Calorie vs Calorie
aalhasan
Posts: 104
Hello everyone,
I'm new to dieting and excuse me if this topic has already been posted.
Are all calories handled the same way?
Is having a cup of milk which equals 200-300 calories the same as having a chocolate doughnut that's 250 calories? (When it comes to burning to lose fat)
I'm focused on losing fat and I'm going for a low carb diet.
Thanks for your help in advance.
I'm new to dieting and excuse me if this topic has already been posted.
Are all calories handled the same way?
Is having a cup of milk which equals 200-300 calories the same as having a chocolate doughnut that's 250 calories? (When it comes to burning to lose fat)
I'm focused on losing fat and I'm going for a low carb diet.
Thanks for your help in advance.
0
Replies
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No, all calories are not the same. All calories contribute to weight control, but your body does different things with sugars, fiber, protein, and fats. And nutrient content matters for proper body function.0
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Just my thoughts.... Calories is calories and your body will process each differnet. It would depend for me what would fill me up the donut will taste good in my mouth but will it have ... Fiber, protein, healthy carbs, sodium, any vitimans at all... vs. the milk may be high in calories it will have a lot more benifits to your body.
There are healthy carbs also that you don't have to do low carbs but make the carb or anything worth it think on what you put in the top hits the entire package. I don't think a link of sausage is worth my protein if it's full of sodium and fillers or a pile of fat instead of meat. I'd rather eat something with more benifit.
I've not done great at the losing weight thing so hopefully more will weigh in on this.0 -
A 250 calorie donut will not fill you up and satisfy your bodies nutritional needs like a 250 calorie chicken breast. Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.0
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When it comes to weight loss, the calorie density matters more than the type of calorie. That's why people tend to cut out soda - it has lots of calories due to sugar, but is not filling at all because it's a liquid. Eat what you'd like, but keep in mind that a little 200-calorie morsel of chocolate isn't going to keep you full as long as two oranges (which hover in at just under 100 calories each).0
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To my understanding, it takes more energy to burn off protein. So since a donut does not have a lot of protein, you body does not work as hard to process it.
From "the New Rules of Lifting for Women" page 42
"A variety of studies and reviews suggest that if 30 percent of your daily calories come from protein, you'll end up eating fewer total calories, since protein is more satiating, leaving you feeling fuller longer between meals. You'll also probably weigh less, since protein requires a lot more energy to digest than any other macronutrient."0 -
A calorie is a unit of measurement of chemical energy stored inside "food" which is utilised by your body. So yes, all calories are the same in this context.
However, foods have things in them other than energy-yielding compounds. For example fiber, which relates to digestion and nutrient absorption. Also, micronutrients ("vitamins and minerals").
Regarding protein: some nutritional scientists believe that protein should be labelled as perhaps 3cal/g or 3.2cal/g because of its increased thermic effect of feeding (TEF).A 250 calorie donut will not fill you up and satisfy your bodies nutritional needs like a 250 calorie chicken breast. Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.
Please explain specifically how sugar gives you belly fat.0 -
Please don't let people tell you that calories are different and that your body "knows" what to do with certain calories and not with others. That simply is *not* true.
A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. It's a unit of energy. 3500 calories represents a lb of weight. There is a concept of "good" calories and "bad" or "empty" calories. It's a bit misleading, because the good, bad and empty don't really refer to the calories themselves, but to whatever else is in the item of food you eat.
Take your chocolate or milk example. If you eat a chocolate frosted doughnut, you get about 270 calories, and not much else except for about 1g of fiber. If you have 270 calories of low fat milk, however, you get about 1 g of potassium, 24 g of protein, and some vitamin A and calcium. See the difference? So, while all calories are created equal, what they come with is not.0 -
Please don't let people tell you that calories are different and that your body "knows" what to do with certain calories and not with others. That simply is *not* true.
A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. It's a unit of energy. 3500 calories represents a lb of weight. There is a concept of "good" calories and "bad" or "empty" calories. It's a bit misleading, because the good, bad and empty don't really refer to the calories themselves, but to whatever else is in the item of food you eat.
Take your chocolate or milk example. If you eat a chocolate frosted doughnut, you get about 270 calories, and not much else except for about 1g of fiber. If you have 270 calories of low fat milk, however, you get about 1 g of potassium, 24 g of protein, and some vitamin A and calcium. See the difference? So, while all calories are created equal, what they come with is not.
Very informative.
I still don't understand why people go on low-carb diet though. Is there something bad about sugars/carbs?
rice and bread are not too high in calories yet people cut them out. Why?0 -
A calorie is a unit of measurement of chemical energy stored inside "food" which is utilised by your body. So yes, all calories are the same in this context.
However, foods have things in them other than energy-yielding compounds. For example fiber, which relates to digestion and nutrient absorption. Also, micronutrients ("vitamins and minerals").
Regarding protein: some nutritional scientists believe that protein should be labelled as perhaps 3cal/g or 3.2cal/g because of its increased thermic effect of feeding (TEF).A 250 calorie donut will not fill you up and satisfy your bodies nutritional needs like a 250 calorie chicken breast. Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.
Please explain specifically how sugar gives you belly fat.
Sugar (and simple carbs) is bad for many more reasons than just belly fat. Sugar causes inflammation in the body which leads to a whole host of health issues, one of which is hardening of the arteries. Sugar ages you. Sugar causes "inflammation" in the body. It doesn't DIRECTLY go to the belly but it causes reactions in the body that cause the body to lay down fat in the belly.0 -
Please explain specifically how sugar gives you belly fat.
Sugar (and simple carbs) is bad for many more reasons than just belly fat. Sugar causes inflammation in the body which leads to a whole host of health issues, one of which is hardening of the arteries. Sugar ages you. Sugar causes "inflammation" in the body. It doesn't DIRECTLY go to the belly but it causes reactions in the body that cause the body to lay down fat in the belly.
Why are sugars special compared to other forms of carbohydrate? How do sugars contribute to inflammation, the aging process, atherosclerosis, and "reactions that cause the body to lay down fat in the belly" in a way that is distinct from other forms of carbohydrate?0 -
Please don't let people tell you that calories are different and that your body "knows" what to do with certain calories and not with others. That simply is *not* true.
A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. It's a unit of energy. 3500 calories represents a lb of weight. There is a concept of "good" calories and "bad" or "empty" calories. It's a bit misleading, because the good, bad and empty don't really refer to the calories themselves, but to whatever else is in the item of food you eat.
Take your chocolate or milk example. If you eat a chocolate frosted doughnut, you get about 270 calories, and not much else except for about 1g of fiber. If you have 270 calories of low fat milk, however, you get about 1 g of potassium, 24 g of protein, and some vitamin A and calcium. See the difference? So, while all calories are created equal, what they come with is not.
Very informative.
I still don't understand why people go on low-carb diet though. Is there something bad about sugars/carbs?
rice and bread are not too high in calories yet people cut them out. Why?
Some people have trouble digesting carbs, especially carbs that don't contain fiber. This may be genetic or it could be from years of poor diet. Here is a good article on carbs, if you are interested.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/0 -
It is simply the fad in the "pop nutrition" media that carbs are the devil. It was fat for a long time, now it's carbs. The fitness industry is a business and people will say what it takes to make money. Unfortunately this means that there is an incredible amount of misinformation being spread around that has no basis in what modern nutritional science already knows.
The truth is that for a healthy individual, there is no reason to fear carbohydrates. They have a function in the body and do stuff. It's not like there's magic going on here. And if you're physically active and not terribly obese, there is no reason to even fear "sugar."0 -
Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.
lolwut?0 -
Please don't let people tell you that calories are different and that your body "knows" what to do with certain calories and not with others. That simply is *not* true.
A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. It's a unit of energy. 3500 calories represents a lb of weight. There is a concept of "good" calories and "bad" or "empty" calories. It's a bit misleading, because the good, bad and empty don't really refer to the calories themselves, but to whatever else is in the item of food you eat.
Take your chocolate or milk example. If you eat a chocolate frosted doughnut, you get about 270 calories, and not much else except for about 1g of fiber. If you have 270 calories of low fat milk, however, you get about 1 g of potassium, 24 g of protein, and some vitamin A and calcium. See the difference? So, while all calories are created equal, what they come with is not.
Very informative.
I still don't understand why people go on low-carb diet though. Is there something bad about sugars/carbs?
rice and bread are not too high in calories yet people cut them out. Why?
Someone like me might go on a low carb diet because I have PCOS with insulin resistance.
Glucose, your body's primary source of energy, is made from the food you eat. Your body can easily convert two types of carbohydrates, sugar and starch, into glucose. Eating sugary sweets and starchy foods made from refined flours can cause your glucose level to rise rapidly. It's this very quick spike in blood sugar that prompts your pancreas to produce too much insulin, to try and move glucose from the bloodstream into your cells. Excess insulin in your bloodstream tricks your body into thinking it needs more glucose -- triggering hunger pangs and a carving for more easy energy. This cycle of high and low glucose levels, caused by eating too many of the wrong type of carbohydrates, leads to insulin resistance. A low-carb diet restricts sugar and starch and can stop the cycle of high and low glucose levels. You can also improve insulin resistance by maintaining a healthy body weight.0 -
250 cals are still 250 cals, no matter if it's glass of milk or a chocolate doughnut. They are the same. You could possibly drink 2000 cals of milk a day or ate 2000 cals of chocolate doughnuts, there would not be any difference when it comes to weight loss.
What matters is that you would not get all the needed vitamins and nutrients you need. You would feel weak and sick if you would do this for long while. And of course milk would fill you up less than some more dense foods what you can actually chew. That's why it is important to have a well balanced diet with all the nutrients and vitamins your body needs. But if you will have a chocolate treat once in a while it won't make any difference as far as your calorie needs are met.0 -
Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.
lolwut?
You should know this with all that ice cream and pop tarts you eat...you should have belly fat like nobody's business!!0 -
Not really. In terms of body mass, a calorie is a calorie, period. Eat too many calories and you gain weight. Eat too few and you lose weight. End of story.
Sugars don't go to belly fat. Good lord.
The macros you eat affect your body though. You need protein to maintain or gain muscle mass. You need fat to feel satiated. Carbs should make up whatever's left over.
Here's the thing to remember: while it might matter where calories come from, it really doesn't matter where your macros come from. Calories come from macros. The take-home message is to get your calories through appropriate macronutrients.0 -
I've heard of a beer belly, but never an ice cream belly!Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.
lolwut?
You should know this with all that ice cream and pop tarts you eat...you should have belly fat like nobody's business!!0 -
Hello everyone,
I'm new to dieting and excuse me if this topic has already been posted.
Are all calories handled the same way?
Is having a cup of milk which equals 200-300 calories the same as having a chocolate doughnut that's 250 calories? (When it comes to burning to lose fat)
I'm focused on losing fat and I'm going for a low carb diet.
Thanks for your help in advance.
A calorie is a unit of energy...nothing more, nothing less. In that RE, a calorie is a calorie. In RE to proper nutrition, body composition, etc...not all calories are created equal.
Don't confuse energy for nutrition0 -
A calorie is a unit of measurement of chemical energy stored inside "food" which is utilised by your body. So yes, all calories are the same in this context.
However, foods have things in them other than energy-yielding compounds. For example fiber, which relates to digestion and nutrient absorption. Also, micronutrients ("vitamins and minerals").
Regarding protein: some nutritional scientists believe that protein should be labelled as perhaps 3cal/g or 3.2cal/g because of its increased thermic effect of feeding (TEF).A 250 calorie donut will not fill you up and satisfy your bodies nutritional needs like a 250 calorie chicken breast. Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.
Please explain specifically how sugar gives you belly fat.
Sugar (and simple carbs) is bad for many more reasons than just belly fat. Sugar causes inflammation in the body which leads to a whole host of health issues, one of which is hardening of the arteries. Sugar ages you. Sugar causes "inflammation" in the body. It doesn't DIRECTLY go to the belly but it causes reactions in the body that cause the body to lay down fat in the belly.
Sugar doesn't directly cause inflammation in an otherwise-healthy person. Chronically high blood sugar levels, as in diabetics, can certainly contribute to atherosclerosis, but in normal people it doesn't.
And it sure as **** doesn't magically cause some mysterious "reactions in the body" that create belly fat. That's just silly.0 -
Please don't let people tell you that calories are different and that your body "knows" what to do with certain calories and not with others. That simply is *not* true.
A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. It's a unit of energy. 3500 calories represents a lb of weight. There is a concept of "good" calories and "bad" or "empty" calories. It's a bit misleading, because the good, bad and empty don't really refer to the calories themselves, but to whatever else is in the item of food you eat.
Take your chocolate or milk example. If you eat a chocolate frosted doughnut, you get about 270 calories, and not much else except for about 1g of fiber. If you have 270 calories of low fat milk, however, you get about 1 g of potassium, 24 g of protein, and some vitamin A and calcium. See the difference? So, while all calories are created equal, what they come with is not.
Very informative.
I still don't understand why people go on low-carb diet though. Is there something bad about sugars/carbs?
rice and bread are not too high in calories yet people cut them out. Why?
Carbohydrates do get more easily converted and stored to fat if they aren't burnt off...of course, if you're at a deficit of calories it doesn't really matter because you cannot be catabolic and anabolic concurrently. However, low carb can be a good way to go for people who are sedentary; pretty tough sledding if you exercise though...I need the glycogen that carbs provide for energy and muscle repair.0 -
I believe there is plenty of evidence to back up the notion that added sugar and simple carbs are bad for you. Isnt this what we are taught from a young age anyways? Too much candy, brownies, chips etc = getting fat? I guess this is one of those situations when some one would need to look at the body fat percentage of the person telling them excessive amounts of added sugars and simple carbs are acceptable and make their own determination whether or not they want to follow their advice.It is simply the fad in the "pop nutrition" media that carbs are the devil. It was fat for a long time, now it's carbs. The fitness industry is a business and people will say what it takes to make money. Unfortunately this means that there is an incredible amount of misinformation being spread around that has no basis in what modern nutritional science already knows.
The truth is that for a healthy individual, there is no reason to fear carbohydrates. They have a function in the body and do stuff. It's not like there's magic going on here. And if you're physically active and not terribly obese, there is no reason to even fear "sugar."
I counted my calories for a year, worked out like crazy and still had belly fat because I was staying within my calories, but using a good portion of calories on sweets. I was a size 4 but with a waist that was very disproportionate to the rest of my body. I looked like I was still pregnant. I cut out the majority of sweets and replaced with fruit which has natural sugar and my belly fat has reduced substantially.
So you can eat all the sugar and junk food you want, but in my opinion you are doing yourself a serious disservice.0 -
Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.
lolwut?
You should know this with all that ice cream and pop tarts you eat...you should have belly fat like nobody's business!!
My bad, you're right.0 -
A calorie is a unit of measurement of chemical energy stored inside "food" which is utilised by your body. So yes, all calories are the same in this context.
However, foods have things in them other than energy-yielding compounds. For example fiber, which relates to digestion and nutrient absorption. Also, micronutrients ("vitamins and minerals").
Regarding protein: some nutritional scientists believe that protein should be labelled as perhaps 3cal/g or 3.2cal/g because of its increased thermic effect of feeding (TEF).A 250 calorie donut will not fill you up and satisfy your bodies nutritional needs like a 250 calorie chicken breast. Plus, sugar gives you belly fat.
Please explain specifically how sugar gives you belly fat.
Sugar (and simple carbs) is bad for many more reasons than just belly fat. Sugar causes inflammation in the body which leads to a whole host of health issues, one of which is hardening of the arteries. Sugar ages you. Sugar causes "inflammation" in the body. It doesn't DIRECTLY go to the belly but it causes reactions in the body that cause the body to lay down fat in the belly.
Sugar doesn't directly cause inflammation in an otherwise-healthy person. Chronically high blood sugar levels, as in diabetics, can certainly contribute to atherosclerosis, but in normal people it doesn't.
And it sure as **** doesn't magically cause some mysterious "reactions in the body" that create belly fat. That's just silly.
There is nothing mysterious in eating crap and getting fat. Donuts, candy, sodas, fried food does not equal lean and fit. And myself like many people gain the majority of their excess weight in their midsection. So obviously if i eat junk, its going to be reflected in my midsection.
You can disagree all you want, but I believe the results I've accomplished speak for themselves. I'm happy with my body and while I do enjoy junk food every so often, I don't trick myself into believing that it is good for me..0 -
I believe there is plenty of evidence to back up the notion that added sugar and simple carbs are bad for you. Isnt this what we are taught from a young age anyways? Too much candy, brownies, chips etc = getting fat? I guess this is one of those situations when some one would need to look at the body fat percentage of the person telling them excessive amounts of added sugars and simple carbs are acceptable and make their own determination whether or not they want to follow their advice.It is simply the fad in the "pop nutrition" media that carbs are the devil. It was fat for a long time, now it's carbs. The fitness industry is a business and people will say what it takes to make money. Unfortunately this means that there is an incredible amount of misinformation being spread around that has no basis in what modern nutritional science already knows.
The truth is that for a healthy individual, there is no reason to fear carbohydrates. They have a function in the body and do stuff. It's not like there's magic going on here. And if you're physically active and not terribly obese, there is no reason to even fear "sugar."
I counted my calories for a year, worked out like crazy and still had belly fat because I was staying within my calories, but using a good portion of calories on sweets. I was a size 4 but with a waist that was very disproportionate to the rest of my body. I looked like I was still pregnant. I cut out the majority of sweets and replaced with fruit which has natural sugar and my belly fat has reduced substantially.
So you can eat all the sugar and junk food you want, but in my opinion you are doing yourself a serious disservice.
This is a bunch of random nonsense. Too much pizza and fries will make you just as fat as too many brownies. Sugar has nothing to do with it. Calories do.
The claim that your waist was disproportionate because you ate too many sweets is totally, totally bogus and nonsensical.0 -
Donuts, candy, sodas, fried food does not equal lean and fit.
You should have a look at my diary. I'm under 12% body fat, by the way.0 -
High sugar calories make it difficult to get the macros most people would need to achieve the look they want.
If you're fat and just trying to lose weight, it's possible to fill up a lot of the daily calories with junk and still lose weight. If you have discipline and actually limit intake to a calorie level below maintenance.0 -
*yawn* ok. well. anyways...thanks for your input, but I'll have to disagree with you.
I believe there is plenty of evidence to back up the notion that added sugar and simple carbs are bad for you. Isnt this what we are taught from a young age anyways? Too much candy, brownies, chips etc = getting fat? I guess this is one of those situations when some one would need to look at the body fat percentage of the person telling them excessive amounts of added sugars and simple carbs are acceptable and make their own determination whether or not they want to follow their advice.It is simply the fad in the "pop nutrition" media that carbs are the devil. It was fat for a long time, now it's carbs. The fitness industry is a business and people will say what it takes to make money. Unfortunately this means that there is an incredible amount of misinformation being spread around that has no basis in what modern nutritional science already knows.
The truth is that for a healthy individual, there is no reason to fear carbohydrates. They have a function in the body and do stuff. It's not like there's magic going on here. And if you're physically active and not terribly obese, there is no reason to even fear "sugar."
I counted my calories for a year, worked out like crazy and still had belly fat because I was staying within my calories, but using a good portion of calories on sweets. I was a size 4 but with a waist that was very disproportionate to the rest of my body. I looked like I was still pregnant. I cut out the majority of sweets and replaced with fruit which has natural sugar and my belly fat has reduced substantially.
So you can eat all the sugar and junk food you want, but in my opinion you are doing yourself a serious disservice.
This is a bunch of random nonsense. Too much pizza and fries will make you just as fat as too many brownies. Sugar has nothing to do with it. Calories do.
The claim that your waist was disproportionate because you ate too many sweets is totally, totally bogus and nonsensical.
I've never been overweight, and I've always had a pretty darn healthy relationship with food. So I'm more inclined to say that my methods of leading a healthy lifestyle and making good nutritional choices for myself and my family must not be too far off base.0 -
Calorie is a calorie.
What macro makes up that calorie is the main difference. Some like high protein, low carb others like high protein, high carb, etc.
Calorie deficit is what matters when it comes to weight loss.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Donuts, candy, sodas, fried food does not equal lean and fit.
You should have a look at my diary. I'm under 12% body fat, by the way.
I looked at your diary. High protein, high fiber, high exercise, with occasional crap food. You do not eat "donuts, candy, sodas, fried food" as a significant portion of your diet. What you're doing is dramatically different than a standard American diet.0
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