Calories in vs calories out

Well ... I totally do not get dieting ! Did Atkins gained 2lb , pigged out nite and lost a pound !?????? Atkins says calories in vs calories out is a myth . Anyone disagree ?

Yes Science does. Dr Atkins and it's advocates grasp of science was/is shaky at best.

A LOT of diet books; too many frankly. Most follow a fairly standard organization (the first chapter always explaining that YOUR FAT IS NOT YOUR FAULT) and, with very very few exceptions, most will tell you that ‘calorie restricted diets don’t work for weight loss’ and that whatever magic they are selling is the key to quick, easy (and of course permanent) weight loss.

Whether it’s insulin, dietary fat, the protein:carbohydrate or insulin:glucagon ratio, partitioning or whatever other BS, they will make it sound like caloric intake is not the key aspect in whether or not someone gains weight.

In almost all cases, the idea that food intake must be restricted in any fashion is dismissed; if it is mentioned it is generally as a short aside late in the book that nobody pays any attention to.

This is purely a psychological ploy; it sucks to have to consciously restrict food intake and this causes mental stress. Simply knowing that you can’t eat what you want when you want it blows; I hate it as much as the next person. Many people will feel hungrier simply because they know that they can’t eat what they want when they want it.

Yet the fundamental fact is that the body will NOT have any need to tap into stored body fat unless the individual is burning more calories than they are taking in. Of course this means that either energy expenditure has to go up, caloric intake has to go down, or both have to occur.

So how can these books make this claim? It’s simple: they all hide basic caloric restriction in whatever they happen to be proposing. Basically, this is Lyle’s Rule #1 of Diet books:

All diet books tell you that you won’t have to restrict calories, and then trick you into doing it anyway.

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

Well ... I totally do not get dieting ! Did Atkins gained 2lb , pigged out nite and lost a pound !?????? Atkins says calories in vs calories out is a myth . Anyone disagree ?

Yes Science does. Dr Atkins and it's advocates grasp of science was/is shaky at best.

+1^

I saw an article on BBC news today on this point. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29031985

The article describes a study which found that all diets (including Atkins) gave similar weight loss results long term if adhered to.

I quote 'Obesity experts said all diets cut calories to a similar level, which may explain the results.'

All diet books tell you that you won’t have to restrict calories, and then trick you into doing it anyway.

These forums have ruined diet books for me. I used to love to read them for some reason, whether I intended to do the diet or not. I picked up one from the library the other day and just flipped through it with a few "bah, humbugs" before returning it. I'll never be the same now. :sad:

I quote 'Obesity experts said all diets cut calories to a similar level, which may explain the results.'

Yep... Just pick the plan you enjoy and can stick with. Also, don't get caught up in all the dogma and be flexible and willing to change what you are doing if and when you plateau.

I like this. I was eating mainly low carb until about a month ago and my needs are changing and I've added carbs but stayed at a deficit. I also think you have to be willing to change.

Also, hate to admit this, but I don't know if Atkins is a life long lifestyle. I did and can feel my food needs changing.
(that probably makes no sense...I've no idea how to descibe it)

Seeing as how you are 2 pounds to your goal weight according to your ticker, you need to have a diet that is how you want to eat for the rest of your life.

It may be .5 pound a week for you, but unless if you're planning on continuing with Atkins (which truly is about creating a deficit, and that deficit is created by not feeling as hungry by eating mainly fats and moderate protein). You wouldn't even be starting in the "induction" phase for Atkins.