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A Calorie is NOT just a Calorie

1679111234

Replies

  • Posts: 248 Member
    because I thought if I ate HEALTHY calories as he's saying then I could eat a lot more calories.. but if its calories in vs out as you have all jumped the *kitten* all ove rme about then I will continue to do what im doing. was just trying to share something I thought was interesting. will never happen again

    We are not jumping all over you for wanting to share, we are jumping all over the article that is based on opinion and not science. Also the fact that you are eating too few calories at 900 cal/day. Never drop below 1200 otherwise you will hinder your weight loss by putting your body into starvation mode.
  • CAN'T. STOP. READING.

    This is very interesting. :smile:

    "newish" person over here, sorry!

    What do you mean to say exactly?
  • Posts: 5,609 Member

    That article is crap, with constant contradictions and nothing cited. Crap is crap is crap.


    As it would happen calories are calories are calorie so the title of this thread? Also crap.

    Macros and nutrition are a separate (though related) issue. But the thread didn't state "All food choices aren't equal" or "The Body doesn't break down all macronutrients the same." It says a calorie isn't a calorie. And that's false.

    I think what it is trying to say is not all calories are created equal. Different foods do (or offer) different things to the body. I think maybe some of you got a bit hung up on the title.

    A lot of you seem really touchy, I don't think anyone is belittling your efforts. You've all been on a journey and come out the other end better for it (or some are still on that journey).

    You've lost weight because you've regulated your bodies ability to burn the calories you have consumed either through extra exercise (or general movement) or through consuming less calories.

    All the article was trying to do was explain how that worked (it's not magic, there is some science behind it). Agreed there were some patchy bits but on the whole the article was accurate.
  • Posts: 3,202 Member
    1) While there are hormones (cortisol, insulin, leptin, etc.) that influence how many calories are taken from where (and, unfortunately, with the "wrong" hormonal profile, many of the calories are taken from lean tissue when on a calorie-deficit), it IS ultimately, calories in, calories out. 2) If one is going to eat at a calorie-deficit, it only makes sense (in terms of preserving health) to make most of the food choices be nourishing ones. 3) Eating only 900 calories a day is counter-productive to long-term healthy weight goals (and health in general). Most normal-sized adults need a minimum of 1,200 (healthy, well-chosen) calories a day to maintain muscle mass and other important bodily structures. 4) The reason why diets that emphasize meat and vegetables work for many people (and the statistical studies prove it) is that they curb the appetite and help those following the diet stay on it--BUT what is ultimately working for them is lower calories. (However, there can be significant changes to the hormonal profiles of people who follow them). :smile:
  • Posts: 2,005 Member
    A calorie IS just a calorie. The devil is in the macronutrients.
  • Posts: 5,797 Member
    This one time, on a dare, I stuck a whole celery stick in my mouth

    My dear, you had my interest, but now you have my attention.
  • Posts: 5 Member
    Down 70 lbs on 1650 cals a day avg over that last 9 months (I joined mfp more recently hence why it's down only 22 on here). I eat fish, turkey, whole wheats, cheeses, yogurt, protein shakes, some veggies, coffee and water and splurge one day a week on whatever suits my fancy. I'm living proof a cal is just a cal.
  • Posts: 5,609 Member
    CAN'T. STOP. READING.

    This is very interesting. :smile:

    "newish" person over here, sorry!

    Don't tell em you're new, they shoot strangers!!!
  • Posts: 1,074 Member

    A great article.

    For everyone who is dismissing it and backing their a calorie is just a calorie - did you lose your weight by eating a low calorie count of junk food or by eating healthy.

    Well done on all of your successes. I am sure though at the heart of each of them what you ate was the result of the success you had.

    <
    have lost almost 60lbs while eating fast food 3-4 times a week, 'processed' foods like LC dinners, diet soda, cookies (especially Oreos), chips etc. As well as things like veggies, whole grains, eggs etc.

    Lost the weight/now maintaining, and my blood panel has improved significantly, including no longer having a glucose level in the per-diabetic range :drinker:
  • Posts: 1,091 Member

    Here's a little news flash...the vast majority of us who eat "junk" food and pizza, etc...we don't make that stuff the bulk of our diets. I would assume there are a handful of people who do, but the vast majority of us eat very nutrient dense diets...I myself get around 6-8 servings of vegetables per day and a couple servings of fruit...I get most of my fats from things like nuts, avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, etc...I eat lots of lean proteins including fish 2-3 times per week...and I eat whole oats and other whole grains...

    I also eat regular old wheat flour tortillas on a regular basis because they are a staple food in NM. I eat quite a bit of regular old semolina flour pasta...I eat pizza at my favorite local pizzeria pretty much every Friday night with the family and make a pilgrimage to the Urban Hot Dog Company for a big old polish sausage and basket of fries at least a couple times per month. I eat ice cream a couple of times per week and regularly indulge in dark chocolate. I drink the occasional full sugar soda and I love beer and bourbon.

    The point being that it doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition and this is what gets lost on so many people. All of these arguments are the same...and compare 100% "clean eating" or whatever to 100% junk food eating...the truth is that comparison is pretty stupid because nobody thrives really on 100% junk food and I've yet to meat anyone who is actually 100% "clean" 100% of the time either.

    ^^This is definitely true, in my case. I eat a ton more veggies and fruits now than I did a few years ago. I also eat cake, without guilt, now...unless, it's the reason I went over my budget, then I blame the broccoli. (J/k! I just try to go under my goal the next day and don't worry about it. Averages count, not individual days.)
  • Posts: 3,987 Member
    Can everyone Here that? Yes Shhhhhh quietly theres a rumbling sound. You hear it now? See it's getting louder.


    It's James Prescott Joule Spinning in his Grave



    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Prescott_Joule
  • Posts: 1,066 Member
    Are any of the calorie in/calorie out folks denying that different foods don't have different hormonal responses, which is basically what the article was stating?

    The difference between what this article is discussing and calorie counting is that if you don't count calories and rely on your satiety to determine how much you eat, the hormonal effects of your foods matter greatly. However, if you count calories and have the self control to follow it very accurately then you basically aren't relying on your body's hunger/satiety signals and basically bypassing your hormonal system in terms of caloric consumption.

    Me personally, I lost my weight counting calories and kept it off by changing the foods I ate. I've also greatly improved by health markers as well by increasing food quality and supplementation.
  • Posts: 16,913 Member

    I think what it is trying to say is not all calories are created equal. Different foods do (or offer) different things to the body. I think maybe some of you got a bit hung up on the title.

    A lot of you seem really touchy, I don't think anyone is belittling your efforts. You've all been on a journey and come out the other end better for it (or some are still on that journey).

    You've lost weight because you've regulated your bodies ability to burn the calories you have consumed either through extra exercise (or general movement) or through consuming less calories.

    All the article was trying to do was explain how that worked (it's not magic, there is some science behind it). Agreed there were some patchy bits but on the whole the article was accurate.

    All calories are equal. A calorie is a unit of measure and as such are equal. Period, point blank, end of that train of thought. To state otherwise is just...Well wrong.

    I'm not sure how else I can put that.
  • Posts: 15,357 Member
    Are any of the calorie in/calorie out folks denying that different foods don't have different hormonal responses, which is basically what the article was stating?

    The difference between what this article is discussing and calorie counting is that if you don't count calories and rely on your satiety to determine how much you eat, the hormonal effects of your foods matter greatly. However, if you count calories and have the self control to follow it very accurately then you basically aren't relying on your body's hunger/satiety signals and basically bypassing your hormonal system in terms of caloric consumption.

    Me personally, I lost my weight counting calories and kept it off by changing the foods I ate. I've also greatly improved by health markers as well by increasing food quality and supplementation.
    I'm pretty sure everyone read the title of the thread and not much else.
  • Posts: 10,161 Member

    Don't tell em you're new, they shoot strangers!!!

    We only shoot the new people who have zero success when they are telling everyone else on the board - people who have achieved all the things you are trying to achieve yourself - that they're doing it all wrong, don't know anything about nutrition, are unhealthy, etc.
  • Why would anyyone need to tell...It says so below your name doesn't it
    Even u've joined inJan 2014...last month, not old :P
  • Posts: 5,609 Member

    We are not jumping all over you for wanting to share, we are jumping all over the article that is based on opinion and not science. Also the fact that you are eating too few calories at 900 cal/day. Never drop below 1200 otherwise you will hinder your weight loss by putting your body into starvation mode.

    Surely that's your opinion it's not based on science!!
  • Posts: 29,136 Member
    good lord...here we go again, for the millionth time..

    in....for the snowflakes who defy thermodynamics and math...
  • Posts: 7,001 Member
    Even I couldn't make out why is everyone so critical about the article...
    It's pretty decent and very much the truth...that's what we've been taught from school isn't it
    Balanced diet, include protiens less of sugar,...etc
    I read first two pages of response and was hoping at least 1 person would back him.

    Because it's not true. A calorie is a calorie, no matter the source. If you read further pages, I believe Mirey posted an excellence breakdown of why the article is not factual.
  • Posts: 5,797 Member

    Don't tell em you're new, they shoot strangers!!!

    Only people who think that facts are things that are subjective, and wish to argue vociferously with what is obviously a sound consensus.

    I have this mental imagine of these folks thrashing and wailing "You're all crazy?! Don't you seeeee??"

    Newish person, you seem perfectly lovely and thank you for doing yourself the courtesy of observing before making your pronouncements about The Theory Of Everything AKA Why I Alone Am Right.
  • Posts: 5,609 Member

    We only shoot the new people who have zero success when they are telling everyone else on the board - people who have achieved all the things you are trying to achieve yourself - that they're doing it all wrong, don't know anything about nutrition, are unhealthy, etc.

    man you seem hung up on this 0 figure. I'll amend my profile and maybe then I can be accepted into the brotherhood?
  • Posts: 29,136 Member

    I think I like where this is going... maybe?

    oh, this is definitely where this is going...
  • I'm not saying you do it all wrong...what I meant to say is that what u ppl have evntually started discussing and what the article says is sort of merging at many instances
    Many of you here argueing here I'm pretty sure haven't even read the complete article and are blatantly disregarding it
  • Posts: 5,304 Member

    We only shoot the new people who have zero success when they are telling everyone else on the board - people who have achieved all the things you are trying to achieve yourself - that they're doing it all wrong, don't know anything about nutrition, are unhealthy, etc.

    I like you.
  • Posts: 10,161 Member

    man you seem hung up on this 0 figure. I'll amend my profile and maybe then I can be accepted into the brotherhood?

    You can amend your profile all you want, but you admit you are not fit, you say you have 50 lbs to lose, you are new to MFP, you are following a fad diet, and you are telling all of the actually successful people they are wrong and unhealthy.

    It's not looking good for you.
  • Posts: 248 Member

    Exactly, that proves the point of the person who's written the article. Well done on the weight loss!

    No it doesn't because she stated that only a slight few can have success with a diet change because they have to maintain it for LIFE........
  • Posts: 16,913 Member
    I'm not saying you do it all wrong...what I meant to say is that what u ppl have evntually started discussing and what the article says is sort of merging at many instances
    Many of you here argueing here I'm pretty sure haven't even read the complete article and are blatantly disregarding it

    It's a crappy article.
  • Posts: 1,861 Member
    Are any of the calorie in/calorie out folks denying that different foods don't have different hormonal responses, which is basically what the article was stating?

    The difference between what this article is discussing and calorie counting is that if you don't count calories and rely on your satiety to determine how much you eat, the hormonal effects of your foods matter greatly. However, if you count calories and have the self control to follow it very accurately then you basically aren't relying on your body's hunger/satiety signals and basically bypassing your hormonal system in terms of caloric consumption.

    Me personally, I lost my weight counting calories and kept it off by changing the foods I ate. I've also greatly improved by health markers as well by increasing food quality and supplementation.

    You do realize that satiety is grossly misunderstood, due in large part to that bunch of nonsense written by Gary Taubes that claims that carbs cause insulin spikes and insulin spikes cause hunger, therefore eating carbs makes you hungry. Yet Taubes completely misses the actual hormones involved (as he is a writer and doesn't know what he is talking about).

    Using satiety signals will always break down as you get leaner. Eventually your body tries to prevent you from starving, and you discover what real hunger is.
  • Posts: 7,001 Member
    I'm not saying you do it all wrong...what I meant to say is that what u ppl have evntually started discussing and what the article says is sort of merging at many instances
    Many of you here argueing here I'm pretty sure haven't even read the complete article and are blatantly disregarding it

    Oh, we read it. It's just wrong.
  • Posts: 5,304 Member

    You can amend your profile all you want, but you admit you are not fit, you say you have 50 lbs to lose, you are new to MFP, you are following a fad diet, and you are telling all of the actually successful people they are wrong and unhealthy.

    It's not looking good for you.

    My like for you just got a bit stronger.
This discussion has been closed.