Are all calories created equal?
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This is probably my most important post to date and directly applies to 90+% of you, share this to help spread this truth.
I’m 100% certain I will get flamed for this post but hear me out and for you naysayers, keep something in mind. NOT ALL BODIES/METABOLISMS ARE CREATED EQUAL! I have had the privilege of working with people all over the world. Different countries, ethnicity, even entire continents where foods, traditions, and customs are completely different. I can tell you from MY experience (if yours differs, don’t trash talk but rather start a page of your own and promote YOUR theory) all calories are NOT created equal. A diet consisting of 2000 calories from McDonalds value menu items is NOT the same as a diet of 2000 calories in real, whole foods following my newly acquired saying “If it didn’t have a root or a mommy, don’t eat it”. I know what you’re going to say next….”I see trainers all over the place posting photos of shredded physiques saying they followed the IIFYM and they “dieted” on pop tarts, Capt’n crunch and frozen burritos. For all 18-23 year olds, I’d say yes that is very possible, for all the ectomorph body types who have been relatively lean their entire life I’d also say “yes” OK I believe that. But for the rest of us, the “normies” who DO gain weight a little easier NOT all calories are created equal. In all the blogs I’ve read about people saying “what is eating clean anyway?” they ALWAYS combat the topic with “It’s all science, calories in vs. calories out” saying something to the effect “What’s the difference of eating 500 calories of table sugar, vs. 500 calories of sweet potatoes”. In one way they ARE correct. Calories in vs. calories out IS a science, our bodies do to some degree work this way, but there is an entire different side of this equation that I’ve NEVER heard anyone touch on and that’s…….the human mind, cravings, over eating, eating disorders, binge eating, emotional eating, portion control, etc. These are REAL issues that I deal with on a daily basis with my clients.
I would like to think I’ve made a HUGE transformation, but even after nearly a decade, if I am scheduling a meal where I know I am going to eat some pizza, and you serve me a plate with 2 pieces on it, I WILL eat both pieces, EVEN if my macros only called for one. That’s #truth for me. It will happen, and after working with people all over the world I can confidently say that is the “norm”. That is how most people are. Will power, self control, etc. is a crazy thing. Some nights you have it, other nights you are eating an entire bag of gummy bears or pizza WHILE waiting for your dinner to finish cooking…..that’s life, that’s how most of us are! Sure, if you had controlled workouts, controlled measured nutrition down to the gram everyone might be able to get away eating mountains more fat, sugar, and carbs then we think and STILL hit their goals, but for the LARGE majority of us, that is not how it is. That cupcake for your nieces birthday, turns into 3 by the end of the party, that slice of pizza at the work function turns to 4, that beer turns into a six’r, etc.
Our natural urge to eat to no end keeps a majority of us from saying “yes, a calorie IS a calorie”. If you’ve never watched the movie “super-size me” let me sum up the gist of it for you: A guy eats only Mcdonalds for a relatively short period of time. After a short while he compares blood results and physical results and has astronomical negative effects to his body, liver, kidneys, pancreas, cholesterol, blood pressure, nearly every bodily function is showing signs of MAJOR stress and unhealthiness. So really, ARE all calories created equal? Is it not overly narrow a vision to say that you can eat nearly whatever you want as long as it fits your macros, or stays within your daily caloric amount? As far as me and MY clients, I will say, that doesn’t work. Healthy, slow digesting complex carbs, lean protein sources and healthy fat sources DO provide optimal results for our bodies as well as boost immune functions, improve such items as cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, etc.
For me it’s a no brainer, but if everyone wants to jump on the “you can eat whatever you want” bandwagon……I will be here to help you when you find yourself further into your emotional eating, binge eating and weight gain than before you started that theory. I write this NOT bashing those that follow this, but rather showing the “other side” of the coin for those that found themselves on a Saturday night hovering in the pantry looking for ANYTHING to put in their mouth, not because it was on their strict macro meal plan, but because they simple like to eat. Having the mindset that all calories are created equal can be a slippery slope and a dangerous want to live in my opinion.
MUCH love,
-Jeremy
About The Author
Jeremy Reid
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