A Calorie Is Not A Calorie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
When it comes to weight loss, there seems to be a common belief that if you eat fewer calories than you burn you will lose weight. Part of this notion is that a calorie is a calorie so if you eat 200 calories of fat or 200 calories of carbs, the consequence on the body is the same. Over time I have found this to be false - a calorie of fat will have different consequence on the body than a calorie of carbs or a calorie of protein. Further more, not all carbs are the same - watch the link.
People need to stop saying that changing body composition is about energy in and energy out because it isn’t the case. It is about the amount of specific energy in. For example, low carb, high protein and fat diets are more efficient at reducing body fat when compared to low fat diets even when calories and activity level are the same.
Fat loss is possible but only if you eat the right foods in the right amounts for a sustained period of time. With the exception of high intensity athletes, most people will get better fat loss if they limit their sugar intake (of ALL types of sugar and particularly fructose and man-made sugars like high fructose corn syrup).
March 2nd, 2010 07:34
He’s backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!
Definitely agree with a calorie not always being a calorie, but I think a lot of the energy in/energy out paradigm has to do with making a complex topic simple enough for the masses. If calories in/calories out didn’t matter at all then overeating wouldn’t be an issue, so I think it has its merits when the discussion isn’t dumbed down to make it seem like it is the only rule to follow.
Nutrition really is a tricky topic to truly understand — kinda like women. Most sides make compelling arguments in articles/video/etc, but maybe this is more due to the advice of marketing depts. and portraying specific info and leaving other stuff out. I never know who to actually believe!
March 3rd, 2010 05:30
Hi Chris,
I can’t argue with you about the complexity of women : ).
The funny thing about simple rules is that while they do help move people closer to an understanding, they often move them further away from the truth. The calorie is a calorie is one those rules - the energy that one can get from a calorie of protein is not the same as the energy one will get from a calorie of fat yet the simple rule says that they are the same. In this case I think it would be better if people didn’t have ANY understanding vs. a very inaccurate one - one doesn’t need to know how an engine works in order to learn how to drive, they simply need to follow the instructions of an expect. Nutrition is the same thing - the whole a calorie is a calorie dogma empowers people to make poor decisions that they believe are good choices, and for that they suffer.
Pat
March 3rd, 2010 19:10
What you’re saying definitely makes sense– maybe it means merely implying it implicitly through the other basic rules.
That way we’re not relying on cliches or oversimplifications masquerading as legitimate facts. Good thoughts as always Pat!
March 4th, 2010 06:56
When I hear someone strut the “calories in/out” mantra… I simply don’t even bother discussing the topic any further with them. It’s a simple matter of “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. And at the end of the day… thankfully I’m not in the business that requires me to change their mind
March 4th, 2010 07:13
Hey Tony,
I agree with you completely.
One thing that has become evident to me though is that it’s easier to get someone to change their mind when they are paying you for your knowledge - the same piece of information has more value when someone is paying to hear it and they are more likely to listen and make behavioural changes when it is on their dime.
Pat
March 5th, 2010 05:20
Pat,
I’m not sure if it’s necessarily true. Like “massage therapy”, I’m sure most people think they have a pretty decent personal understanding of nutrition — not truly, but just their perception of their knowledge and how/where they acquired it. And it’s unfortunate that they don’t completely entrust the professionals with whom they seek/pay for advice — they’re (ie. professional) met with skepticism if any knowledge is inconsistent with their own. It takes time… and almost requires immediate results to build their trust. But that’s where Brad Pitt’s line in Fight Club on the airplane works so well, “So, how’s that working out for you?!”– referring to their behavior exhibited by their knowledge. In the end, there *must* be a reason why they’re sitting in front of you to begin with.
March 5th, 2010 07:01
Tony,
I love that quote, I say it a fair bit to people when they ask me for advice and tell me that they have a good program or a great diet, or whatever. When they say this I just smile and ask them how it is working out for them. I guess it comes down to them not knowing what they don’t know.
Pat