A Call for a Low-Carb Diet

Some of these people simply don't understand basic (and not so basic) biology. When you have a metabolic disorder, your body isn't doing what it's supposed to, and the extent of its deviation from the norm can vary greatly. So, if someone with a metabolic disorder eats food, it isn't metabolized in the same way. They can get a lot less of the energy that one usually would -- you see this in insulin resistance for example. Rather than using the food for energy, they get to use only part of it and part of it gets stored as fat. So to fulfill their "normal" energy needs, they need to eat more, which also results in greater fat storage -- and being overweight. Eating less isn't an option in the same way it is for "normal" people because they can't access their fat stores for energy the same way people with normal metabolisms can. They'll get crazy hunger pangs, headaches, terrible fatigue, etc. That is not normal or within the normal parameters of self-control. Thyroid stuff can get even crazier with extreme fatigue, losing your hair, skin going haywire, etc.

When your options are to eat less but sleep 14 hours a day to combat the fatigue that isn't really a viable, meaningful choice. Nor should it be.

Others who have had have less severe symptoms do a great disservice to others by proclaiming "I had that and did Y, so it's totally possible". Yes, it's totally possible for YOU and your symptoms. Not totally possible for everyone with that disorder or disease -- not everyone experiences the same symptoms, severity or reacts to medication the same way. Do we tell insulin dependent diabetics that if they'd just modify their food choices, they'd be fine? Of course not. That's absurd. The same is true for some others with similar disorders -- whether it's insulin resistance, thyroid, PCOS, etc. Each person is fighting their own battle in that regard and to make comments about how it's really all in their control by eating less just shows the person's extreme ignorance in how these disorders and diseases can affect people.

Having been on both sides of the battle, I can tell you once I got the proper medication for my issues, eating was extremely easy. It took about 1/100th of the effort that it previously did. If you haven't been on the other side of that battle, you have no idea what you're talking about.

Hey

secret to lasting weight loss does not come down to complicated calorie counting and weight loss gimmicks. Instead, it's about working with your body naturally.

Try It Out http://tinyurl.com/o68mj2p

I prefer uncomplicated calorie counting, using the bar code scanner on my phone, and automatic uploads of my activity - check it out:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

I use the bar code scanner too. How do you do keep your measurements accurate. A lot of times I end up having to go back in and tweak everything. It can be a little tedious. Just wondering if you have any tips. I'm new to this so I'm still getting the hang of weighing everything. Right now I weigh everything in grams, but so much is in oz. I find it time consuming to go and calculate all the measurements but I know this is the more accurate reading. Any advice would be appreciated

Some of these people simply don't understand basic (and not so basic) biology. When you have a metabolic disorder, your body isn't doing what it's supposed to, and the extent of its deviation from the norm can vary greatly. So, if someone with a metabolic disorder eats food, it isn't metabolized in the same way. They can get a lot less of the energy that one usually would -- you see this in insulin resistance for example. Rather than using the food for energy, they get to use only part of it and part of it gets stored as fat. So to fulfill their "normal" energy needs, they need to eat more, which also results in greater fat storage -- and being overweight. Eating less isn't an option in the same way it is for "normal" people because they can't access their fat stores for energy the same way people with normal metabolisms can. They'll get crazy hunger pangs, headaches, terrible fatigue, etc. That is not normal or within the normal parameters of self-control. Thyroid stuff can get even crazier with extreme fatigue, losing your hair, skin going haywire, etc.

When your options are to eat less but sleep 14 hours a day to combat the fatigue that isn't really a viable, meaningful choice. Nor should it be.

Others who have had have less severe symptoms do a great disservice to others by proclaiming "I had that and did Y, so it's totally possible". Yes, it's totally possible for YOU and your symptoms. Not totally possible for everyone with that disorder or disease -- not everyone experiences the same symptoms, severity or reacts to medication the same way. Do we tell insulin dependent diabetics that if they'd just modify their food choices, they'd be fine? Of course not. That's absurd. The same is true for some others with similar disorders -- whether it's insulin resistance, thyroid, PCOS, etc. Each person is fighting their own battle in that regard and to make comments about how it's really all in their control by eating less just shows the person's extreme ignorance in how these disorders and diseases can affect people.

Having been on both sides of the battle, I can tell you once I got the proper medication for my issues, eating was extremely easy. It took about 1/100th of the effort that it previously did. If you haven't been on the other side of that battle, you have no idea what you're talking about.

A couple of things come to mind. For one, I don't know many people here that advocate against someone consulting their primary care physician or even a specialist as needed to diagnose and treat medical conditions. You can be tested to assess your thyroid function as well as for conditions like prediabetes and PCOS (although, and I'm no expert, but that's a conclusion drawn from multiple tests from what I understand). So if you think there's something wrong, you should get checked out and I don't know anyone here that would tell you otherwise. So, no, that's not what I'd tell an insulin dependent diabetic - I'd tell them to go talk to their doctor and, if they're dependent on injectable insulin, they should probably get some injectable insulin.

But at the end of the day, most people do not have a condition that prevents them from losing weight through diet and exercise, and I think the assumption here is that people with actual medical conditions will deal with their medical conditions through their doctors. You can't just assume that everyone who isn't losing weight has some sort of undiagnosed medical condition and blaming genetics for a lack of weight loss should probably be the last resort in terms of probability, not the first. For the vast majority of people, they are the reason that they are losing not losing weight, whether it's due to inaccurate logging, not adjusting their caloric intake frequently enough, and so on - in short, factors that are entirely within their control. And for the minority of people that truly are victims of crappy genetics and have some sort of medical condition, then the MFP forums are the last place they should go for diagnosis and treatment.

In terms of insulin resistance, even if you make the case that prediabetics as well as many overweight and obese people who are sedentary tend to be insulin resistant (which I'd buy), that's still something that can largely be addressed through diet and exercise. And it might be hard - but then again, it might be hard for people who really struggle financially, it might be hard for people with kids to take care of, it might be hard for people who work long hours, it might be hard for people who have to commute a long way to the gym, and on and on. Yeah, it could be hard for a lot of reasons, but that's life. But I will say, if some of those people (particularly with insulin resistance) find that a low carb diet works better for them or they just prefer it, that's great. They should go for it - and I'm not really one to push a low carb diet on other people, although I do try and answer questions about them when I feel I can. But if the diet doesn't work for them, whether due to restrictiveness or how they feel on the diet, then they should stay far away from it and never look back. But ultimately people just need to focus on doing what works for them and care less about what works for other people.

For the most part I agree. A lot of people do not have medical issues that keep them from losing weight. That it's difficult to lose weight due to many different circumstances is true too. But, the problem is, it can be very difficult and time consuming to get Drs. To take your concerns seriously.
One of the reasons I made the remarks I made was because of this comment;
"There is one person and one person alone that is responsible for your health as an adult and that is you. Your health is your responsibility and if you become overweight or obese it is because you have neglected your health. You may have reasons for that neglect associated with job or family but that does not mean you did not neglect that one aspect of your life. You may have various medical conditions that make your metabolism different than that of the population (hyper- hypothyroidism, PCOS etc) but then it is your responsibility to recognize that, understand your maintenance level and adjust accordingly. Placing blame on something beyond your control is just acceptance that being unhealthy is somehow your destiny and that is NOT the kind of mindset that is going to improve your life.

Harsh reality time. If you are obese, if you are overweight, that is a self-infliicted condition regardless of what your life or medical situation may be. If there is a condition that forces you to gain weight to an unhealthy level regardless of what you do I have not heard of it.

There CAN be things outside of your control that make you scrawny, or skinny, or unhealthily thin...but there isn't such a thing for being overweight."

I'm not sure why being scrawny is any more beyond your control than being overweight, especially when there are medical conditions involved. It took me years to get my conditions diagnosed. Years of being treated like a hypochondriac and being in terrible pain. Do I have it under control now? Yep, through medical intervention, hard work, and sacrifice. So maybe I am a little defensive, but it has been rough. I am also outspoken about it because there are people out there going through what I went through and they don't know what's wrong with their bodies. I would like to save others from experiencing as much of the physical and emotional pain that I have suffered. Comments like, "If you are obese, if you are overweight, that is a self-infliicted condition regardless of what your life or medical situation may be.", really bother me because they dismiss a lot of what I have experienced. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

and when step A proves, on multiple data points and calculations, that my "maintenance" level is drastically below my expected calculated BMR, and that the deficits have to be so low as to be in the realm of dangerous (both mentally and physically), then my first priority has to be determining what medical factors are impeding proper weight loss.

As for your efficiency comment if you are saying your BMR is much LOWER than expected that means your body is actually EXTREMELY efficient, much more so than the average population. So I am not sure why you are saying operating at low efficiency.

what i mean is that at a 500-calorie deficit, the daily amount needed to lose one pound per week, i will only lose about .7lbs. it puts my BMR under 1,200 calories a day, which means to lose weight i have to drop down to less than 1,000 calories a day. it's unsustainable and borders on dangerous.

Then exercise more or lose weight at a slower rate, I guess I don't get it. Nothing says you have to lose weight based solely on your BMR nor do you have to lose weight at the rate of 1 pound per week. Nothing here makes CICO wrong or weight loss impossible so I guess what is the point here...that it is hard? Yeah of course it is hard.

Calculators tell me that I maintain at 3000 calories a day, but I don't...I maintain at more like 2500 calories a day. So what do I do about that? Well I adjust to what my body actually does and go off of that and I ignore the calculators. The calculators are based on population averages and assumptions. Just because the calculator says I could be eating 500 calories more when I found that I can't doesn't make me mope about it though nor does it make me think there is something wrong with me.

To be honest, I have had this disorder for a very long time and have never been obese. I have probably been at the high end of healthy to slightly overweight since puberty. During my high school years I was on the track team, exercising constantly and I could never lose weight. I barely ate. It wasn't that I wanted to be skinny, I just wanted to be thinner.
I went to the Dr. and no one could tell me what was wrong. It wasn't until fertility issues became a problem that I was diagnosed. This was mostly because we moved to a metropolitan area that had specialists who could diagnose and treat me. From what I've read, I am actually pretty lucky that I have managed to stay in a healthy bmi range as most people who have PCOS can't. There is a lot more information out there now though. In the 80's and 90's when I was suffering, information about diets and disorders were not as readily available.
I guess my point is that it's easy to point your finger at people and say it's their fault, but I think it can be rather discouraging, at least it was to me, when people tell you it's in your head or it's in your control. When your body doesn't work right it really isn't your fault. Especially, when no one has told you what you can do to fix it. I have finally been able to lose some of the 20 lbs that has been clinging to me with medical intervention and a low carb approach.
But, for people who are undiagnosed the frustration and pointlessness that is felt when you are exercising and barely eating and still the scale won't move, telling them it's their fault is just cruel and damaging.

Thank you, and congrats on your success despite your hurdle. I think the main issue IMO is the way people say things sometimes on here. It seems more of pointing a finger than trying to help. Also lumping everyone as " fatties" just making excuses. Some of us are determined DESPITE difficulties we may have to overcome. Telling people they are incapable of weighing measuring and logging accurately is insulting. Granted there are those that are not weighting and should be told to go here first BUT if this is not the issue being told you're a fat liar isn't constructive.

Exaggerating what people say to the point of insult isn't helpful either. I certainly never called anyone a "fat liar".

Some of these people simply don't understand basic (and not so basic) biology. When you have a metabolic disorder, your body isn't doing what it's supposed to, and the extent of its deviation from the norm can vary greatly. So, if someone with a metabolic disorder eats food, it isn't metabolized in the same way. They can get a lot less of the energy that one usually would -- you see this in insulin resistance for example. Rather than using the food for energy, they get to use only part of it and part of it gets stored as fat.

That's cool. I'm fine with low-carb if that works for people. Some people do better with fewer carbs. Personally, though, it's easier for ME to eat what I want and eat within a calorie goal than it is to cut out my favorite foods. (It's basically how I've maintained over the years as I've aged.) It needs to be sustainable and life-long for me, and that means plenty of pasta to keep me sane. I've never had weight problems and I've always eaten plenty of carbs. Do what works for YOU! :flowerforyou:

I agree we are all different and one diet definitely does not work for all. However, I do believe (and know for a fact) that not all calories are created equal. But if counting calories works for you then who cares what some NYT article says!

how can it be a fact if it is not a fact?

A calorie is just a unit of energy. Therefore they are all the same in that regards.

All diets work, If it puts you in a caloric deficit.
I don't care what you eat, i don't care if you count calories, It means nothing to me.

I just find it ridiculous when people tote falsities as facts, and promote the diet they are on as the best diet, or only diet.

I'm not promoting any kind of diet. All I'm saying is that not all calories are created equal. And yes that's a fact. You can't argue that 100 calories of cookies has the same effect to your body as 100 calories of celery would.

and when step A proves, on multiple data points and calculations, that my "maintenance" level is drastically below my expected calculated BMR, and that the deficits have to be so low as to be in the realm of dangerous (both mentally and physically), then my first priority has to be determining what medical factors are impeding proper weight loss.

As for your efficiency comment if you are saying your BMR is much LOWER than expected that means your body is actually EXTREMELY efficient, much more so than the average population. So I am not sure why you are saying operating at low efficiency.

what i mean is that at a 500-calorie deficit, the daily amount needed to lose one pound per week, i will only lose about .7lbs. it puts my BMR under 1,200 calories a day, which means to lose weight i have to drop down to less than 1,000 calories a day. it's unsustainable and borders on dangerous.

Then exercise more or lose weight at a slower rate, I guess I don't get it. Nothing says you have to lose weight based solely on your BMR nor do you have to lose weight at the rate of 1 pound per week. Nothing here makes CICO wrong or weight loss impossible so I guess what is the point here...that it is hard? Yeah of course it is hard.

Calculators tell me that I maintain at 3000 calories a day, but I don't...I maintain at more like 2500 calories a day. So what do I do about that? Well I adjust to what my body actually does and go off of that and I ignore the calculators. The calculators are based on population averages and assumptions. Just because the calculator says I could be eating 500 calories more when I found that I can't doesn't make me mope about it though nor does it make me think there is something wrong with me.

To be honest, I have had this disorder for a very long time and have never been obese. I have probably been at the high end of healthy to slightly overweight since puberty. During my high school years I was on the track team, exercising constantly and I could never lose weight. I barely ate. It wasn't that I wanted to be skinny, I just wanted to be thinner.
I went to the Dr. and no one could tell me what was wrong. It wasn't until fertility issues became a problem that I was diagnosed. This was mostly because we moved to a metropolitan area that had specialists who could diagnose and treat me. From what I've read, I am actually pretty lucky that I have managed to stay in a healthy bmi range as most people who have PCOS can't. There is a lot more information out there now though. In the 80's and 90's when I was suffering, information about diets and disorders were not as readily available.
I guess my point is that it's easy to point your finger at people and say it's their fault, but I think it can be rather discouraging, at least it was to me, when people tell you it's in your head or it's in your control. When your body doesn't work right it really isn't your fault. Especially, when no one has told you what you can do to fix it. I have finally been able to lose some of the 20 lbs that has been clinging to me with medical intervention and a low carb approach.
But, for people who are undiagnosed the frustration and pointlessness that is felt when you are exercising and barely eating and still the scale won't move, telling them it's their fault is just cruel and damaging.

Thank you, and congrats on your success despite your hurdle. I think the main issue IMO is the way people say things sometimes on here. It seems more of pointing a finger than trying to help. Also lumping everyone as " fatties" just making excuses. Some of us are determined DESPITE difficulties we may have to overcome. Telling people they are incapable of weighing measuring and logging accurately is insulting. Granted there are those that are not weighting and should be told to go here first BUT if this is not the issue being told you're a fat liar isn't constructive.

Exaggerating what people say to the point of insult isn't helpful either. I certainly never called anyone a "fat liar".

I think she was more describing her own experiences with doctors and others on the boards than you in particular Aaron_K123. Though I definitely have seen people say that very same thing to others on these boards.

Please provide examples of these instances where the person saying "you're a fat liar" was not outright trolling. I have been here 3 years and never once have seen a poster respond to a query in such a way.

I've definitely seen such disrespectful comments and not more than a handful of times. The other poster has had similar experiences. Are you calling us liars?

That's cool. I'm fine with low-carb if that works for people. Some people do better with fewer carbs. Personally, though, it's easier for ME to eat what I want and eat within a calorie goal than it is to cut out my favorite foods. (It's basically how I've maintained over the years as I've aged.) It needs to be sustainable and life-long for me, and that means plenty of pasta to keep me sane. I've never had weight problems and I've always eaten plenty of carbs. Do what works for YOU! :flowerforyou:

I agree we are all different and one diet definitely does not work for all. However, I do believe (and know for a fact) that not all calories are created equal. But if counting calories works for you then who cares what some NYT article says!

how can it be a fact if it is not a fact?

A calorie is just a unit of energy. Therefore they are all the same in that regards.

All diets work, If it puts you in a caloric deficit.
I don't care what you eat, i don't care if you count calories, It means nothing to me.

I just find it ridiculous when people tote falsities as facts, and promote the diet they are on as the best diet, or only diet.

I'm not promoting any kind of diet. All I'm saying is that not all calories are created equal. And yes that's a fact. You can't argue that 100 calories of cookies has the same effect to your body as 100 calories of celery would.

A calorie is a calorie. If you're talking about micronutrients, vitamins and minerals that's something different. But a calorie still equals a calorie.