Weight loss has become shrouded in mystery in our modern society. The number one fitness goal of Americans, every street corner seems to sell some new treatment or theory. They claim it works for them, so if its not working for everyone else, they must be doing it wrong.
On the first corner, we have a vegan advocate who hasn’t so much as looked at a steak in years. He’s fit, apparently healthy, and claims that meat is killing you by raising your cholesterol. (Also, if you say the word Saturated Fats, he screams)
On the second corner, we have an advocate for the carnivore diet. He’s strong, also very fit, and believes the only useful plants are flowers and aloe. He tells you that vegetables are riddled with defense chemicals, making them hard on your body. (He thinks Italian restaurants are inherently evil)
So, what do these two men have in common? (Because it appears that its absolutely nothing) — They both practice diets which limit their calories.
The body is a very complex and advanced machine with many different processes that use energy. Much of this energy is burned off just by going about a normal day - exercise not included. You even burn some of your calories by simply digesting food! But at the end of the day, there’s a certain number called Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) which is simply the calories you burn in a given day. Eat more calories than your TDEE on a consistent basis, and you’ll gain weight. Eat less, you’ll lose weight. As simple as it seems, it can be very difficult to find one’s TDEE, which is why most people who can accurately estimate it have found out through trail and error with their calorie intake.
As for the street-corner boys, saturated fats can raise cholesterol and risk levels for heart disease at higher levels, but you would have to eat a LOT of meat to achieve that. The ranch dressing, sodas, fast food, and other such snacks are hurting the average American substantially more than red meat. As for the plants and their defense chemicals, this is kind of like saying jumping into a pool is going to kill you because of the chlorine content. Yes, its there, but its no where near enough to affect a human.
Bottom line, don’t believe everything you read. Many people claim to have discovered new science when in reality, they’ve just rediscovered old science using a more complicated method of study. If you truly want to find the answer, you’ll have to take research into your own hands. While the formula always breaks down the same way, all of our bodies are different and will require slightly different solutions. Being a male of 230lbs and 6’6”, I don’t eat the same diet as my wife, who I’m well above in both of those categories. We’re both happy with our diets and maintain good health because of it.
So, do your due diligence in finding solutions. Just remember, if a social media influencer claims to know something that no one else knows yet, best to steer clear of them and stick to the basics. It takes time, but true success isn’t given in lump sum at the finish line - its earned along the grit-demanding path there.
Churn that butter this week!
Especially important with the temptation of the post wedding eternal bulk option now unlocked...