what you eat vs how much you eat

Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

I'm curious... Care to elaborate?

grains are ok but we dont need them and they are not an optimal food choice for weight loss. Many here will defend grains to death, but there is no real need to put them in your body. I do not have allergies to grains, but when I cut them out, everything got better. Give it a try.

I am probably going against the grain some what. I think calories play a role in it but not in how some may think.

You have calories from fat: Nuts, meat, fried food, whole milk, whipping cream. etc.
You have calories from zero fat: Example, gummy bears. Soda. etc. But that is sugar that effects you in other ways.
You have calories in vegetables.

I have in the past year lost weight and kept it off by going over my calorie goal most of the time. I guess the trick is the types of food you eat. If you eat many fruits and vegetables, fat free milk, low cal snacks. lean proteins, Now that is better than having a high fat foods yet staying under your calorie goal.

I don't understand the point of protein shakes. Why not eat real food and get your nutrition? If your wanting to stay permanently trim, I would want to change my habits for life. (easier said than done)

I don't understand the point of protein shakes. Why not eat real food and get your nutrition? If your wanting to stay permanently trim, I would want to change my habits for life. (easier said than done)

protein shakes or adding protein powder into your diet is a quick efficient and relatively inexpensive way to get more protein without all the extra calories of "normal" food.

I cant see why I cant do protein shakes or add it to my yogurt for the rest of my life.

Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

I'm curious... Care to elaborate?

grains are ok but we dont need them and they are not an optimal food choice for weight loss. Many here will defend grains to death, but there is no real need to put them in your body. I do not have allergies to grains, but when I cut them out, everything got better. Give it a try.

So you do think it matters what not just how much

I def agree for the most part, but when I dropped my sodium to less than 1500 per day I saw crazy results!

Everything is fine in moderation, a calories is a calorie but you want veggies, fruit, whole grain/wheat, meat, over junk.

skip the whole grain wheat brainwashing and yes to the rest

I'm curious... Care to elaborate?

grains are ok but we dont need them and they are not an optimal food choice for weight loss. Many here will defend grains to death, but there is no real need to put them in your body. I do not have allergies to grains, but when I cut them out, everything got better. Give it a try.

So you do think it matters what not just how much

no..I dont think it matters if all you want is weight loss. A calorie is a calorie. If you want all the benefits of health AND weight loss, then yes, your choices matter.

I'm not huge on whole grains, but I love whole wheat. =/

if you love it then eat it. Its not terrible for you. But if you ever get into a situation where you can take three weeks or so without any grains, give it a try. I was really amazed at all the benefits I received.

both.

i am focusing on portion control right now, and a little on what i am eating.

but mostly portion control cause i think that was my problem

This is a great qustion indeed, and my mind is open to see the best sceince. I have high hopes that someday NuSI can answer this question with certainty.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/entertainment/1112692247/new-research-organization-could-mark-the-end-of-fad-diets/
http://nusi.org/



Conventional wisdom states that it is a calories in/calories out issue: A calorie is a calorie. My humble opinion, however, is that it is a bit more complex than that.

I find the Alternative Hypothesis very intriqueing: Well argued by both Gary Taubes ( "Why We Get Fat") and Dr Peter Attia (EatingAcademy.com) Summarized by me:

Excessive sugar and carbohydrate intake causes inulin spikes that result in fat being stored rather than fat being burned. i.,e, a hormonal issue due to the make up of the calories ingested- a calorie is not a calorie is not a calorie.

As stated by Dr Peter Attia:

"...chronically elevated levels of insulin — rather than excessive calorie consumption or lack of exercise — is at the heart of the most pervasive chronic diseases afflicting our society: obesity, heart disease, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, as the title of this blog suggests, I believe that the key to peak performance and what I call “chronic health” is to reduce the secretion of insulin so that you can run your body on your own fat stores, which is what they’re there for."

Dr Attia states that he has always been super fit yet still fat while eating what an athlete is "suppossed to eat". Now with his macronutrient consumption made up of ~75% fat, ~20 protein, ~5 carbohydrates, he has finally lost that 35 lbs. He eats about 4500 kcal/day.

I can relate; I've lead a life of high athletic activity yet managed to gain a ton of weight over the years.

Also, Dr Steve Gardner recently completed a year long study comparing 4 diets that are somewhat representative of the range of diets out there. Atkins lost the most by nearly double of what the others lost. (n~80 per group). At the 20 min mark, admitted 25 yr vegetarian Gardner says he was suprised to see that Atkins also had the best health markers out of all 4 diets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREuZEdMAVo

Mind you, I'm not saying these guys are correct. I'm saying their evidence is compelling.


While I do find all that intriqueing, my own person weight loss was acheived through a combination of calorie restriction and careful calorie selection to still supply my body with the nutrients it needs. I lost 55 lbs in 3 months (5'11", from 240 to 185) by following Ideal Protein by Dr Tran Tien Chanh. Easiest thing I've ever done. It is a calorie restriction ketosis diet with 4 phases.

I have been maintaining weight through a sort of Peter Attia high fat, low carb style, with sporatic mountain biking and weight lifting frequency. I've been consuming anywhere from 2k-3k cal/day and maintainiing @ 185-188 lbs.


I really enjoy informative debate on this issue, hate the religious zealetry too often found.

really? what about cal deficit foods? Like an apple? its about 100 cal but your body uses about 100 cals to digest it? I think it is better to eat the apple... than a cookie lol

would love for this to be true but it isn't. Can't imagine where you heard this.

Must have been from the same study that says our bodies burn refined sugar and lard at the same rate of fruits and veggies lol. I think the point is moderation... but honestly it does not take rocket science to prove healthy food is a better option... or maybe it does?! lol

I can only answer for myself here. For me it does matter just as much what I eat. My body does not process a lot of grains well or sugary things, even some fruit. I have found I can consume a bit more calories when they are not from these foods and still lose weight a bit easier.

^^ THIS

I lost weight a few years ago doing the 1200 cals/day thing not paying attention to carbs, protein, fat, etc. I gained a good amount back and this second go-round trying to lose, I didn't lose a pound for 3 months (with lots of different calorie counts, different amts of exercise, etc.) until I started looking at carbs too. My carbs were even almost all from typically healthy sources (fruits, oats, some starchier veggies, beans, etc.) but I could not lose a thing on a "regular" carb diet. I switched to low-carb while doing the same amount of calories (and even significantly less exercise) and started losing immediately.

Long story short....what you eat DOES matter for some people. And if you're having issues with doing calorie counting only, I'd say for most people, it revolves around carbs.