Why we get fat and what to do about it

Anyone that says cutting calories and exercising won't help you lose weight is an idiot, a liar, or just plain crazy. There are millions, maybe billions, of people who have lost weight by cutting calories and exercising. I am one of them.

But, hey, whatever sells a book and pads the bank account.

And there's billions, maybe trillions, of people who have gained weight despite cutting calories and exercising. I am one of them. So are many, many other people who starve themselves and exercise for hours, and then are accused of being gluttons and lazy, because they don't lose weight. Read the comments on MFP.

I guess Dean Ornish also knows all about selling books and making money.

Yes, everything did get weighed and measured and still does to this day.

The doctor put me on 1,000 calorie low fat, low calorie plan and I proceeded to gain 140 pounds in a few months time frame. It was scary how the low fat, high carb plan made me balloon up like that.

Yes, everything did get weighed and measured and still does to this day.

The doctor put me on 1,000 calorie low fat, low calorie plan and I proceeded to gain 140 pounds in a few months time frame. It was scary how the low fat, high carb plan made me balloon up like that.

Not to pry, but something tells me there are more variables in this story than you're letting on.

At 125lbs, was there a special reason your doctor put you on a low calorie / low fat diet? Was there a medical issue t here?

I read Why We Get Fat and then went and bought Good Calories Bad Calories. The latter is more technical with argument and evidence directed at healthcare providers and researchers. Both present arguments (1) not enough science was in place before Dietary guidelines were established back in the '60s--the government barrelled ahead based on insufficient data and we have what we have today because of confirmation bias in nutrition research that continues (this was my impression), and (2) there is plenty of research in place that is ignored that indicates low fat, high carb is not the way to go, yet the government persists in its endorsing and enforcing same through dietary guidelines, school lunches and the like. For reasons one can only speculate upon; one of which could be no one wants to say, "we were wrong".

It's long been understood that weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise--the purpose of which is fitness. Movement is important to health and well being, over and above any calorie burning. He presents an interesting argument regarding human physiology, calories and food choices. If people still believe calories in = calories out (this makes me crazy when I hear this and was delighted when Taubes agreed), they need to learn what the law of thermodynamics is rather than parroting catchy phrases. This blogger explains it way better than I could http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/10/first-law-of-thermodynamics-in-real.html

Why are we all here? Because the number one, seriously ... the number one reason why any weight loss progam is successful is support of peers. Proven time and again successful, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, et al all have counsellors and support as part of their process. Pick any diet and if you have buddies, family, and friends helping you make exercise goals, stay committed to food choices and feeling good about your progress, plateaus and set backs ... I guarantee that diet would be successful. That's why we're here ... for each other.

Meh, low carb worked for me... and then I remembered that I really like bread, and fruit, and all sorts of other tasty things. Low calorie and exercise works fine for me too. I also lost weight right before my husband came home from Iraq by eating oatmeal for all three meals with no snacks. lol the point of this is that I think loads of different things work. Each body is gonna respond differently to different things, also each person is going to respond differently too. I don't want to only eat oatmeal, and I do want to eat bread, so calories and exercise it is.

Meh, low carb worked for me... and then I remembered that I really like bread, and fruit, and all sorts of other tasty things. Low calorie and exercise works fine for me too. I also lost weight right before my husband came home from Iraq by eating oatmeal for all three meals with no snacks. lol the point of this is that I think loads of different things work. Each body is gonna respond differently to different things, also each person is going to respond differently too. I don't want to only eat oatmeal, and I do want to eat bread, so calories and exercise it is.

I think this is a great perspective to have. Think of the different theories out there as OPTIONS. If one thing doesnt work, you can try others. Don't struggle to figure out which is the most right, or scientifically accurate. It's not about winning an argument on the internet. It's about your body and your health. Try to find what works best for YOU.

Anyone that says cutting calories and exercising won't help you lose weight is an idiot, a liar, or just plain crazy. There are millions, maybe billions, of people who have lost weight by cutting calories and exercising. I am one of them.

But, hey, whatever sells a book and pads the bank account.

I doubt he says that in his book. I'm going to buy it and read it and search hard for where he says that. The OP said it seems like thats what he is saying. But from reading his other material i cant seem to remember anytime that he said someone who cuts calories and exersizes will NOT lose weight. I agree that someone that says cutting calories and exercising won't help you lose weight is MAY be an idiot, a liar, or just plain crazy. Have you read the book? just curious

I read Why We Get Fat and then went and bought Good Calories Bad Calories. The latter is more technical with argument and evidence directed at healthcare providers and researchers. Both present arguments (1) not enough science was in place before Dietary guidelines were established back in the '60s--the government barrelled ahead based on insufficient data and we have what we have today because of confirmation bias in nutrition research that continues (this was my impression), and (2) there is plenty of research in place that is ignored that indicates low fat, high carb is not the way to go, yet the government persists in its endorsing and enforcing same through dietary guidelines, school lunches and the like. For reasons one can only speculate upon; one of which could be no one wants to say, "we were wrong".

It's long been understood that weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise--the purpose of which is fitness. Movement is important to health and well being, over and above any calorie burning. He presents an interesting argument regarding human physiology, calories and food choices. If people still believe calories in = calories out (this makes me crazy when I hear this and was delighted when Taubes agreed), they need to learn what the law of thermodynamics is rather than parroting catchy phrases. This blogger explains it way better than I could http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/10/first-law-of-thermodynamics-in-real.html

Why are we all here? Because the number one, seriously ... the number one reason why any weight loss progam is successful is support of peers. Proven time and again successful, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, et al all have counsellors and support as part of their process. Pick any diet and if you have buddies, family, and friends helping you make exercise goals, stay committed to food choices and feeling good about your progress, plateaus and set backs ... I guarantee that diet would be successful. That's why we're here ... for each other.

I respectfully disagree with your theory that the number one reason is any weight loss program is successful is support of peers. I lost ALL of my weight by myself, my own program and surrounded by family that wasn't dieting and did not care to forgo their favorite foods to support me.