It’s quite blunt and non-discriminating, while people have very different metabolism. I don’t practice any “calorie restriction” (I just try to avoid eating too much fat/sugar), I eat as much as I feel like eating, and yet I weight like 55kg, and I know many other people eating “as much as they want” and not having any overweight problem, quite the opposite.
The difference is not so much in the metabolism as in what “as much as they want” means. When people eat ad libitum (which is a fancy way of saying “as much as they want,” ) they vary quite a lot in their caloric intake. Some people engage in mild caloric restriction naturally and some don’t. Of course my discussion assumes that one has conscious control over one’s food intake. So “as much as they want” doesn’t really enter the picture.
It just focus on “calories” without any consideration of what kind of calorie (ie, what kind of food), if they are taken regularly or not, …
Re-read . . I pointed out that I have a basic daily diet—not only is it reasonably consistent in terms of calories, it is also reasonably well balanced and consistent in terms of macro-nutrients. I use calorie counts to make fine adjustments.
It doesn’t say anything about life quality.
I do say a little about it, but the calorie restriction I engage in doesn’t have much effect on my quality of life. That’s not totally true since I like being thin. On the other hand I don’t like denying myself pizza and nachos every day.
I would be interested in seeing cognitive performances evaluation for someone eating “normally” and doing calorie restriction, for example. The brain is a massive calorie burner.
Well what kind of calorie restriction are you talking about—mild, moderate, severe, or something else?
The difference is not so much in the metabolism as in what “as much as they want” means.
Not so sure about that. Comparing how much I eat with how much other people eat, and I would say I eat more than most of them. On the other hand (and much less anecdotal), there has been recent studies showing link between obesity and the kind of gut bacteria someone has.
Well what kind of calorie restriction are you talking about—mild, moderate, severe, or something else?
Everything :) Ideally, we would have many test subjects, measure their cognitive performances initially, make them follow different kind of “calorie restriction” (none, mild, moderate, severe) for weeks or months, and then measure again their cognitive performances, and see if there is a variation.
Comparing how much I eat with how much other people eat, and I would say I eat more than most of them.
Unless you watch really carefully, it’s just about impossible to know that. When these types of claims are studied formally or informally, what normally comes out is that (1) what matters is the amount of food consumed; (2) fat people have basal metabolisms which are at least as fast as those of thin people and usual higher; and (3) people are very bad at reporting the amount of food they eat.
But again, I doubt it really matters for the sake of my argument. Whether you have a high metabolism or a low metabolism, it’s probably a good idea to engage in mild caloric restriction; moderate caloric restriction is more iffy; and severe caloric restriction is more iffy still.
Even if you have one of these claimed slow metabolisms, you can easily avoid gaining weight by restricting what you eat. Assuming of course that you are able to control what you eat. If you are unable to control what you eat, then calorie restriction is pretty much an academic issue.
On the other hand (and much less anecdotal), there has been recent studies showing link between obesity and the kind of gut bacteria someone has.
For reasons expressed elsewhere, I am extremely skeptical of what you are implying here. But for purposes of this discussion, it’s a moot point. If you are able to control what you eat, then not being obese is a simple and easy decision. If you are unable to control what you eat (and a lot of people have this problem), then the issue of calorie restriction is premature.
Everything :) Ideally, we would have many test subjects, measure their cognitive performances initially, make them follow different kind of “calorie restriction” (none, mild, moderate, severe) for weeks or months, and then measure again their cognitive performances, and see if there is a variation.
Yes I agree. For what it may be worth, I have been moderately calorie restricted for well over a year now; I have a cognitively demanding job; and I haven’t notice much of a difference. Though I think I am slightly more irritable and impatient.
The difference is not so much in the metabolism as in what “as much as they want” means. When people eat ad libitum (which is a fancy way of saying “as much as they want,” ) they vary quite a lot in their caloric intake. Some people engage in mild caloric restriction naturally and some don’t. Of course my discussion assumes that one has conscious control over one’s food intake. So “as much as they want” doesn’t really enter the picture.
Re-read . . I pointed out that I have a basic daily diet—not only is it reasonably consistent in terms of calories, it is also reasonably well balanced and consistent in terms of macro-nutrients. I use calorie counts to make fine adjustments.
I do say a little about it, but the calorie restriction I engage in doesn’t have much effect on my quality of life. That’s not totally true since I like being thin. On the other hand I don’t like denying myself pizza and nachos every day.
Well what kind of calorie restriction are you talking about—mild, moderate, severe, or something else?
Not so sure about that. Comparing how much I eat with how much other people eat, and I would say I eat more than most of them. On the other hand (and much less anecdotal), there has been recent studies showing link between obesity and the kind of gut bacteria someone has.
Everything :) Ideally, we would have many test subjects, measure their cognitive performances initially, make them follow different kind of “calorie restriction” (none, mild, moderate, severe) for weeks or months, and then measure again their cognitive performances, and see if there is a variation.
Unless you watch really carefully, it’s just about impossible to know that. When these types of claims are studied formally or informally, what normally comes out is that (1) what matters is the amount of food consumed; (2) fat people have basal metabolisms which are at least as fast as those of thin people and usual higher; and (3) people are very bad at reporting the amount of food they eat.
But again, I doubt it really matters for the sake of my argument. Whether you have a high metabolism or a low metabolism, it’s probably a good idea to engage in mild caloric restriction; moderate caloric restriction is more iffy; and severe caloric restriction is more iffy still.
Even if you have one of these claimed slow metabolisms, you can easily avoid gaining weight by restricting what you eat. Assuming of course that you are able to control what you eat. If you are unable to control what you eat, then calorie restriction is pretty much an academic issue.
For reasons expressed elsewhere, I am extremely skeptical of what you are implying here. But for purposes of this discussion, it’s a moot point. If you are able to control what you eat, then not being obese is a simple and easy decision. If you are unable to control what you eat (and a lot of people have this problem), then the issue of calorie restriction is premature.
Yes I agree. For what it may be worth, I have been moderately calorie restricted for well over a year now; I have a cognitively demanding job; and I haven’t notice much of a difference. Though I think I am slightly more irritable and impatient.