Is a calorie a calorie?

This is the most educated  support group anywhere .  I can't begin to tell you guys how amazing I think all of you are and how lucky we are to have found each other (thanks Diane).  Just saying, I feel a group hug coming on.  :) 

 
frisco.....trying to be a good student here......

I will admit...... I admire the science and knowledge..... and I want "some"......

But..... I just want to find my balance..... the right to the point do's and dont's for me....

I already know I'm carb sensitive and it's very clear I cannot consume the amount of overall calories most of you can.

I'm finding my "balance" point is not far off from my weight loss mode (sad but true) 

Schools in session......

frisco

Since a calorie is a unit of energy, then, by definition, a calorie is a calorie. The problem isn't that a calorie isn't a calorie but that our body and brains are more complicated than that. If we were machines, it would just be calories in vs. calories out. But we aren't machines.

The things is: different fuel sources make our bodies do different things. For example, for a lot of people, their insulin response to carbs slows down their metabolism. So, they can eat 100 calories of bread or 100 calories meat. If they eat 100 calories of bread, they burn less calories than if they eat 100 calories of meat. So, the calories in is the same but the calories out is not.

This is but one example of how different food sources impact our digestive system. There are tons of others.

Oh and that guy who lost weight on the twinkie diet? He did NOT lose a significant amount of weight IMO. He lost about 27 pounds. That's about what most people can lose on a diet before the famine effect kicks in and the body starts fighting back. Plus, while his cholesterol numbers improved, they didn't improve as much as is typical when someone loses 27 pounds.

Thank you everyone who posted on this thread. It really got me to thinking when I read Rana's post.

I wish I just knew what to eat. It would be nice to know which food was not the enemy  instead of looking at food as bad.

 
Great thread by the way........

What I get from this is:
(this is not a recommendation....this is my own non scientific case study)

- Maintenance is a total individual work in progress

- First try and establish a baseline.....a realistic breakdown of protein, carbs, activity and caloric intake.

- Experiment with different foods individually.

Things I "think" I have discovered on my own up till now about myself:

- I tended to lose weight better with fish/seafood than beef or pork. (sensitive to animal fats....duh)

- Beef Jerky.......Weight loss stopper for me. Sodium......

- I tended to lose weight better with activity......another duh.....

- Fluid intake didn't seem to effect weight loss but I understand how important it is to overall hydration and body/organ function.

- During weight loss I "had to" eat pasta for a full week at least one meal a day when I was working in Europe with a race team that had a catering person cooking for athletes. I didn't gain....but I didn't lose, but I kept my pasta portions very small like it was dense protein and kept within my calories.

- When I was in Tokyo (twice last year) I ate rice a few times and noodles a few times......I actually lost weight both times.....but I attribute that to all the walking you do in Tokyo on a daily basis.

- During the holidays I ate more chocolate than the law allows on consecutive days.... and I didn't gain.

- Amy the nutritionist at LapSF has me adding more veggies in maintenance.

- Last week I added peanut butter and almonds.......gained 2 pounds really quick. But guess what....low activity week.

So I "think" I'm developing a clearer picture of my tolerances for different foods as time goes on.

The one conclusion I'm coming to..... as I kick and scream about it..(not really as it is enjoyable now at a normal weight... I just hate that it's a must do) is that exercise is probably the single most important key to maintenance.(News Flash!!!)
Why?
It's the great equalizer.... It affords you the cushion to keep the balance point at bay.......It widens the balance point......life is better when you need to add a little food to maintain than to take away, and your weight swings should be less.

frisco

I think exercise also lowers your set point so that your body tries to maintain a lower weight.

That's one of my little theories.