Fat loss: The Methods are Many, The Principles Few

Sublog
Sublog Posts: 1,296 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
This should be required reading around here.

http://www.andrewgriffinfitness.com/fat-loss-the-methods-are-many-the-principles-few/

snip:
Where the confusion lies

Some popular methods en vogue these days are Low-carb diets, The Paleo Diet, and Intermittent Fasting, just to name a few. Now, these can also be looked at as “lifestyles” rather than diets but many people use them primarily as a way to lose fat. Also, I want to mention that these diets (as well most others) purport to have specific health benefits to those that adhere to them aside from losing fat. However, for the purpose of this article I am going to ignore those aspects, as it would require a far longer discussion as to the validity of the claims made.

Personally, I have no problem with individuals following any of the methods listed above if it allows them to successfully reach their goals. The issue I have is with the tendency of adherents to specific diets to almost uniformly assert that the reason why they lost fat was because they went low-carb, started following a paleo diet, or a vegetarian diet for that matter. Following the tenets of any of these three diets was not why you lost weight; it was simply the method by which you did so.


And as a secondary reading to this topic:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/all-diets-work-the-importance-of-calories.html

Replies

  • AddA2UDE
    AddA2UDE Posts: 382
    Your chosen "diet" (read: chosen method) is not the WHY of your weight-loss, it's just the HOW.

    Great post Sublog! Thanks.
  • jenneal89
    jenneal89 Posts: 243
    Bump to read later
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    Great post! As long as you're sticking with what you're doing and it suits your tastes, needs... You will have success.
  • Nina2503
    Nina2503 Posts: 172 Member
    Great post! As long as you're sticking with what you're doing and it suits your tastes, needs... You will have success.

    ^^^^^ this! if it works for you then keep doing it !
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I knew this would be good when I saw who posted it. Great stuff.
  • KodAkuraMacKyen
    KodAkuraMacKyen Posts: 737 Member
    Great post. Thank you
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    Bump just because everyone should read this.
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    but, but, but...

    Ok,

    angry-you-win-this-time!.png
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    As usual, great post
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Great ty
  • small_ninja
    small_ninja Posts: 365 Member
    Haha, I posted a status concerning the paleo diet along these same lines just yesterday - great minds :happy:
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Good post as always.
  • JenKillough
    JenKillough Posts: 474 Member
    Required reading, yep :drinker:
  • parvati
    parvati Posts: 432 Member
    Nice to see someone posting something real around here! Nice one Sub...
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    I guess I should be paying more attention to this poster. Excellent post.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    exactly...low carb, paleo, primal, vegan, IF, etc, didn't MAKE you lose weight, you ATE BELOW MAINTENANCE while eating in your chosen style, that's all!
  • jazee11
    jazee11 Posts: 321
    Thanks for the post, great read.
  • Juliann4k9
    Juliann4k9 Posts: 36 Member
    bump
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Awesome post Sublog!
  • ElleBee66
    ElleBee66 Posts: 128 Member
    This should be required reading around here.

    http://www.andrewgriffinfitness.com/fat-loss-the-methods-are-many-the-principles-few/

    snip:
    Where the confusion lies

    Some popular methods en vogue these days are Low-carb diets, The Paleo Diet, and Intermittent Fasting, just to name a few. Now, these can also be looked at as “lifestyles” rather than diets but many people use them primarily as a way to lose fat. Also, I want to mention that these diets (as well most others) purport to have specific health benefits to those that adhere to them aside from losing fat. However, for the purpose of this article I am going to ignore those aspects, as it would require a far longer discussion as to the validity of the claims made.

    Personally, I have no problem with individuals following any of the methods listed above if it allows them to successfully reach their goals. The issue I have is with the tendency of adherents to specific diets to almost uniformly assert that the reason why they lost fat was because they went low-carb, started following a paleo diet, or a vegetarian diet for that matter. Following the tenets of any of these three diets was not why you lost weight; it was simply the method by which you did so.


    And as a secondary reading to this topic:

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/all-diets-work-the-importance-of-calories.html

    I agree wholeheartedly with this. I personally originally gave up wheat and sugar and then discovered I was doing some form of Paleo/Primal/low carb yadda yadda. But basically I cut out bread, cake, biscuits (cookies), chocolate bars etc - I don't worry about sugar in fruit and stuff like that. But my experience of having lost quite a lot of weight (around 75 lbs) is that people really don't want to be told that the reason I lost weight is that I ate less food. Which, of course, is the reason! I find people think I am being smart-*kitten* no matter how politely I try to put it.

    I feel it irritates people that it is so simple. They WANT it to be more complicated.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    Thanks for sharing, especially the excellently articulated quote you provided.
  • Elleinnz
    Elleinnz Posts: 1,661 Member
    Totally agree - I lost my first 120lbs just cutting calories and getting my butt off the couch.....Simple calories in vs calories out....

    I now follow a Paleo lifestyle, and IF, but make very sure that I tell any person that want to friend me that this is not actually how I lost the majority of my weight!! The lifestyle change is because it works for me - I feel I am eating healthier - and feel better for it - but is not a silver bullet for weight loss - in fact - I have only lost 8kgs since I went Paleo - but part of that is that I have also reduced my deficit dramatically from what it was when I was very obese....
  • Lina4Lina
    Lina4Lina Posts: 712 Member
    As a vegan, I agree. I don't like when people have magical thinking about their diet. Low carb seems to have this the most and I think it is due to the drastic water/glycogen loss that occurs at the beginning. You also see people pushing vegan diets thinking it magically results in weight loss, it does not. A lot of people lose weight initially because they cut off many sources of former high calorie foods and may even add in a lot more vegetables and other healthier foods.
  • Qskim
    Qskim Posts: 1,145 Member
    Bump cos I'm on phone n want to read on computer.
  • conniehv40
    conniehv40 Posts: 442 Member
    bump to read later!
  • DaveRCF
    DaveRCF Posts: 266
    This should be required reading around here.

    http://www.andrewgriffinfitness.com/fat-loss-the-methods-are-many-the-principles-few/

    snip:
    Where the confusion lies

    Some popular methods en vogue these days are Low-carb diets, The Paleo Diet, and Intermittent Fasting, just to name a few. Now, these can also be looked at as “lifestyles” rather than diets but many people use them primarily as a way to lose fat. Also, I want to mention that these diets (as well most others) purport to have specific health benefits to those that adhere to them aside from losing fat. However, for the purpose of this article I am going to ignore those aspects, as it would require a far longer discussion as to the validity of the claims made.

    Personally, I have no problem with individuals following any of the methods listed above if it allows them to successfully reach their goals. The issue I have is with the tendency of adherents to specific diets to almost uniformly assert that the reason why they lost fat was because they went low-carb, started following a paleo diet, or a vegetarian diet for that matter. Following the tenets of any of these three diets was not why you lost weight; it was simply the method by which you did so.


    And as a secondary reading to this topic:

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/all-diets-work-the-importance-of-calories.html

    So true. calorie deficit = weight loss. Pure and simple. But any diet that promotes eating a ton of fruits and veggies along with protein has to be beneficial in the long haul. Getting your daily calories by eating a pint of ice cream and nothing else is probably not the way to go long-term.

    I would also add that people need to tailor their approach to their goals, personality and lifestyle. It must be sustainable to work. There are many, many ways for us to meet our goals. Evangelists of one particular diet or another are likely those whose aforementioned traits clicked with the diet they are preaching about. Good for them, but not necessarily for others.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    good article..enjoyed the read and so true...

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