

Interestingly, beginning about 18 mos ago, and over the period of a year, I gained a "mystery" 15 lbs. even though I had been working out 6 days a week for the past 7 years and never before had a weight problem. As soon as I began gaining, I began dieting, but it didn't work--I just kept gaining.

For me, it was the fact that I wasn't eating ENOUGH. My weight gains corresponded with adding in significant new weekly activities without adding any extra calories. When I began dieting, I was cutting my fuel down even further, slowing my metabolism, getting tired and fatter and didn't know why.

Finally I found MFP and a thread that explained it. Amazingly (counterintuitively!), I ate more and lost the weight. I still can't believe how cool it is that I get to eat more and lose weight. I've lost 14 of my 15 lbs. now, so I'm thrilled.

Eating less calories than you expend won't make you fat. It's impossible.

sleepytexan · October 2011

Sleepy Texan, I'm glad you've found the key to your weight loss, and congrats on your success! You look great (from your pic)!

Thank you!

Grokette · October 2011

Don't recall her asking the opinion of a person who obviously hasn't read the book which is the topic of this post. Whatever. Since you seem to be "competitive" and fit, according to your profile, do you ever stop and wonder why, since you're excercising so much, maybe even since you were 13, why you managed to gain at least 54 pounds that you now need to take off? Do you think the solution is to work out even harder and eat even less? How 'bout having an open mind to the idea that what works for some people doesn't work for everyone?
Good luck to you!

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Grokette · October 2011

Yeah, your sooo right. We will just take the word of a blog.

No thanks. There is more truth to Taubes Science due to his extensive research with world renowned scientists and doctors.

Ugh.

Taubes is an idiot. Cherry-picks outdated references to support his carbophobia while ignoring more recent, better designed studies that conflict with his pet hypothesis.

Read the following to understand why Taubes is wrong about everything

http://carbsanity.blogspot.com/search/label/Gary Taubes Fact Check

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319]Part 1

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=459]Part 2

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=536]Part 3

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=571]Part 4

http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=724]Part 5

daisymae9801 · October 2011

I didn't read that book, but there are so many people out there busting their butts exercising and restricting calories like crazy who can't lose.

Interestingly, beginning about 18 mos ago, and over the period of a year, I gained a "mystery" 15 lbs. even though I had been working out 6 days a week for the past 7 years and never before had a weight problem. As soon as I began gaining, I began dieting, but it didn't work--I just kept gaining.

For me, it was the fact that I wasn't eating ENOUGH. My weight gains corresponded with adding in significant new weekly activities without adding any extra calories. When I began dieting, I was cutting my fuel down even further, slowing my metabolism, getting tired and fatter and didn't know why.

Finally I found MFP and a thread that explained it. Amazingly (counterintuitively!), I ate more and lost the weight. I still can't believe how cool it is that I get to eat more and lose weight. I've lost 14 of my 15 lbs. now, so I'm thrilled.

Eating less calories than you expend won't make you fat. It's impossible.

Well, I lived it, so there.

Links for those who may be interested, and/or miss smarty pants know it all:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/173853-an-objective-look-at-eating-exercise-calories
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/153704-myth-or-fact-simple-math-3500-calories-one-pound-eat
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TrainerRobin/view/myth-or-fact-calories-in-versus-calories-out-3500-calories-one-pound-and-should-i-eat-my-exercise-calories-62012
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/230930-starvation-mode-how-it-works
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/231636-the-eating-when-you-re-not-hungry-dilemma
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/175241-a-personal-view-on-exercise-cals-and-underfeeding
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/302589-eat-more-to-lose-more-explained

None of those say eating less makes you gain weight. "Starvation mode," which I think is used a little too much on here, may stall your weight loss but eating too few calories cannot possibly make you gain weight.

suzieduh · October 2011

bump for info

bcattoes · October 2011

No. I knew why I got fat and I knew what I had to do about it.

lockef · October 2011

No. I knew why I got fat and I knew what I had to do about it.

Why even bother commenting?

Why We Get Fat, and What We Can Do About it - anyone else re

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