We hear about calories all the time, but their relevance is overstated
Calories, calories, calories! If you’ve ever been on a diet before, then you have no doubt heard all about calories before. Cut your caloric intake and exercise like a madman to “burn” the calories if you want to lose weight–so they say. It’s one of those things we just all accept as nutritional gold because it seems to make logical sense. If you work off more calories than you take in, then you can’t help but lose weight. Creating what is known as a “calorie deficit” is the basis for what most nutritionists and weight loss professionals would have you believe is essential to bringing about success. And they would be dead wrong!
In Episode 71 of “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube”, Christine and I take on this subject of calories and ask some genuine questions about it: If it’s only about calorie consumption, then is eating 1200 Twinkie calories the same as eating 1200 prime rib steak calories? All things being equal, can you really equate the two? If it’s not the quantity of calories, then does calorie quality play a role in managing weight and health? Are fat calories really that much worse than carbohydrate ones or vice versa? The answers to these questions provide some essential truths that we address in today’s video:
Dr. James E. Carlson wrote a book entitled GENOCIDE: How Your Doctor’s Dietary Ignorance Will Kill You where he explains quite lucidly how our bodies do not “burn” calories–they DIGEST them! So this notion that there is some kind of internal combustion going on to fire up those calories you eat is a real misnomer. The truth is your body uses different kinds of calories in different ways and it DOES matter what the source of those calories are. This is why on low-carb, you don’t have to count calories. It’s just not necessary.
Check out all of our 70 previous YouTube videos anytime like so many brand new viewers are doing every single day. Christine and I are honored to have over 1300 subscribers to our video series now, so we’d love to have you be a part of that too so you can receive all the new videos as soon as they are posted to YouTube. E-mail us your feedback about the videos anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
Dude, you are a freak!
Great video. Sent to some family members to review.
Ummm, I assume your use of the word “freak” was a term of endearment?
LOL! Hey, if you can’t have fun talking about diet and health, then why bother?
–Jimmy
Calories, calories, calories! I’m sure that most, if not all, dieters got caught up in calorie-counting at one point or another. Frankly speaking, yes the number of calories a person consumes matters but it’s not the only thing that does. It is important that everyone, not just weight conscious individuals, must be mindful of the the food they put into their mouth. Keep in mind that the food we eat should satisfy not only our taste buds and stomachs but also what our bodies need to stay in a healthy condition.
Quality trumps quantity of calories every day of the week. I can eat 3000 calories of mostly fat and protein with very little carbs and get more nutrient density out of that then consuming 1200 calories of a high-carb, low-fat diet. And the former will keep me deliciously and healthfully satisfied and well while the latter will leave me hungry, weak, and deprived. It’s no contest!
–Jimmy
Great vid Jimmy. My weightloss slowed WAY down after 9 months of steady 10-pound-a-month losses. I gave it a lot of thought and decided that I must be eating too many calories even though my carbs were always under 20. So I started keeping track of calories AND carbs. I was able to lose another 7 pounds but once again my weightloss seems to be stalled. If you have time to give my menus a look and treat me to some advice I would appreciate it immensely. And if not, I’ll keep at it on my own … I know it will work itself out in time.
Thanks for all that you do for the LC community!
~oct
THANKS Oct! Can you e-mail me this information and I’d be happy to take a look-see.
–Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
I noticed you used a Subway menu. I ask one question. I ask it with all humility, well as much as I am capable of: “Would one rather look like Jared, or me?”
Low carb means quality protein consumption which in turn equals the ability to strip away body fat and have lean quality muscle.
Joe
THANKS Joe! I was looking for a graphic that showed the calories of a food and the Subway menu was PERFECT! You’re right, though. Eating quality protein and fat in your diet is essential to attaining the body you were designed to have.
–Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
I have been looking at your blog for some time now but I have never written to a blog. BUT, I just have to thank you for discovering Julian Bakery bread. I was in La Jolla in May and made a visit to the bakery. The owner waited on me. She is a sweetheart of a lady1 Tasting her low carb bread for the first time was like a religious experience for me. No kidding!!!!! I have since orderd twice. FYI – in case your readers do not know, Julian Bakery is offering a flat $5 shipping fee for purchasing 6 or more loaves. It freezes well and it is worth every penny. Thanks, again, Jimmy for everything you do for us. God Bless.
Andee
THANKS Andee! I’m trying to get the owner of Julian Bakery to come on my podcast show to talk about her breads sometime. So glad you enjoyed them!
–Jimmy