Pasta, Not Bacon, Makes You Fat. But How?

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Replies

  • Eleisabelle
    Eleisabelle Posts: 365
    I've increased my protein lately because I'm on a strength training program, but I'm not cutting carbs. Carbohydrates are how you get your energy, so why on earth would I want to cut them?

    On the other hand, the type of carb you eat can make a difference in how you burn your energy--complex carbs (in whole grains and starches) are better than simple carbs (in sugar and processed grains) because they burn more steadily over a longer period of time, rather than a quick hot burn that leaves you feeling tired.

    Carbs, protein, and fat are all important to your diet. Why hedge on any of them? Just cut your calories.
  • Krizzle4Rizzle
    Krizzle4Rizzle Posts: 2,704 Member
    I think it's funny how no matter how much proof there is that carbs, especially refined ones (although all of them to a degree), not fat, cause obesity, people will still shake their heads and stomp around like a three year old who has been told they can't have a lollipop.

    The research results are clear. No one is saying you can't lose weight simply by watching calories, but it is easier to while watching carbs and keeping your blood sugar levels as stable as possible. I think a key here, though, is that people with insulin resistance fare better on low carb diets no matter what. Insulin plays a huge role in fat storage and hunger. Ups and down are not optimal. Pure fat has a glycemic index of zero, meaning that it provokes absolutely no change in blood sugar levels and does not provoke insulin secretion. No changes in blood sugar (or very menial ones) mean controlled hunger and a nearly constant state in which your body is burning both body fat and dietary fat for energy instead of carbs.

    It does work. It is not bunk. I eat more saturated fat (from natural sources) than I have in my entire life and my blood pressure is 100/60 on average (down from 145/90 ish), blood sugar is ideal and choleterol levels optimal. It works. It works, it works, it works.

    I think, however, there are people who have adapted to higher-carb eating. While I still think low-carb eating is optimal, I think some people can get away with just calorie watching. These are usually people with no insulin resistance. To them I say I'm jealous, because I do miss cake. :)

    I'm sorry lady. I just love my pasta. That's why I eat this :

    Dreamfields+Penne.gif
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    I think it's funny how no matter how much proof there is that carbs, especially refined ones (although all of them to a degree), not fat, cause obesity, people will still shake their heads and stomp around like a three year old who has been told they can't have a lollipop.

    Please present this "proof" you claim exists.


    While you're at it, you may want to look up the term Denovo lipogenesis.
  • beckipercy
    beckipercy Posts: 160 Member
    I would literally die if I couldn't eat carbs. I'd rather eat nothing but carbs rather than everything except carbs. Mmmmm, bread, pasta, rice and potatos, get in my belly!
  • FairuzyAmanuzy
    FairuzyAmanuzy Posts: 221 Member
    You may enjoy the book Wheat Belly. It is all about... wheat! Basically wheat causes your blood sugar to spike more than any other food, including straight up table sugar. Due to the spike in blood sugar, and its eventual fall 60-120 minutes later, it makes your body go through an artificial cycle of hunger and satiety. This process is shown to increase visceral fat. It's a very good read, and I suggest it to everyone.

    ^^^^ this! I am on the primal diet which means I'm eating meat, veggies, fruits and nuts only. No legumes, wheat or sugar. However I still eat between 50-150 grams of carbs a day from fruits and veggies. Wheat and sugar spike your insulin which makes you store fat. Meat, and most veggies and fruits don't make your insulin spike making it much easier to burn fat.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    You may enjoy the book Wheat Belly. It is all about... wheat! Basically wheat causes your blood sugar to spike more than any other food, including straight up table sugar. Due to the spike in blood sugar, and its eventual fall 60-120 minutes later, it makes your body go through an artificial cycle of hunger and satiety. This process is shown to increase visceral fat. It's a very good read, and I suggest it to everyone.

    ^^^^ this! I am on the primal diet which means I'm eating meat, veggies, fruits and nuts only. No legumes, wheat or sugar. However I still eat between 50-150 grams of carbs a day from fruits and veggies. Wheat and sugar spike your insulin which makes you store fat. Meat, and most veggies and fruits don't make your insulin spike making it much easier to burn fat.

    Meat, veggies and fruits don't spike your insulin?

    Scroll down to Table 4

    Holt SHA, et al. An insulin index of foods: the insulin demand generated by 1000-kJ portions of common foods. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nov, 1997; 66: 5: 1264-1276.

    http://www.ajcn.org/content/66/5/1264.full.pdf+html
  • ShellyMacchi
    ShellyMacchi Posts: 975 Member
    Large portions make you fat. Massive calorie intake makes you fat. Broccoli can make you just as fat as bacon depending on your portions. The food doesn't matter, it's the portion size. Mind you, different foods carry more or less nutritional value for you (you'd lose weight eating 1200 cal/day of twinkies just like you would if you were eating 1200 cal/day of veggies), but when it comes down to weight, it's all about calories.

    *S*
    well said
  • LATeagno
    LATeagno Posts: 620 Member
    I'm sorry lady. I just love my pasta. That's why I eat this :

    Dreamfields+Penne.gif
    [/quote]

    LOL. I used to eat Dreamfields, but after following Jimmy Moore and seeing his blood sugar results after eating it (no good), I decided to try it out on me. Dreamfields, for me, raised my BG just two points shy of regular pasta. :(

    I do eat Atkins pasta, though. It's higher in carbs (19 net per serving with 14 grams of fiber), but I do eat it when I need a fix. :)
  • Queenb62303
    Queenb62303 Posts: 77
    im italian..cutting out carbs/pasta would be blasphemy! i have cut back and been using portion control..i still eat pasta at least twice a week, and have seen good results :) good luck to everyone!
  • ShellyMacchi
    ShellyMacchi Posts: 975 Member
    I used to get all worked up with these sorts of theories. Ultimately, I think I do better studying my own behavior--some foods make me want to keep eating so that is critical information for ME. For instance: white pasta tastes better to me than whole wheat pasta, plus it's less filling. So, yes, I can eat a ton of white pasta.

    My strategy now is serving myself a tiny portion of whole wheat pasta (about 1/2 cup), and loading it up with lots of roasted/grilled vegetables, marinara sauce and some vegetarian 'sausage' or 'meatballs'.

    Mmmmmm! Tastes good, but doesn't set me up for crazy cravings later. We all have to find the things that work for ourselves.

    this is SO me too!
  • MattGetsMad
    MattGetsMad Posts: 429 Member
    It does work. It is not bunk. I eat more saturated fat (from natural sources) than I have in my entire life and my blood pressure is 100/60 on average (down from 145/90 ish), blood sugar is ideal and choleterol levels optimal. It works. It works, it works, it works.

    My total cholesterol is 145. What's up now??? :tongue: Just kidding! :wink: (not about the total cholesterol, that's really 145!) Hey if you like the low carb thing and it works for you, then congrats! Telling everybody else they are wrong is pretty much always going to result in getting shredded alive on the BB's.

    I wish you continued success in achieving your goals!:smile:
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Japanese people have eaten rice heavy diets for centuries. They are freaking HUGE. Italians, pasta eaters, are totally obese too.
  • gsager
    gsager Posts: 977 Member
    Nope, its all about calories.
  • ckmama
    ckmama Posts: 1,668 Member
    While it is true that an overabundance of calories is ultimately what makes you fat, it is also true that the type and quality of calories matter. Not all calories are created equal. The body does not respond the same way to carbs as it does to fats, when it comes to insulin production (which leads to fat retention).

    Some people are more insulin resistant than others, and can eat more carbs without deleterious effects. For me personally, I've found that I need to limit my carbs in order to stay at my current fitness level. You have to figure out what works for YOU.

    This^^

    And I'll take her ab's as plenty of proof and research. AWESOME:smile:
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    Large portions make you fat. Massive calorie intake makes you fat. Broccoli can make you just as fat as bacon depending on your portions. The food doesn't matter, it's the portion size. Mind you, different foods carry more or less nutritional value for you (you'd lose weight eating 1200 cal/day of twinkies just like you would if you were eating 1200 cal/day of veggies), but when it comes down to weight, it's all about calories.

    1200 calories of broccoli? clear the room and light a candle!
  • LATeagno
    LATeagno Posts: 620 Member
    You don't have to believe. I'll just reap the benefits and continue to astound doctors with excellent cholesterol/trig/ blood glucose readings and nice, low blood pressure readings as they say, "You're eating mainly meat and leafy greens? Meat with SKIN ON? MARBLED grass-fed steak?! You're a freak of nature!" And I'll just laugh.
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    I eat both and I'm not fat...if fact I'm losing.

    Pass the Pasta
  • smashatoms
    smashatoms Posts: 144 Member

    Meat, veggies and fruits don't spike your insulin?

    Hmmm, I don't believe I said that.
  • LATeagno
    LATeagno Posts: 620 Member
    While it is true that an overabundance of calories is ultimately what makes you fat, it is also true that the type and quality of calories matter. Not all calories are created equal. The body does not respond the same way to carbs as it does to fats, when it comes to insulin production (which leads to fat retention).

    Some people are more insulin resistant than others, and can eat more carbs without deleterious effects. For me personally, I've found that I need to limit my carbs in order to stay at my current fitness level. You have to figure out what works for YOU.

    This^^

    And I'll take her ab's as plenty of proof and research. AWESOME:smile:


    I think her point is key. Some people are more insulin resistant than others. Period. The more IR you are, the better off you fare on a reduced-carb diet. That's pretty much been the concensus of everything I've read, too.
  • garyjwood
    garyjwood Posts: 5
    It's a pretty infographic, though, isn't it?
  • MelissaGraham7
    MelissaGraham7 Posts: 406 Member
    absolutely agree with menglema! I've been following the low gycemic index load diet - which just cuts out refined sugars and flours, eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and complex carbs and it has given me a lot more energy.
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    Protein has similar affect on insulin as carbs. Should we cut Protein for fear of those scary scary insulin spikes?
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    You don't have to believe. I'll just reap the benefits and continue to astound doctors with excellent cholesterol/trig/ blood glucose readings and nice, low blood pressure readings as they say, "You're eating mainly meat and leafy greens? Meat with SKIN ON? MARBLED grass-fed steak?! You're a freak of nature!" And I'll just laugh.

    and are you going to substantiate this claim at all?

    "I think it's funny how no matter how much proof there is that carbs, especially refined ones (although all of them to a degree), not fat, cause obesity, people will still shake their heads and stomp around like a three year old who has been told they can't have a lollipop.
    "
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Protein has similar affect on insulin as carbs. Should we cut Protein for fear of those scary scary insulin spikes?

    Now you're being silly, Gary Taubes wrote that only carbs drive insulin production
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Pasta, not bacon, makes me fat? If I were fat that would make perfect sense to me, since I eat pasta and I don't eat bacon. But since I'm not fat, I still think it's overeating that makes people fat.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    So I can eat all the bacon I want without getting fat? Sounds good.
  • CaptainMFP
    CaptainMFP Posts: 440 Member
    Last I checked (and I teach this) insulin is NOT a fat storage hormone. Yes, it targets adipose tissue and can lead to fat storage...but it also targets skeletal muscle. Whether or not insulin leads to fat storage depends heavily on physical activity level, body fat percentage and a host of other factors.

    Seriously...if you only think of insulin as an evil "fat storage hormone" you need to have a long chat with a type I diabetic or their parent to find out what happens without insulin.

    Articles like this are extremely misguided and tap into bad science to make a case. Sure, low carb diets can work, especially if you are diagnosed as insulin insensitive/pre-diabetic/diabetic. But in terms of weight loss the main way they work is through caloric reduction.

    What boggles my mind is this: most of the evil high carb foods targeted by most people -- breads, pastas, french fries,m pizza -- are high in both carbs AND fats...as these are our two primary energy sources (protein is used for building cellular structure as well as a secondary energy source), it is unsurprising that over-consumption of such foods would lead to weight gain.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    If abs are a measure of correct-ness..... I vote for Acg. He eats Ben & Jerry's every day.

    One person's sucess or failure does NOT equal a scientific study.
  • LATeagno
    LATeagno Posts: 620 Member
    Protein has similar affect on insulin as carbs. Should we cut Protein for fear of those scary scary insulin spikes?

    Atkins, most notably, was a stickler for appropriate protein consumption. From my own findings (on myself,anyway, I test my blood sugar regularly), protein only raises BG in excess. Macronutrients, in terms of energy, are sourced by how easily they are broken down. Carbs are the first "stop" for energy production, followed by protein and then fat. Excess protein consumption can actually derail a low carbohydrate diet because it supposedly can prevent lipolysis (I'm certainly not an expert in this subject, but in my own experience and through readings, this is what i understand).

    Atkins noted that fat should be the most prevalent macro, at least during his induction (first) phase. He himself stated that protein can inhibit loss when consumed in excess.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    I disagree. I believe firmly that it's just excess calories that make you fat, not a particular macro. Do you seriously think all the people out there that are slim and have never had any problems with their weight, cut out or drastically limit one particular food group? I'd rather place a bet that they all just don't eat to excess. This is why I don't believe in particular diets, they're completely unnecessary for the majority of the population.

    I've always loved carbs, especially pasta!! I used to eat tons of the stuff, but then I used to eat a lot of everything! (hence why I put on weight) I still eat carbs (200g+ a day) and I always have. I've lost weight perfectly fine like this too. I have pasta every single day (and rice most days too) I don't eat much bread but I've never been a huge fan of that, pasta's nicer IMO and doesn't have all the sodium. I don't mind homemade bread though (which is even more carbs surprisingly)
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