Is a calorie a calorie?

I am intrigued by Rana's post that certain foods make her gain weight yet some other food,  the same amount of calories, will  not make her gain weight.

I've never thought of that, but I think it's true. I don't seem to gain weight when I eat a lot of calories of healthy food, but gain immediately if I eat sugar.

I wonder if some foods cause the body to retain fluids?  I mean I know sodium does, but wonder about the macro nutrients, refined carbs, whole carbs, protein, fat...?

Yes, carbs make you retain water.  This discussion talks about that topic:

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/main-lowcarb-lobby/528076-why-do-bad-carbs-make-you-hold-h20.html

 Also it does not matter if you are eating WHOLE grains,  fruit, so-called healthy carbs or what have you, they ALL turn into sugar (glucose) in the body, with the exception of fiber which remains undigested.  The only benefit you get from WHOLE grains is that there is more undigested fiber than processed grains, but there are still PLENTY of carbs that can ONLY be used for energy and not to build your body in any way- and they prevent your body from turning to stored fat for energy.  Read my post below for more info. 

 Not to mention that most people have immune systems that are intolerant to grains and it causes chronic inflammation in the body and many other health issues, regardless of weight.  Also taking in too many carbs with such a small stomach displaces what we REALLY need.. real protein and LOTS of it. :)  Hope that helps...

I have always suspected that there were some more complex things about types of foods and weight gain and timing of eating and other things that are not yet understood by science. this could be one of them. I swear once many years ago I gained 10 pounds in one week from this amaretto cheesecake I made. Now it was an extremely rich and fattening thing but I served about half of it to guests and ate a piece a day for the rest of the wee****il it was gone. And literally gained 10 lbs! Now there were not 35,000 calories in those pieces though there were plenty. I also felt that fat cells somehow sent out chemical messages screaming to be fed after a period of dieting and they are particularly screaming for sugar. This is sort of what happens with increased ghrelin levels after traditional dieting. And I really wonder why sugar and carbs are so addictive - and studies show that such rich foods are only slightly less addictive than cocaine according to "The End of Overeating".

Perhaps its the presence of fiber in whole grains and unrefined foods or perhaps something else that makes them less likely to cause weight gain. But in this era of fast food and heavily processed food obesity is epidemic and I think the problem is both the nature of the food and the complexity of our society that drives us to seek solice in it. But until some science discovers more, I guess we are all little guinea pigs taking what information we can and using it to keep excess weight off and maintain our health. So I guess we all just keep reading and studying and observing and sharing information.  Someday there may be an effective treatment for obesity that does not involve removing most of the stomach or other surgery but probably not in my lifetime. Meanwhile, guess I will just do the best I can with what we do know and be glad I've gotten this far.   diane

I think maybe the calories in foods are easy enough for science to figure out but that people's metabolism is much more complicated than assumed. all those charts where if you are this age and "moderately" active, you burn this many.

seems like nonesense to me - I think it's more complicated, I really do.  and I think people vary widely.

*Chuckle*

I have definitely varied WIDELY!  :}

me, too, Brandi!

It's only partially a metabolism issue.. it's what your body does with the various macronutrients, your hormones, your fluid balance, and a ton of other variables.  Suffice it to stay if you stick to primarily lean meats with occasional green veggies added in and cook your foods minimally you'll be the healthiest you can be (and leaner too).

I don't want to eat lean, though, I really like fat. cheese, mayo, cream, olive oil, and so on.

I have been drinking heavy cream in my coffee for a couple months now and today I am getting some labs done - not all the ones I need but some. interested to see what my cholesterol is!!

Yep, fat is good stuff, but it adds a lot of calories.  Once you get to your goal weight (which I think you might be at already) it's the best thing you can add in to keep you at goal.