Calories are calories, but ...
Replies
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I lost a lot of weight one summer when I was a teen, I was left to my own devices as far as meals etc went and I cooked and ate a batch of chocolate fudge every day. Just the traditional sugar/cocoa/milk/a little butter type. 1800 calories a day or thereabouts.
I don't know why I started it it wasn't intentional, I just love sweets and so I'd make it, but wouldn't be hungry for anything else once I got done so... ate nothing else. I didn't intend to lose weight, and never expected or even thought about it, but it did happen.
Not something I'd recommend LOL but when I think of it I see, at least as far as I am concerned, it is calories in - calories out.0 -
I am guessing that no one posting on here is a type 1 diabetic or lives with someone who is.
To the original poster - 100 calories of pure sugar a day is not going to ruin your lifestyle plan of eating, for you and others, if you don't have your 'treat' you may very well binge one day and that would not be great.
Yes - a calorie / carb is just that. It is how YOUR BODY AND INSULIN handles it. Your insulin cannot handle pure sugar and fat the same as natural sugars and fats.
It is your choice - and yes everyone seems to have an opinion but from the posts I have been reading, not too many have true pure facts as to how YOUR body works, let alone how someone else's works. Do some googling and reading about calories, carbs (I am talking all carbs, there is carbs in everything except fat and protein) and fats. You need to educate yourself. I am always reading and learning how to better take care of my type 1 diabetic daughter who has had diabetes since she was six, (15 years) she is 5'2' 120 lbs and it takes alot of learning to make sure she doesn't get 'fat' from her insulin not working.
This is not just about insulin, but metabolism and true fitness and health. You can be in a good weight range and very very unhealthy. Educate yourself!0 -
I lost a lot of weight one summer when I was a teen, I was left to my own devices as far as meals etc went and I cooked and ate a batch of chocolate fudge every day. Just the traditional sugar/cocoa/milk/a little butter type. 1800 calories a day or thereabouts.
I don't know why I started it it wasn't intentional, I just love sweets and so I'd make it, but wouldn't be hungry for anything else once I got done so... ate nothing else. I didn't intend to lose weight, and never expected or even thought about it, but it did happen.
Not something I'd recommend LOL but when I think of it I see, at least as far as I am concerned, it is calories in - calories out.
What a great story!0 -
No, not all calories are created equal. Your body burns some foods more quickly than it burns others (of equal calories). I'm not a personal trainer or kickboxing instructor and I haven't even been alive for 28+ but I do know that much.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Exactly, calories are not created equally. Your body treats empty calories differently than nutritional calories. Empty calories (particularly those from yeasts or alcohol) will put your bodies use of other calories on hold. Alcohol calories from beer, act in the body on the order of 4 times as many calories as what they consume.
Calories from healthy fats also aid the body in knowing not to store energy as fat.
It is true that burning more calories than you eat will result in weight loss. There are foods such as Grapefruit that breaks down fats, and aids in this process. There are also sugars such as sugar cane that are not nutritional.0 -
How many times must we reiterate the idiotic point that 1 calorie of junk food is equivalent to 1 calorie of healthy food.
People who eat primarily junk food are not going to have an easy time maintaining good health regardless of this fact.0 -
I've read here a lot about calories and carbs. My question is along the same lines, but slightly different. I tend to get a lot more protein that my suggested amounts. What effect does that have on my diet, if any? I'm staying under my fats, carbs, and occasionally sodium, but I generally blow out my protein some days. I'm still pretty new in my diet, but down 17 lbs so far. Whatever I'm doing is working, but like others here, I'm concerned about when the plateau comes. Thanks!0
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I had been the carb queen for most of my life. Pre-married life I ate fruit, yogurt, vegetables and pasta, interspersed with the occasional beer. I was a consistent 115 - 120 then. Got married and started eating like my husband, i.e. meat and potatoes, with some more meat on the side. Now I'm going back to my old fruit, vegetable, whole grain ways with very little meat and my scale is finally budging. Carbs (complex carbs) are not the enemy. Calories are.0
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Exactly, calories are not created equally. Your body treats empty calories differently than nutritional calories. Empty calories (particularly those from yeasts or alcohol) will put your bodies use of other calories on hold. Alcohol calories from beer, act in the body on the order of 4 times as many calories as what they consume.
Umm, what? Alcohol is 7 calories per gram. It takes priority over the other macros, but as long as you stay within your caloric limits, it has no other effect from a caloric standpoint.0 -
I've read here a lot about calories and carbs. My question is along the same lines, but slightly different. I tend to get a lot more protein that my suggested amounts. What effect does that have on my diet, if any? I'm staying under my fats, carbs, and occasionally sodium, but I generally blow out my protein some days. I'm still pretty new in my diet, but down 17 lbs so far. Whatever I'm doing is working, but like others here, I'm concerned about when the plateau comes. Thanks!
High protein can dehydrate you, and can terrorize your kidneys IF you have a pre-existing kidney condition. So, as long as your kidneys are healthy, and you make sure you're hydrated, there's no problem with eating protein. Don't skimp on fats, though, those are pretty important, as well.0 -
I've read here a lot about calories and carbs. My question is along the same lines, but slightly different. I tend to get a lot more protein that my suggested amounts. What effect does that have on my diet, if any? I'm staying under my fats, carbs, and occasionally sodium, but I generally blow out my protein some days. I'm still pretty new in my diet, but down 17 lbs so far. Whatever I'm doing is working, but like others here, I'm concerned about when the plateau comes. Thanks!0
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In my opinion...little treats a day is good! As long as it's not over the top, like a whole pack of biscuits!
For me, if I dont have that little treat a day, I end up binge eating at the end of the week..etc0 -
If you're worried about it, then try changing it. Basically what most people said is very true--calories are calories. However, it sounds to me like you are questioning whether or not you might get better results by eating more healthily as well as watching your caloric intake, so why not give it a try?
As someone else stated, no one food or food group is the enemy. I go over my recommended amount of carbohydrates and sugar almost every day because I eat so many fruits and veggies. I also, however, go over in protein even though I'm a vegetarian. I've had successful weight loss nonetheless.
If you're concerned about those little snacks you enjoy every day, try weening yourself off them. If you are miserable without them, by all means allow yourself those treats!
My motto is "Enjoy treats, but not cheats." Treats are foods you both enjoy and can afford because you have calculated them into your day (or week, as I tend to save them up for once or twice a week). However, cheats are things that make you go over your caloric goal when you did not intend to do so that day. When you go to a birthday party, you know you want to celebrate and have cake, and thus, you calculate that "treat" into your day/week so that you can have it and enjoy it. However, when you show up to work on a Tuesday to find that someone put leftover cake in the break room and you take a slice on a whim despite the fact that you have already met your caloric goal... that's a cheat. Generally, if you feel guilty about it--it's a cheat, not a treat, because you're only cheating yourself.
In the end, you have to decide what you want out of your weight loss journey... is it the ability to eat delicious foods every day and not gain weight or is to be strict about every morsel you put in your mouth and only eat highly nutritious foods? For me, it's somewhere in the middle.
very true i feel the same way. i'm walking alot now those day0 -
i also have sugar cravings, if i dont budget them in my calories i will end up bingeing. everything in moderation.0
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I have never said to avoid food that you love completely...I just do not agree about focusing too much on calories...I could eat two candy bars a day and lose weight, but my health would suffer at the end. What should be focused on is how nutritious and healthy a food is, not how much calories it provides.0
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Yup calories are calories...the only reasons for being more careful about what your food is made of nutritionally are to make sure you get a nice, varied diet and not an abundance or lack of anything, and also because sugary foods, sweets, treats, fast food etc can take up a lot of your calories but do not tend to satisfy hunger as much so you can be left feeling hungrier and feel the need to binge anyway.0
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I have never said to avoid food that you love completely...I just do not agree about focusing too much on calories...I could eat two candy bars a day and lose weight, but my health would suffer at the end. What should be focused on is how nutritious and healthy a food is, not how much calories it provides.
I totally agree!0 -
Exactly, calories are not created equally. Your body treats empty calories differently than nutritional calories. Empty calories (particularly those from yeasts or alcohol) will put your bodies use of other calories on hold. Alcohol calories from beer, act in the body on the order of 4 times as many calories as what they consume.
Calories from healthy fats also aid the body in knowing not to store energy as fat.
It is true that burning more calories than you eat will result in weight loss. There are foods such as Grapefruit that breaks down fats, and aids in this process. There are also sugars such as sugar cane that are not nutritional.
And as mentioned, alcohol can't be stored by the body so it does get used first for energy, however I don't think people here are drinking alcohol as meal replacements.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
however I don't think people here are drinking alcohol as meal replacements.
dude, you don't know what you're misscng. :drinker: *hiccup* :sick:0 -
Sure, broccoli has much more of a health benefit, but you'll find out soon that if you try to avoid foods that you love completely, you'll be miserable and you won't be able to control yourself around them. T
this isn't true 100% of the time. i have eliminated a TON of foods from my diet and i have not been miserable and i have been able to control myself just fine around said foods.
Same here. I try to avoid sugar as much as possible...I use real maple syrup or dried fruit to make things a little sweeter, and I find that the less sugar I eat the less I crave sweet things.0 -
Not all calories are created equals...100 calories of broccoli is not the same as 100 calories of sugar. Different types of food send different messages to our body. Sugar should be avoided as much as possible. Maybe you should try to eat your sugary treats only once a week or so, so pretty soon you will not feel the need to eat sugar anymore.
This is broscience at it's finest. 100 calories of broccoli is exactly the same as 100 calories of sugar. Both are 100 calories. Sure, broccoli has much more of a health benefit, but you'll find out soon that if you try to avoid foods that you love completely, you'll be miserable and you won't be able to control yourself around them. There is no food that is innately horrible, but there are some that have more nutrients than others.
I found that by completely avoiding those foods that I used to love and replacing them with healthier options that I also happen to enjoy, I feel freaking fantastic and am somewhat repulsed by the foods that I used to enjoy.0 -
Not all calories are created equals...100 calories of broccoli is not the same as 100 calories of sugar. Different types of food send different messages to our body. Sugar should be avoided as much as possible. Maybe you should try to eat your sugary treats only once a week or so, so pretty soon you will not feel the need to eat sugar anymore.
This is broscience at it's finest. 100 calories of broccoli is exactly the same as 100 calories of sugar. Both are 100 calories. Sure, broccoli has much more of a health benefit, but you'll find out soon that if you try to avoid foods that you love completely, you'll be miserable and you won't be able to control yourself around them. There is no food that is innately horrible, but there are some that have more nutrients than others.
I found that by completely avoiding those foods that I used to love and replacing them with healthier options that I also happen to enjoy, I feel freaking fantastic and am somewhat repulsed by the foods that I used to enjoy.
Yes there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that removing addicting foods is better than keeping them around. Same goes for smoking, alcoholism, and every drug addiction out there.0 -
Exactly, calories are not created equally. Your body treats empty calories differently than nutritional calories. Empty calories (particularly those from yeasts or alcohol) will put your bodies use of other calories on hold. Alcohol calories from beer, act in the body on the order of 4 times as many calories as what they consume.
Calories from healthy fats also aid the body in knowing not to store energy as fat.
It is true that burning more calories than you eat will result in weight loss. There are foods such as Grapefruit that breaks down fats, and aids in this process. There are also sugars such as sugar cane that are not nutritional.
And as mentioned, alcohol can't be stored by the body so it does get used first for energy, however I don't think people here are drinking alcohol as meal replacements.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
You are right, according to science, the body cannot tell the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates. According to my experience, however, when I eat refined sugar, I gain weight (and feel like crap). When I eat fruit, I lose weight (and feel amazing).
So go ahead and read all the medical journals you want. Find all the studies that have proven you can live off of twinkies or french fries or whatever ridiculous food some mad scientist wanted to torture his body with. I will probably agree with all your findings, but it's not going to make me want to change my diet--I feel way too good to stop eating healthily...ever.
I would think that as a personal trainer you would encourage people to use food as fuel and explain to people that there is low-grade fuel and high-grade fuel and although both will make your engine run, only the best fuel will make your engine run at its optimum performance. I'm shocked that someone who insists on finishing all of their posts with their credentials, still defends mediocre diets (that yes, will still yield weight loss results, but at an unfortunate cost).
I personally would never higher a personal trainer who defended unhealthy diets.0 -
Exactly, calories are not created equally. Your body treats empty calories differently than nutritional calories. Empty calories (particularly those from yeasts or alcohol) will put your bodies use of other calories on hold. Alcohol calories from beer, act in the body on the order of 4 times as many calories as what they consume.
Calories from healthy fats also aid the body in knowing not to store energy as fat.
It is true that burning more calories than you eat will result in weight loss. There are foods such as Grapefruit that breaks down fats, and aids in this process. There are also sugars such as sugar cane that are not nutritional.
And as mentioned, alcohol can't be stored by the body so it does get used first for energy, however I don't think people here are drinking alcohol as meal replacements.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
You are right, according to science, the body cannot tell the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates. According to my experience, however, when I eat refined sugar, I gain weight (and feel like crap). When I eat fruit, I lose weight (and feel amazing).
So go ahead and read all the medical journals you want. Find all the studies that have proven you can live off of twinkies or french fries or whatever ridiculous food some mad scientist wanted to torture his body with. I will probably agree with all your findings, but it's not going to make me want to change my diet--I feel way too good to stop eating healthily...ever.
I would think that as a personal trainer you would encourage people to use food as fuel and explain to people that there is low-grade fuel and high-grade fuel and although both will make your engine run, only the best fuel will make your engine run at its optimum performance. I'm shocked that someone who insists on finishing all of their posts with their credentials, still defends mediocre diets (that yes, will still yield weight loss results, but at an unfortunate cost).
I personally would never higher a personal trainer who defended unhealthy diets.
Great point. If someone is hungry all the time, too tired to exercise, but managing their 500 calorie deficit because 'a calorie is a calorie', what good is it?0 -
You are right, according to science, the body cannot tell the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates. According to my experience, however, when I eat refined sugar, I gain weight (and feel like crap). When I eat fruit, I lose weight (and feel amazing).
So go ahead and read all the medical journals you want. Find all the studies that have proven you can live off of twinkies or french fries or whatever ridiculous food some mad scientist wanted to torture his body with. I will probably agree with all your findings, but it's not going to make me want to change my diet--I feel way too good to stop eating healthily...ever.
I would think that as a personal trainer you would encourage people to use food as fuel and explain to people that there is low-grade fuel and high-grade fuel and although both will make your engine run, only the best fuel will make your engine run at its optimum performance. I'm shocked that someone who insists on finishing all of their posts with their credentials, still defends mediocre diets (that yes, will still yield weight loss results, but at an unfortunate cost).
I personally would never higher a personal trainer who defended unhealthy diets.
Listen, I personally eat 80% well and 20% whatever I feel. I've NEVER said to eat nothing but junk. You're just assuming that's my stance. All I did was debunk information that ISN'T correct and you took it personal. Why? Is it because you CAN'T do it in moderation? If that's the case then keep doing what you're doing, but don't be irresponsible and spew misinformation. That's all I did was refute the information you were providing.
And as for "best" fuel to keep you running, you could carb up on the best fuel, eat the best proteins, consume the best fats, and still have a crappy day. Mental toughness and self confidence will carry you on here. And THAT'S where I exceed with clients. Getting them over the hump they couldn't do themselves.
I don't disagree about eating better, but I won't stand by when misinformation is trying to be spread.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
first i'm confused as to why you would post this unless you are feeling a need to change the behavior. if you feel prompted to stop eating the gummies and sugar snacks, then STOP. dont' rely on posts from others to decide what is best for your body.
second, i don't believe all calories are equal. i guess it depends on what your goals are. my goal is to live a healthier lifestyle (compared to what i did before, not compared to others) and for me, it means giving up sweets almost exclusively. (VERY rarely will i have something sweet.) for someone else, their goal might be to eat a certain number of calories per day and as long as they are losing weight, they don't care what the content of those calories is.
for myself, i believe that 100 calories of fresh veggies and chicken (for example) is a far better choice than 50 calories of candy, gum, soda, etc. that is a personal choice of mine. i have no clue how my body burns it, whether it "sees" these calories as different, but I DO. i feel better when i choose healthy whole foods over sugary processed ones, no matter what the calorie intake might be.
good luck with your choices0 -
first i'm confused as to why you would post this unless you are feeling a need to change the behavior. if you feel prompted to stop eating the gummies and sugar snacks, then STOP. dont' rely on posts from others to decide what is best for your body.
second, i don't believe all calories are equal. i guess it depends on what your goals are. my goal is to live a healthier lifestyle (compared to what i did before, not compared to others) and for me, it means giving up sweets almost exclusively. (VERY rarely will i have something sweet.) for someone else, their goal might be to eat a certain number of calories per day and as long as they are losing weight, they don't care what the content of those calories is.
for myself, i believe that 100 calories of fresh veggies and chicken (for example) is a far better choice than 50 calories of candy, gum, soda, etc. that is a personal choice of mine. i have no clue how my body burns it, whether it "sees" these calories as different, but I DO. i feel better when i choose healthy whole foods over sugary processed ones, no matter what the calorie intake might be.
good luck with your choices
wow! you completely misread my post. i am not "high and mighty" and i don't eat 100% healthy, i just TRY to get as close as i can. what i was trying to point out is that if you were totally fine with your daily sweets, you probably wouldn't have posed the question. if you are losing weight, then i think you already have the answer to your question, NO it won't interfere with YOUR results. i was just simply saying that for me, eating sweets every day wouldn't be a change for me. that's what i did before and got to the point of being overweight. so just personally, for myself, i don't think i could eat 100 cal of candy each day (even if i lost weight) and could feel good about myself. that doesn't mean i look down upon anyone who does that. i know plenty of people who eat anything and everything and they lose weight and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, its just not for me. i know the choice is yours, that's why i put a smile and said, "good luck with your choices" you seemed in the OP to be conflicted about eating the sweets every day, and i was just trying to be supportive. sorry you took it the wrong way.
as for the "not all calories are equal" that is just my opinion for how I feel when i consume certain foods. as i stated, i don't know how my body actually responds to the differences in sugar from candy vs. sugar from a banana, but i do know the way I feel and that was just my expression of that. didn't mean to offend you at all.0 -
Calories are calories is not always a true statement. You have to listen to your own body because different people react differently to different foods. If you are eating these things now and losing and you enjoy them, then why worry about it. If you are concerned that you'd lose faster without them, then give that a trial run. If you do lose faster, ask yourself if the quicker loss is worth giving up these things you love. That's a question only you can answer.0
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first i'm confused as to why you would post this unless you are feeling a need to change the behavior. if you feel prompted to stop eating the gummies and sugar snacks, then STOP. dont' rely on posts from others to decide what is best for your body.
second, i don't believe all calories are equal. i guess it depends on what your goals are. my goal is to live a healthier lifestyle (compared to what i did before, not compared to others) and for me, it means giving up sweets almost exclusively. (VERY rarely will i have something sweet.) for someone else, their goal might be to eat a certain number of calories per day and as long as they are losing weight, they don't care what the content of those calories is.
for myself, i believe that 100 calories of fresh veggies and chicken (for example) is a far better choice than 50 calories of candy, gum, soda, etc. that is a personal choice of mine. i have no clue how my body burns it, whether it "sees" these calories as different, but I DO. i feel better when i choose healthy whole foods over sugary processed ones, no matter what the calorie intake might be.
good luck with your choices
wow! you completely misread my post. i am not "high and mighty" and i don't eat 100% healthy, i just TRY to get as close as i can. what i was trying to point out is that if you were totally fine with your daily sweets, you probably wouldn't have posed the question. if you are losing weight, then i think you already have the answer to your question, NO it won't interfere with YOUR results. i was just simply saying that for me, eating sweets every day wouldn't be a change for me. that's what i did before and got to the point of being overweight. so just personally, for myself, i don't think i could eat 100 cal of candy each day (even if i lost weight) and could feel good about myself. that doesn't mean i look down upon anyone who does that. i know plenty of people who eat anything and everything and they lose weight and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, its just not for me. i know the choice is yours, that's why i put a smile and said, "good luck with your choices" you seemed in the OP to be conflicted about eating the sweets every day, and i was just trying to be supportive. sorry you took it the wrong way.
as for the "not all calories are equal" that is just my opinion for how I feel when i consume certain foods. as i stated, i don't know how my body actually responds to the differences in sugar from candy vs. sugar from a banana, but i do know the way I feel and that was just my expression of that. didn't mean to offend you at all.0 -
Calories are calories is not always a true statement. You have to listen to your own body because different people react differently to different foods. If you are eating these things now and losing and you enjoy them, then why worry about it. If you are concerned that you'd lose faster without them, then give that a trial run. If you do lose faster, ask yourself if the quicker loss is worth giving up these things you love. That's a question only you can answer.0
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