Reddit Reddit reviews Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It

We found 98 Reddit comments about Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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98 Reddit comments about Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It:

u/spyhi · 77 pointsr/videos

I am a soldier who has to work to keep slim. As a result, I've educated myself some about nutrition, and there are a few things that I've found work.

First off, at 600+ lbs, you should consider seeing a doctor to see whether a hormonal imbalance of some sort is driving your weight gain. A thyroid disorder is entirely capable of driving that sort of gain. You should also consider seeing a physician that specializes in this sort of weight issue, because weight loss at those weights can come with special medical requirements.

You also need to psychologically steel yourself--not for the hunger, or for the work, but rather for how long becoming slim is actually going to take. I am currently helping one of my soldiers lose weight, and it's a constant battle to make this person understand the weight will not all come off in one month. You said you lost weight, but then would gain it all back. As one who has been there, I can tell you it's a result of losing sight of your milestones and goals, and falling back on the habits that got you where you are in the first place.

You also need to arm yourself with knowledge: LEARN HOW YOUR BODY WORKS! If I could recommend a single book that would really get you on the way, it'd be You On A Diet by Doctors Roizen and Oz. A close second would be Why We Get Fat and What We Can Do About It by Gary Taubes. These two books will give you great insight into how your body works, down to details like what foods will sate your hunger pangs and which will cause your body to accumulate fat. One of the most insightful things I learned from these books is that it is possible for your body to be starving, even as you get fat. Please read these two books. Hell, I'll even purchase them and send them to you if you promise me you'll read them.

One key piece of knowledge is calories in, calories out. While there is a lot of nuance to this, at the end of the day I've found that counting calories gives me predictable results. READ THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT:
YOU NEED ABOUT 2,000 CALORIES PER DAY TO LIVE
ONE POUND OF FAT CONTAINS 3,500 CALORIES
IF YOU RESTRICT YOUR DIET TO 1,500 CALORIES PER DAY (NO CHEATING), I PROMISE YOU WILL LOSE FOUR POUNDS PER MONTH

4-8 lbs per month is considered a good rate of loss. Keep in mind, that means that it'll take you a long time to drop. Generally, dietitians recommend not pushing it more than that because it saps your willpower over the long haul to wring your body any more than that. It is entirely possible you may lose more weight on a slight calorie restriction because, pending the diagnosis of a disorder, your body WANTS to lose that weight.

Just remember, though, losing 8 lbs per month is 96 lbs per year. Even making good progress will take a while.

Other things: consider becoming a vegetarian--it is a lot harder to overconsume. Also, get a multivitamin in every day.

It helps to have a support network to keep you motivated. Set those small, achievable milestones, such as "this month I will lose four pounds," and let people know when you meet those goals, and make sure it is positive people that will allow you to celebrate and celebrate it with you.

It will take time, but it is entirely possible to get there. I truly hope that the motivation to see your nephew and niece grow up will give you the strength to put what I've talked about into action. It will take time...years, even, but as long as you can keep the small achievements in mind and within reach, all will be okay.

Godspeed.

u/Waterrat · 31 pointsr/worldnews

> are actually a far superior source of protein — low in fat, high in minerals.
Humans did not evolve to eat a low fat diet. Eating fat does not make one fat,it's all the carbohydrates,grains and sugar in our current "diet"
http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

u/ctfbbuck · 12 pointsr/keto

So, you're here to defend the law of conservation of mass. Thanks.

How about the effect of eating carbs vs. eating fat on insulin levels and therefore adiposity?

Check out Taubes' Why we get fat or Good Calories, Bad Calories for details.

u/kate_does_keto · 12 pointsr/keto

I wouldn't. Many, many doctors, dietitians and nutritionists recommend not doing keto due to years of misinformation and flat out wrong "facts", sponsored by the sugar industry and Big Agriculture.

Take your co-pay and buy the books below instead. For yourself. You don't need to convince anyone that your choices are OK.

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Fat-Surprise-Butter-Healthy-ebook/dp/B00A25FDUA

https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549369434&sr=8-1&keywords=why+we+get+fat

Edited to add: Here are my lipid results on Keto. I've lost 40lbs too.

Lipids KETO

Read all of the great success stories on weight and other issues that are helped by Keto. They're all here, just search on things like diabetic, GERD, IBS, depression, lupus.... many stories of greatly improved or cured.

u/OrangeJuliusPage · 8 pointsr/CringeAnarchy

> I'm overweight. I know it. It's my fault and I'm trying to lose it

Real Talk, different shit works for different people. For me, counting calories was a pain, but i thrived on low-carbing it, as the fellows at r/keto do. The book How We Get Fat and What to do About It by Gary Taubes we incredibly useful.

I hated cardio, but if you ever give lifting a try, check out a blog by sometime redditor Jamie Lewis called Chaos & Pain. Highly NSFW, but very inspirational with good posts on diet, lifting, and guys way harder and manlier than us.

u/TheDeuceBaba · 8 pointsr/videos

Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It is a great read on the utter failure of the low-fat diet.

u/MoleMcHenry · 7 pointsr/gaybros

I suggest you and everyone else in the world read Gary Taubes's book Why We Get Fat which discusses the falsehood of low fat eating, how those studies were bogus, and why people still believe that high fat causes heart attacks.

u/UserID_3425 · 7 pointsr/ketoscience

It sounds more like you should get a basic understanding of current nutrition science, and what keto is in general.

Recommended reading:

u/HotdogPhingers · 7 pointsr/AskWomen

You have a muffin top because its how your body distributes fat. Everyone is different, and its genetics. It's why African American women have bigger butts usually, etc. I'm not being racist or stereotyping, but its why some people don't seem to gain an ounce. Read this book, it talks all about that.

u/Thatsitdanceoff · 7 pointsr/IsItBullshit

Not OP but here's a little of related information:

It helps fix insulin resistance

https://www.mangomannutrition.com/you-are-when-you-eat-intermittent-fasting/

It's good for your heart

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110403090259.htm

This book by Dr Taubes is a science based argument that you must have Windows of time without insulin in your blood in order to lose weight. It even gives examples on scenarios in which people and animals have been starved over long periods of time without losing weight.

Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307474259/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IbzJAbG6ABAMQ

Lots of other articles out there just google for more info.

I think the first guy was right just showed no proof.

u/TechReader01 · 6 pointsr/DeadBedrooms

Perhaps you're a little confused; what you say of gluten is true of all carbohydrates. Dairy and other fats are much better for us than most carbs are.

I recommend reading Gary Taubes' book "Why We Get Fat"
https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479578095&sr=8-1&keywords=why+we+get+fat
The bottom line is that the USDA "food pyramid" is a disaster for most people.

u/nixfu · 6 pointsr/ketoscience

Gary Taubes books are good and go into a fair bit of the details of the science but I found them pretty readable.

Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health - technical version aimed at medical community, but still very readable

Why We Get Fat - this is a more "layman version" of the same material because some thought good/bad was too technical

I liked them both actually.

u/Phrenico · 6 pointsr/Anarcho_Capitalism

The theory that dietary fat leads to adiposity has almost been entirely abandoned. It hasn't yet percolated entirely into common knowledge.

This type of finding is quite common. Most of the criticism of the Atkins diet is not about whether it leads to weight loss; it's concerning the long-term heart-related health effects of a high fat diet (which I also think there's good reason to dispute).

If you're interested in this, I'd check out the book Why We Get Fat, by Gary Taubes. Here is a presentation of his and an NYT article he wrote.

u/hereisyourpaper · 6 pointsr/progresspics

> Got any cites to legit studies on either side? Would love to read them.

There's two great sources I like because they take a scientific approach in their own ways.

The Ketogenic Diet by Lyle McDonald. It's expensive to buy on his website, but you can get it via torrents. I liked this book because he went into detail on how to do the diet. He doesn't take sides based on ideology and presents the scientific evidence for keto dies, and well as their drawbacks. It gives a very technical way to do the diet with the different ways to do it. "Over 600 scientific references were examined in the writing of this book, and each chapter includes a full bibliography so that interested readers may obtain more detail when desired. Readers who desire further in-depth information are encouraged to examine the cited references to educate themselves."

Summary of The Ketogenic Diet can be found here.

Gary Taubes has written Why We Get Fat: And What to do About it and Good Calories, Bad Calories. I've read the latter of the two and enjoyed it because he also takes a very scientific approach to the matter at hand.

I personally haven't seen any evidence that low carb diets are bad for you. People just argue this point on ideological grounds, and only care about proving their particular diet is the best one, instead of being open-minded. I've read books on both sides, from vegan to keto, and I believe that the evidence points to one thing: The main thing to worry about is eating a variety of foods in moderate amounts.

And some people may need different diets to accomplish this goal. One thing that is especially true of both vegan and keto diets is that they force a person to think about what they eat. It makes food artificially more scarce, thus making it more difficult to over eat. And I believe that that simple fact creates the majority of the health benefits that either diet purport to have.

u/peppermint-kiss · 5 pointsr/keto

My advice:

  1. Drink coffee with a sugar substitute (I like Splenda, it functions and tastes exactly like sugar) and a dash of heavy whipping cream (you don't need much to lighten the coffee up a lot).
  2. Diet soda - any kind - is fine.
  3. Watch this video for an "Explain Like I'm Five" approach.

    Bonus advice:

  • Only weigh yourself once a week.
  • If you weigh yourself two weeks in a row and you haven't lost any weight, make sure you're counting your carbs. 50g is the max, 20g is the ideal. So maybe say, "Okay I will only have 35g of carbs a day" and try that for two weeks and see if it starts the weight loss back up again. If not, lower them.
  • If you've lowered your carbs down to 15 or 20g and you're still stalled, try limiting the diet soda. Maybe two cans/day for two weeks, then one can/day.
  • If you're still not losing, cut the soda out completely. For some people, it triggers insulin secretion even though there aren't any carbs in it, and high levels of insulin can stall fat burning.
  • If cutting the soda out doesn't help, cut all artificial sweeteners.
  • Next step would be to start limiting dairy. Then perhaps caffeine and/or nuts.

    I'm a big fan of the "slow and steady" approach. Make little changes, take some time, observe how it affects you. There's no rush to dump weight off; it's more likely to be permanent if you're not obsessing and just "keeping calm and ketoing on".

    Bonus resources, if you want to have a deeper understanding:

  • Why We Get Fat is my favorite intro book.
  • The Art & Science of Low Carbohydrate Living is a very thorough explanation of the diet.
  • The Big Fat Surprise explains why scientists and public health officials act like fat is bad for you, even though the scientific evidence doesn't support that belief.
  • Good Calories, Bad Calories is a more detailed & scientific version of Why We Get Fat
  • New Atkins for a New You is a very easy-to-follow instructional guide if that's what you need (written by Eric Westman, the doctor in the video I linked above).
  • Here is a list of great keto videos to watch.
u/Duke_Newcombe · 5 pointsr/keto

Okay. I read your post. You make some good points (buried deep into your post). I'm still toying with downvoting you for the trollish title.

I think you're missing the forest for the trees. Your post is a "solution" in search of a problem.

No one in my memory here has said that overconsumtpion of ANY foods, regardless of their macronutrient content, is a Good Idea.

No one here, to my recollection, has endorsed limitless eating as being compatible with Keto.

No one here likes "broscience", but I really think this rant goes too far, don't you?

>I guess what I am saying is I am not condemning low-carb/keto. It has and is helping me, and judging by all of the success stories posted here, it is helping tons of people lose weight. If it works for you long term and you feel like it is a sustainable lifestyle, keep it up and be as healthy as you can be! Just understand the real reason behind the success of low-carb: inadvertent calorie restriction and the elimination of processed junk food.

And finally, after many paragraphs, you get down to something that makes sense, and that is hammered upon repeatedly here on /r/Keto - that knowledge is power, and to research the real reasons why this eating plan (the word "diet" should die in a tire fire) works. Why this couldn't have been the FIRST paragraph instead of the last confuses me.

With all due respect. I'll take Gary Taubes explanations over your post any day of the week--no disrespect.

u/timsstuff · 5 pointsr/WTF

You need to eat more fat, less sugar. It will sate your appetite. Sugar (carbs) is actually what makes you fat. If you are really interested, read Why We Get Fat, it's very eye opening. /r/keto is good too but you don't need to go into ketosis to gain the benefits of a low-carb diet.

u/Thatsgonnamakeamark · 5 pointsr/DeadBedrooms

You know, its all about blood flow, and the body's ability to heal is incredible. Diabetes, HBP both are frequently reversible. It all begins with body mass,and the path is cutting simple carbs to 25 grams a day. The first 1 week is hell, by the 3rd week, you stop noticing those foods w infrequent cravings and by week 6 you are over it.

Read this book. Discover the way.

It truly is amazing. PM for more info.

u/sknick_ · 5 pointsr/keto

OP you might find this to be interesting reading

https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259/

Talks about the role insulin might play in fat loss & why people that can't lose weight (& keep it off) on a traditional diet often have success on LCHF which keeps insulin low. Goes the next step beyond just thinking a high fat diet keeps me full so I eat less calories & therefore I lose fat.

u/Juvenall · 5 pointsr/science

"Good Calories, Bad Calories" and/or "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes would be good starts for sources, references, and information that cover why saturated fats are not the evil empire they're made out to be.

If science books are less your thing, there's a good, but painfully produced, documentery counterpoint to "Supersize Me" called "Fat Head" that can be found via Netflix or YouTube. This covers some of the same information on the opinion that fats, including saturated fats, are not bad and that its been bad science and personal agendas that propagated the notion that they were.

u/total_tosser · 4 pointsr/loseit

I made a post in your ex-boyfriend's topic here.

I think that it's important for you to realize that this relationship was not meant to be. Attraction works in many ways. Obviously there are different types of attraction; emotional, physical, spiritual, etc... and they all work together to typically attract one person to another. Some guys are attracted to skinny girls, some guys are attracted to curvy girls, and some guys are attracted to larger girls. There's nothing wrong with that, it's natural. As I mentioned in my post linked above, I don't consider myself to be a shallow guy but I also do not think that either person should be willing to "settle" or force attraction. That will ultimately end in a bad situation and it's not fair for either person involved. Would you really want to continue dating someone who struggles to see past a flaw of yours? What you need to look for is someone who doesn't see them as "flaws"; someone who embraces them as a part of you.

As hard as it may be, try not to be too upset and hurt by this. You have to use this as an assertion that the relationship was not meant to be. I think it's a bad idea to jump right into an exercise and diet routine right away because it's pretty obvious that you're doing it for all of the wrong reasons (believe me, I have been there myself). If I were you, I would take a few weeks (maybe even a month) and just let things settle down a bit. Do some research. Starting an exercise routine and changing your diet are big decisions. They should be implemented as a lifestyle change rather than a "I'm going to do this until I look smoking hot" or "He'll wish he hadn't broken up with me when I lose 25/50 pounds" type of thing.

You mentioned that you're eating healthier than him typically. While you're researching and/or evaluating your options for diet/exercise, use something like myfitnesspal and track everything you would eat for a week. Don't alter your eating habits at all, just keep track of it. From there, you'll have a pretty good idea of what you need to work on (as far as diet is concerned). I'm one of those "low carb/high fat" (keto) weirdos. I don't want to push my decisions upon you but if you're interested in hearing more, I'd highly recommend Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It by Gary Taubes.

You also mentioned that you previously had an exercise routine which you stopped due to a lack of time. If you're serious about getting into shape and becoming healthier (for you), your exercise program should take precedence over nearly everything else. Fit it into your schedule and do not compromise that time. I run on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. I also work a very hectic job (often requiring more than 40 hours per week) and spend a significant amount of time with my girlfriend outside of work. On those days, I might make plans (especially the weekends) but I always leave myself a free hour for running. If that interferes with my plans, I'll reschedule or cancel my plans.

All in all, don't let this get to you. The worst thing that you can do is obsess over this and let it determine what you do with your life. If you want to make some healthy changes, you need to do that for you. It took me a long time to figure that out, but I have finally reached that point and I'm not exaggerating when I say that there is no better feeling. I'm not trying to impress anyone but myself and that feels freaking fantastic. Take some time and heal a bit before you make a drastic change. Your mind is just like a muscle; it needs time to heal and recover too.

u/Apostrophe · 4 pointsr/loseit

The first mistake we make when thinking about motivation is assuming that motivation is a thing that some people simply have and some people simply lack. This is not true!

Human beings are naturally vibrant and vital - just look at kids. They're full of life. That is the true face of humanity. You have that in you. Apathy and lack of drive are not features of your character! They are not a part of your personality. They are not a part of you. Apathy is a disease that has infected you and you can cure it. You must understand and accept that lack of motivation is an infection to be healed, not an aspect of your personality to be fought against. It is not you, it is something you are suffering from. If lack of motivation is keeping you from living the life you want to live then you are - in a very real way - sick.

The second mistake we make is trying to heal this sickness on our own, by ourselves, by the power of sheer willpower alone. This is not necessary!

Would you expect a man with a broken leg to make do without a crutch? Of course not! Would you expect a sick man to make do without medicine? Of course not! We are human beings and we use tools and aids to get over our shortcomings and fix our problems! Find yourself some suitable motivational tools! Get yourself a notepad and write down what you want to achieve. Put those goals on your fridge door. Get yourself a wall-calendar and keep track of your performance: mark down every day how acceptable your effort was in working towards those goals. Add images and photographs to inspire and motivate you. Print out motivational slogans and sayings and cover your walls with them. Buy self-help books and DVDs if you think that might have the slightest chance in Hell of helping you. Find yourself some motivation tools that work and then find some more. Tools are key! Find what works for you!

Thirdly, do not try to do too much at once. Start small. Try to get one thing right first, then add to it.

TL;DR: 1) Apathy is a sickness to be cured. 2) Sick people should take medicine to help them get better. Tools are your medicine. 3) Start small, build big.

PS: You should watch absolutely everything you can find about Dr. Robert Lustig on Youtube, starting with Sugar - A Bitter Truth. Just click here. Then you should read Why We Get Fat.

u/pewpewberty · 4 pointsr/Paleo

There are two good, scientific books that have nothing to do with cavemen and everything to do with the science of how our bodies work that are worth reading. If she doesn't want to read them because its "too hard" or "time consuming" she really doesn't care that much about her health and its not worth pushing the issue. Sounds harsh, but its true. If she really wants to be healthy and wants to take the time to change, she should look at these resources.

Why We Get Fat

The End of Overeating

*Deleted my name at the end of this comment. I signed it like an email, and don't know why!

u/darthrevan · 4 pointsr/ABCDesis

If you're desi, you're at high risk for diabetes. Period. Doesn't matter how fat/thin you are. So whatever you do, remember that a critical aspect of any healthy desi diet is controlling (as in severely limiting) sugar/carbs. White rice, rotis, potatoes...you're going to have to make these occasional treats in small doses. Sugar you're going to have to treat like it's toxic (which it probably is, actually). If you don't do these things and consume sugar/carbs like typical desis, assume you will become fat and/or diabetic.

Personally I'm transitioning to vegetarianism and a low glycemic diet, but that's my personal choice. A ketogenic diet can also be very desi-genetics-friendly, but it tends to rely heavily on meat.

Source: Personal research/experience and consultation with two Desi doctors.

u/KetoKelly · 4 pointsr/keto

> How do you handle your doubts?

With science.

Dietary cholesterol and saturated fat don't cause heart disease. Carbs (and the accompanying insulin response and inflamation) cause heart disease. I understand the science behind that statement, so I have no reason to doubt it. Also, serum cholesterol levels are an absolutely shit predictor of heart disease.

Do some reading. Good Calories, Bad Calories or Why We Get Fat are good choices. Watch Fat Head.

Side note: If you have doubts, is there a chance that's effecting your food choices? Are you eating enough fat? Fat is critical if you want to see losses on keto.

u/naveedx983 · 4 pointsr/loseit

If your gym had that machine where you grab the handles and it tells you a BF% number, I wouldn't put too much trust in that. Honestly 5'11" and 199 doesn't sound like you're in the high risk due to weight category, that being said, if you feel slim but fat, then the gym is a great place to fix that.

Just so you're aware of it /r/fitness is pretty awesome. They will pretty much universally tell you that as a beginner you should start at Starting Strength(SS), or StrongLifts5x5(SL). I will agree with this advice.

You'll get mixed reviews on personal trainers, I did 5 sessions with one a while back, here are some of my thoughts

  • Be prepared to do your homework, personal trainers are not nutrition scientists, they are not fitness scientists, they may have a certification that is not terribly difficult to acquire.
  • Every trainer should talk about diet, it generally plays a lot larger role in achieving (most) goals.
  • My training sessions left me pretty much immobile for a day - he worked the shit outta me.
  • Try and focus on learning a good routine and good form, and not just paying them to get through every workout, think "Teach a man to fish...",

    *I stopped getting training sessions because no matter how many times I told my trainer that I wanted to focus on compound barbell movements, and instilling good form, I some how ended doing weird, unstructured movements that were supposed to work my 'core'.

    On to your questions:

    1, Unless you have some fancy reputable trainer, I would not make all your diet decisions on their recommendations. The best thing I did for myself was educate myself to the best of my ability on diet and make eating choices based on that. I can share more but I don't want to get in to the keto vs paleo vs mediterranean vs CountCalLowFatBeMiserable.

    2, The programs I mentioned above are highly recommended by reddit's fitness communities, SS is based on a book, SL is based on a website and some shorter PDF style guidelines. I use SL because I like it's program, but SS has notably larger collection of good information on the actual workouts. Don't modify the program, stick to it and learn your forms.

    3, If you find the diet the best suits your body, and a fitness plan you enjoy and stick to, and push yourself and actually work at the gym... 9-12 months for 22lbs is probably enough time. Again a lot of it depends on your current health (how fat are you?).

    4, Surely he didn't mean 32,000 calories. My advice - don't worry about spacing out your meals or over calculating. As you're starting out, focus on making well informed choices that stick to your plan. You can't just wing it, you should definitely track what you eat, but if you make the right (for your body) changes, you should be able to find a rhythm where you eat when you're hungry, you stop when you're full, and you get healthier.

    If you can afford to or have the motivation to, you should get some starting numbers from a visit to the doctor, heart health profile and BF% info can be very useful in deciding what kind of things you should do.

    And Finally, I just want to say, educate yourself. I approached getting healthy in a similar way to how you did in your post, and getting 100 different opinions on what to eat what to do was absolutely confusing. When advice I was getting was too confusing, I tried to stick to what doctors recommended, which didn't help either. I read this book, and I'm not going to tell you to base your diet and fitness on this book by any means, but I encourage you to read it only to increase your skepticism of common wisdom.

    I'm not an expert, or a doctor, just a dude who learned how my body functions in a healthy way, and made changes to facilitate it, me getting healthy :)

    (Edited for formatting)
u/becca2k · 4 pointsr/xxketo

I strongly suggest reading (or listening in my case) to Gary Taube's "Why We Get Fat, and What to Do About It". This book is what convinced me to go Keto, and I've never doubted my decision once. Taubes did a great job convincing me why I never wanted to eat a high carb diet again. As was suggested to me, I recommend you get the audio version of the book- it's a bit tough going in the first chapters, so easier to get through the audio for me. :-) KCKO!

u/Scarykidscaringkids · 4 pointsr/keto

If you want to know the science as well as anecdotal evidence supporting low carb and against the Standard American Diet, here's a list of books for you to read:

u/UngratefulKnight · 3 pointsr/fatpeoplestories

Give [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0307474259/ref=redir_mdp_mobile) a read and drop by /r/keto

u/suddenlysnowedinn · 3 pointsr/altright

This. For those of you who are interested, read "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It." Also, /r/keto is a very active community with an abundance of information and support.

u/SoundLizard · 3 pointsr/keto

>"Eating 2500 calories of fat will give the same weight change as eating 2500 calories of carbs."

This is almost assuredly not the case, as all calories are not equal in their effects on the body. Please don't just blow this off as nonsense - the science backs it up.

Again, I implore you to read or watch some of Gary Taubes work on this subject - it is very enlightening material and should cause you to call in to question some of your most basic dietary assumptions (if you are open minded enough to question your beliefs, that is).

u/[deleted] · 3 pointsr/MMFB

Honestly, OP, you have to understand that my words are not just kind words. They are 100%, bona fide truth. You have to work hard at overcoming the conditioning of your own mind and that of our sick, deluded society. You owe this to yourself.

You know deep down that what makes you special has absolutely nothing to do with your size, your skin colour, your hair, your teeth, your ears, your knees or your smell. There is something resolutely good about you (about all of us) that is jut there!

Be honest with yourself: do you only want to find love from somebody who is deluded? Are the most attractive people to you those who are attracted to physical characteristics over everyone else? I almost know that this is not the case.

Friends who tell you you are wonderful, loveable and beautiful are great, but it doesn't help if you think they're just saying this because they love you or because they want to be kind. But it might be that they can see it too! They are telling you the truth. They are not conditioned to stare only at your body and they can see beyond the fat that your mind is obsessed with.

OP, I lost about 70lbs not long ago. And all I saw was the fold of fat on my back, the bulge of fat on the hips, the roundness of the belly. A couple of years later and I have regained that weight. Just the other day, I looked in the photo album and couldn't believe just how thin, strong and great I looked. The mind plays tricks on us. You may well be fat and out-of-shape, but you can still be beautiful, still be loveable, still be wonderful.

This is not some kind of dippy positive-thinking. This is fact. Beauty is not the exclusive preserve of thin people. Beauty, as we are told, is in the eye of the beholder. But while you are utterly terrified that people will only ever see you as some sort of misshapen blob, you are hiding your beauty from them. While you hide the beauty, they will only ever see a misshapen blob.

In my arrogant view, you need to do two major things: the first is to stop looking for somebody to love you right now. Make yesterday your last day of ever having done that. You need to start looking inside you to find love. Without it, OP, nobody is ever going to love you (apart from us and your friends). But romantic love is ded in the water unless you start being in love with you just as you find yourself right now. Like I said earlier, this needs to be your number one priority. Meditation will help; mindfulness based stress reduction will help; understanding the way that your mind works will help (buddhist teachings focus on this). You have to set about this task in the correct way: stop thinking that my words are just nice or that they are positive opinions. Start thinking that my words are just simple truths and go and find the evidence to understand why I am saying these things. I am happy to be here and answer your questions if it would help.

The second thing you need to do is go and read Gary Taubes and then buy his book. In 3-6 months, you are not going to be fat any more. Da-da! Magic! But your problem will still be there unless you find out why you are already beautiful. Someone might end up falling for the new-look you, but it won't last because you will hate yourself secretly and this will lead to trouble, misery, suffering and unhappiness. Gary Taubes will be a great guide to why you are fat and what you can do about it; Dr Atkins was right! You may also find the Diet Doctor helpful and Tommy from Sweden with his blog. Google them and Google LCHF (low-carb, high fat). Being fat will become an option for you, not a life sentence. But thin people are deeply unhappy too; thin people are lonely; thin people can't find people to love them; thin people are in abusive relationships; thin people look to drink, drugs and other such distractions to make their lives bearable. When you step on the scales, you only see the quantity of mass that makes up you; love for yourself doesn't have any effect on the readout.

It matters not a jot if you have known for a while that you don't love yourself. That's the past; it's not real; it's just a memory; this is real; this is an objective experience; this is here and now. Here and now is when you need to start loving yourself.

Wanting what you cannot have is the root of all misery; in buddhist teachings, they call it clinging. Clinging is based on ignorance of things as they really are. Your ignorance teaches you that you are the fat that makes up your body (you're not); it teaches you that love and kindness are always less attractive that buff bodies and pert asses (they're not); it teaches you that if somebody can love you then you might be able to love you (you won't); it teaches you that if somebody loves you right now, they will be deserving of all of your love and you will owe them one (this is wrong). These are all delusions. The delusions lead to you craving the impossible; the impossibility of it all leads to unhappiness; unhappiness leads to loneliness and the circle spins around.

Buddhist teachings, on the other hand, say that you can keep from devaluing yourself. But you are going to have to work at it. Within six months, you are going to be thinner, stronger, healthier, more conventionally attractive. Woo hoo. But you are also going to be mentally stronger; more aware of what really makes you special; more confident; less judgemental; happier; and...you are going to be in a loving relationship with someone!!! That is the guarantee I can offer you if you take the scales off your eyes and look at the truths I have laid out in front of you.

As I said, I'm happy to keep you company on your journey. Start a blog and I'll subscribe; put photos of yourself all over it (remembering that you are already beautiful, wonderful, loveable.

Just think - by October, you are going to be everything that you ever dreamed of. But now, it's time to WAKE UP AND STOP DREAMING!!!

u/bournehavoc · 3 pointsr/keto

Even if you've been on this sub a lot before, [Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It] (http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427384415&sr=8-1&keywords=why+we+get+fat) by Gary Taubes addresses the carb in/carb out idea and is a great read.
*Edit: grammering poorly.

u/blumpkintron · 3 pointsr/C25K

Actually, there's a book that has 18 pages of peer-reviewed sources that verifies that a high-fat diet is not detrimental to your health at all.

Additionally, my husband, who had super (read: dangerously) high cholesterol and BP before starting keto, recently just went to the doctor to get his bloodwork redone, and his cholesterol levels are significantly lower. If you check out /r/keto and search for "bloodwork", you will find that this is a very common side-effect of a keto diet. People also often post images of the comparative bloodwork results, so it's not just them blowing smoke, either.

I can see why "common sense" would tell you that it can't be good for you, but really your "common sense" is the result of a lifetime of brainwashing that "fat is bad", which isn't necessarily the case at all. Fat, in combination with excessive amounts of carbs, is bad. Otherwise, not so much. It took me a long time to get over this idea as well.

EDIT: Clarity.

u/cherrygarcia80 · 3 pointsr/keto

@fexxi: Unfortunately you are misinformed (it seems many who watched Dr. Oz's keto segment think the same and ended up here without doing their own research and only going by what they heard on tv or from what they had from others). There are countless stories of "normal weight" people who are on keto and feeling better than ever. with bloodwork to show it. I would highly recommend educating yourself on this way of eating by researching especially on books that have been authored by scientific dr's who have carried out studied and authored papers in peer reviewed journals on the health benefits of keto no matter what weight you are at. Here are afew books to read by phinney, volek, tim noakes, gary taubes, dr. eric westman and they all have youtube videos as well, there's many others as well:-

u/trytofindsomething1 · 3 pointsr/keto

If you need science stuff to know what to say to other people about your diet: obligatory book Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes

If you need a day to day guide to know what to eat, try the r/ketorecipes subreddit, or youtube like the Keto Connect channel

If you are a scientist and need deep science, try Calories proper blog.

That's my top 3!

u/timkd · 3 pointsr/keto

I HIGHLY recommend Gary Taubes' "Why We Get Fat" book it is only about 240 pages and is a very easy read... I read it in a single day I was so excited once I started. It REALLY helped me understand how and WHY keto works. I wish I had read it when I first started...

u/jewelergeorgia · 3 pointsr/Fitness

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259
This book took several reads and two listens to undo the training I grew up with. It answers your question and it blew my mind.

u/razrblazr · 2 pointsr/GetMotivated

If you want to get healthy, start doing your research. Learn all you can from reputable sources and then use your new knowledge to get a plan. You should read "Why We Are Fat" by Gary Taubes and some of Michael Pollan's books. Check out r/keto and r/paleo. Watch "Fat Head" on Netflix. Personal health is a science and before you start, make sure you are doing it the best way for you. Plus, you don't want to put in a lot of time and effort only to find out there was a better, easier way out there. I wish I would have found r/keto wayyyy sooner. Good luck! You can DEFINITELY do this!

u/Vexwyf · 2 pointsr/infertility

This book, Why We Get Fat, is amazing, in my humble opinion.

Also, r/keto has been very informative and instructive. I recommend their Keto in a Nutshell and FAQ.

u/schistosity · 2 pointsr/geology

If you're interested in eating healthier and losing weight, Gary Taubes speaks the goddamn TRUTH on this subject. He blasts through 100 years of bad science and explains how to not conspire against your own well-being.

Here's his best talk, in 10 parts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyXa39ICIrk

Here's his book: http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

Best of luck!

u/n3tm0nk3y · 2 pointsr/keto

Buy this book, read it yourself, and force him to read it

u/NPPraxis · 2 pointsr/loseit

I'd honestly recommend the book Why We Get Fat. Despite being a book on health, it's actually very easy reading that kept my attention.

The basic premise is that insulin is a storage hormone. It's entire purpose is to tell your body "My blood sugar is too high! Get it out!" and tells your body to store everything. While a calorie is a calorie, if your body's hormones tell it to store, you get hungry faster.

Everyone has different levels of sensitivity before their body starts releasing insulin. "Naturally skinny" people might just not be that quick to release insulin. They eat the same food, but they stay full. The fat person eats the same food, body panics and release insulin, and they get hungry again. The skinny person overeats and stays full and skips a meal; the other person overeats and gets hungry again faster.


Anything that spikes your blood sugar results in insulin production. Carbohydrates do that. Some break down faster than others; if you want to apply this principle without doing keto, you can choose low glycemic index foods.

The glycemic index is a measurement of how fast a carb breaks down in to blood sugar. If a carb breaks down slower, your blood sugar rises slower, and your body is less likely to spike your blood sugar.

And of course, low carb foods don't spike your blood sugar at all.

This is actually the secret of a lot of diets. Vegetarian diets that actually work usually are low glycemic index. If you're eating vegetables (low carb), oatmeal (low glycemic index), beans (low glycemic), sweet potato (low glycemic), etc, you lose weight. If you're eating white rice and ramen and white bread and coca-cola, you might be vegetarian, but you'll have a hard time losing weight. If you're calorie counting, you'll be miserable.


Keto works because it's almost zero-carb, and if you have no carbs, you have to have fat or you'll have rabbit starvation- you can get energy from carbs or fat, you can't cut both.

Paleo works because it's low carb (meat/veggies) and low glycemic index (sweet potato, non-sugary fruits), and bans high GI carbs (rice, bread, processed sugar).

The vegetarian Ornish diet is the exact opposite of Paleo- vegetarian, etc- yet still works for people because it bans high-GI carbs.


Carbs are the secret to "not feeling hungry". You can either to low carb, or restrict yourself to very low glycemic index carbs. I find the former easier- if I do low-GI, I end up "justifying" things because the line for "high" vs "low" is fuzzy.

u/shootingstarchild · 2 pointsr/asktransgender

Seconded on the red meats. Saturated fat causes both HDL and LDL to increase and LDL breaks down into triglycerides. It's not the only cause of high LDL, many people have diets high in saturated fats and have great cholesterol numbers but if you're looking to lose weight, red meats have a a lot of fat and might eat up too many of the allotted calories in your food budget. Chicken and fish might fit better into your life. Like /u/aufleur says elsewhere in the thread, definitely cut out as much sugar as you can.

If you really want to take control of this thing, you're going to need to know more. I recommend checking out this video on sugar, getting a copy of Good Calories, Bad Calories if you can stand to read a textbook or Why We Get Fat if you want something a lot easier to get through. If you want some free info, read Gary Taubes' blog, Robb Wolf's blog, and Mark Sisson's blog. Start hanging out on /r/keto and /r/Paleo, and definitely get a lot more vegetables. Maybe hold off on fruits, just because of the sugar content. But vegetables are sooooo freakin' delicious if prepared right.

Most of all, start trying new things with your diet, life is an experiment with an n=1!! Don't be afraid to get unconventional. I like to say that if you do what everyone else is doing, you're going to have the same problems as everyone else. And if you take a look around America^^and ^^the ^^whole ^^world, I don't think it's working out too great for most peeps.

/rant/

As for cardio, I'm going to say it's overrated. Generally beneficial, but grossly overrated by culture obsessed with running as perfectly equal to fitness while demonizing any kind of weight training, especially for women, as something for boys only and then they're meatheads and bros and probably dummies. This national obsession with CARDIO YEAH BRO LET'S DO CARDIO drives people to run further than they're ready for and to ignore pain and injuries, or spend hours on cardio machines. Jeez, doesn't everyone just want to move? To do gymnastics and jujitsu and row^^and ^^run, ^^too, ^^I ^^guess, ^^if ^^it's ^^your ^^thing and climb things and lift all the things? I get very frustrated. Cardio and bodybuilding are just such...cold and joyless pursuits, and I think they come from a place of fear. I understand it, but I won't play this game. Sometimes, the only way to win is not to play. I choose to move.

/end rant

So yeah, going for a walk each morning is great advice, especially if you're getting less food because it's not too taxing. It won't fix your cholesterol problem, you can't out-train a bad diet. I've tried. I've run six miles a day every day till my knees and spine ached. I've done clean & jerks till I moved 5000lbs of iron a day. I've rowed till I was sick. I've swung kettlebells till my hands are bloody and raw. MyFitnessPal is pretty good, but when I was using the app on my phone I was too casual about what I ate. I use the Livestrong MyPlate because even though it's not as good as MyFitnessPal and you can't add foods to the database, I need to sit at my computer and plan my food out better.

Hope this all helps!!

u/orejo · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

I will tell you that this book called Why We Get Fat and What to do about it is the best thing that I have ever read about nutrition and weight loss. It's not a "diet" book or even a science book...it's just the story of how all this works in your body and the history behind where we are today.

Once you know, then start simply by phasing out the stuff you shouldn't eat. Change your shopping trips to only fresh foods with a few condiments and other staples. Learn to read labels and consider food value along with the price. This is where you have to start figuring out the way to cook this food that works for you. Cookbooks help, but I really think google is the way to go here. You want simplicity so that a complex recipe is not standing between you and your dinner - or the "skip all that work and get junk!" voice starts calling. This step takes from 1-6 months to really get down solidly.

Once you know what you like and how you prepare it, then you can start getting the kitchen tools that are key to your eating. Our items that I cannot live without are a juicer, Vitamix and a grill/smoker. Also, glass portion containers (these) so I can cook in bulk one day a week and portion for the rest of the week.

Good luck on your weight loss!

u/meesterII · 2 pointsr/keto

Kind of rambling, but do all of these things.

https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

If you read one book, read this. Accessible and explains the basic science behind why low carb/keto works and ends the book with a basic keto diet.

https://www.dietdoctor.com/

Includes recipes, meal plans and lots of reading material.

And of course, read the faq. Absorb it all and than cut your net carbs to under 20g per day. That should start ketosis with 24 hours. Have a plan for your electrolytes, buy lite salt and chicken bullion cubes during your keto shopping trips (make a list, butter, bacon, eggs, meats and green veggies are also good too). Plan your meals and you'll be less likely to cheat.

u/BuildingaMan · 2 pointsr/keto

If your goal is to be under 300 lbs by December 31st, prepare to become a massive over-achiever! So completely doable!!

Please - at a bare mimium - if you have $.99 to spare, visit Amazon .com and buy Gary Taubes book "The Elusive Benefits of Undereating and Exercise." If you like his delivery, probably the best book I've read on low-carb is Taubes "Why we get fat: And what to do about it". Incredibly strong stuff. It reads like a text book - he's a an investigative science and health journalist with a degree from Harvard in applied physics and (because that was not enough) a masters degree in journalism from Stanford.

Entering the low-carb world without reading Taubes is like walking on stage to perform a few Bach violin concertos without ever having taking a lesson.

u/DigitalMocking · 2 pointsr/keto

Keto isn't about calorie restriction, please take some time to read "Why we get fat" by Taubes.

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307272702/ref=sr_1_http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259/

u/Drpepperbob · 2 pointsr/keto

Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307474259/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OoyrzbRT2Z7DK

Or this if you want a more in depth version of the above title

Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400033462/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KpyrzbWQ49DK1

u/mindhead1 · 2 pointsr/kettlebell

Not be be redundant, but diet is going to be the key to your success. I don't work for the authors of these 2 books, but reading them has really changed my perspective on what "healthy" eating is and since adopting the low carb, no sugar principals I have seen great results.

There is growing evidence that calories in, calories out paradigm that we have all been taught is the ideal way to meet our health and nutrition goals is flawed. The 2 books below make a convincing case.

I highly recommend both of these books.

Always Hungry?: Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells, and Lose Weight Permanently https://www.amazon.com/dp/1455533874/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_7ZpzzbQHXRSQW

Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307474259/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Y0pzzbY9Q0G38

u/parl · 2 pointsr/keto

I started keto in early 2011, when I was 68. OTOH, I'm a computer programmer (OK, I was) so my tech savvy is higher than the average bear.

I'd recommend Why We Get Fat by Taubes as a good intro and an easy read. He also has done a YouTube'd lecture in Walnut Creek at the Library. That's a good set of videos too.

You might look at some of the /r/ketorecipes entries and print them out for him. IIRC I Breathe I'm Hungry does a lot too.

OTOH, I tend to buy rotisserie chicken for meat at home and eat raw veggies (salad types) with low carb dressings. At restaurants I find a meal with no carbs or optional carbs and ask to omit them.

The Senior Center where I have some meals is adaptable so I can usually omit the starch (potatoes, rice, bread, etc.) and substitute more (non-starchy) veggies. When I / they can't do that they will make a large salad with lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cheese, a hard boiled egg, etc., etc.. As I am a good eater, the cook likes me and shows consideration.

u/GateNk · 2 pointsr/FixedGearBicycle

Hmm, I've been riding for a year now and I can't really say I've lost much weight, if any. (6ft, 185lbs)

After reading Why we Get Fat I understood why that was the case: after a long ride where I'd push myself as much as I could, I'd inevitably get back home and eat ridiculous amounts of food; the harder I'd train, the bigger of an apetite I'd work, which in the end is counterproductive if the aim is to lose weight. I've definitely built stronger legs, but muscle tends to tack on weight instead.

I honestly feel like what you put in your body is more important than getting on the bike and training day-in-day-out, especially if you lack the willpower to resist those cravings afterwards and losing weight is your #1 reason to hop on the saddle.

At the very least, the book provided compelling arguments for the limiting of carbs in one's diet and mainly focusing on protein/healthy fats. If you can do that, then it should be a breeze.

Good luck to you!

u/Planned_Apathy · 2 pointsr/keto

This is correct. If your mother likes to read, then I'd highly recommend this book -- Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes.

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

u/Carb_killa · 2 pointsr/keto

One of the revelations I had on keto is that a sodium deficiency can cause the light-headedness and weakness. In a nutshell your body is not able to keep up with loss of electrolytes because you are losing so much fluid. I had the same problem and upped my salt intake and the head spins went away full stop. Gary Taubes has written a lot about it and talks about it specifically in his book Why We Get Fat. On the insatiable appetite I think others have pretty much covered it regarding your fat intake.

u/furgar · 2 pointsr/seizures

My wife has been helping reduce her seizures/headaches with these three things. I will list them by most helpful to least helpful.

  1. A ketogenic diet which has been proven to prevent seizures. The most helpful book we read on this diet is this Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It by Gary Taubes

  2. CBD Oil sprayed under the tongue when she feels like a seizure might come soon. This is our favorite brand right now Plus CBDoil Spray 1mg

  3. This works best with number 2 and she likes to take one in the morning and one at night. She says it helps her brain fog, headaches, and fatigue Now Foods Brain Elevate Formula Veg Capsules, 120 Count by NOW Foods

    She also notices a big difference trying to get enough sleep and taking steps to reduce her stress and thats free. :) I hope this helps you. Have a happy new year.
u/nathos · 1 pointr/4hourbodyslowcarb

Good Calories, Bad Calories gets a little heavy with the science, if you're into that. Taubes' new book Why We Get Fat distills a lot of that down into more layman's terms, if that's something you'd prefer.

u/sbenitoj · 1 pointr/loseit

I second gcubed's advice, and also congrats on having lost as much as you have already, especially through calorie counting (and Weight Watchers is a form of calorie counting). Having been there and done that, you should know that calorie counting is not sustainable forever. As you've already explained you end up binging when you come home. There are probably two things going on here (1) junk food is constantly present in the house because of your roommate and (2) you probably feel hunger pangs (I'm making some assumptions here based on the limited info you provided).

Solving the first problem will probably be a challenge. Is the junk food spread everywhere throughout the kitchen and refrigerator? If you have to mentally tell yourself "no" every time you wall past it, sooner or later you're going to cave and start eating it. And once you start, it's much harder to stop! I would try talking to your roommate (yes it's going to be awkward, but what's worse, having one brief awkward conversation with your roommate or waking up every morning feeling guilty?). Tell your roommate you're really trying hard to lose weight, but every time you walk past the junk food in the kitchen it chips away at your willpower. Ask them if they don't mind relegating their junk food to a single opaque box (one that you can't see through) or one section of the fridge.

To the second problem, it sounds like calorie counting got you a long ways, but as they say "what got you here won't get you there." You need to take your diet knowledge to the next level. And there's no better way to do that than by reading. I highly recommend reading Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It by Gary Taubes.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0307474259?pc_redir=1406266545&robot_redir=1

Feel free to shoot me a message anytime with any other questions you have, I'm always happy to help.

u/spriggig · 1 pointr/Paleo

Get Why We Get Fat:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

or the audio version

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307877523/ref=tmm_abk_title_0

Read her a chapter every night and play the guilt card "You'll listen to this if you really love me."

u/wuot · 1 pointr/AdviceAnimals

This is completely false. I used to believe that, until I spent some of my free time casually studying nutrition (specifically the effects of carbohydrates on the body).

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body's cells become insulin resistant due to excessive amounts of insulin being present (usually caused by excess sugar & carbohydrate intake). The pancreas has to make more and more insulin to achieve the same effect (directing cells to take in glucose in order to remove it from the bloodstream, which must happen because excess blood sugar is, as we know, highly toxic), and eventually it cannot create enough - you now have type 2 diabetes. It is not caused by stored fat.

Additionally, contrary to Reddit's popular belief, storing fat is not simply caused by an excessive intake of calories. Fat storage is primarily regulated by the hormone insulin, and since type 2 diabetics have had a huge excess of insulin for a long period, diabetes and obesity are very often (but not always*) seen together. Is it any wonder the belief that fat causes diabetes sprung up?

If you'd like to know more, a great starting point is the book "Why We Get Fat: And What To Do About It



> If your burning the calories, eat away, you can't wear our your pancreas. That's a myth that needs to die.

PLEASE do some proper research before you perpetuate bullshit like this to people who may believe things they hear on the internet. You certainly can wear out your pancreas, several people in my family have done just that with a lifetime of sugar and processed carbohydrates (two of them being extremely "fit" looking, working out frequently and playing sports/generally being active.

u/probablydyslexic · 1 pointr/politics

>Cookies are nutritious. Period. I don't need to cite a degree in nutrition studies to state an obvious fact.

It's clear that you don't understand what I'm talking about.

You didn't cite any resource. You are not a nutritionist. You couldn't even speak on conjecture or personal experience. I'm sorry but this is no longer an argument. You provide no grounds to argue against except faith. "It is nutritious because it's obvious."

NO. An Oreo cookie is NOT nutritious... not in the sense that it is even remotely healthy or good for you. I can't even believe you are arguing this. I'm beginning to think this is some true internet trolling.

Yes it contains calories which is ENERGY, but those calories come from sources that are bad for your health. Saturated fat is LDL Cholesterol which is the fluffy low density stuff that gets stuck in your arteries. Flour based carbohydrates immediately metabolise into glucose in your blood and cause a massive insulin spike resulting in storing all the calories you just ate and you subsequently getting hungry again in 2 or 3 more hours. The glycemic index of some of these ingredients are higher than if you were to eat raw table sugar.

nu·tri·ent
/ˈn(y)o͞otrēənt/
Noun
A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.



cal·o·rie
/ˈkal(ə)rē/
Noun
Either of two units of heat energy.
The energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1 °C (now usually defined as 4.1868 joules).

This is called citing your sources. I didn't just SAY "Oreos are bad for you" and told you to believe it based on my word and faith. You have to prove what you say.

There is virtually nothing healthy in an oreo cookie. I suggest reading Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes.

For all intents and purposes it serves no other role than to spike insulin and give an unnatural amount of glucose in the blood. I'm not exaggerating in that previous sentence. The human body literally is not designed to handle the spike in sugar that a single serving of Oreos provides. This is why Diabetes exists.

We had a nice discussion about the EBT system but you need some practice at formal discussion and argumental strategies.


I'll state my original point once more, and when you can identify the differences in healthy diet choices maybe we can have a discussion again.

When a person relies on the government to feed them, it is my opinion that the government should have a vested interest in where they are spending tax payer dollars. That interest should be the health of it's citizens. When someone can earn their own money they earn the right to eat whatever the hell the want.

u/hydrazi · 1 pointr/loseit

We are all here to help. We see the words, and we take it as you mean it. The walking is great. The food should be the next immediate change. For me, I got rid of the bad food and went to r/Keto. Then I got into r/Paleo. I listened to the audiobook of Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It by Gary Taubes. Changed my life.....

u/Kream · 1 pointr/ketogains

Hi all. I'm currently guiding around 10 people through the diet -- inner core of family and friends and word of mouth is spreading quickly.

I tend to use the following books for them:

  1. Why we get fat
  2. Art and Science of Low-Carbohydrate Living
  3. Good Calories, Bad Calories

    The first one is an easy-to-digest paperback while the second one gets a bit more into the "how" of keto. GCBC is an exceptionally good book for anyone interested in the details.
u/redpanda25 · 1 pointr/xxketo

There are disputes in the low-carb community about the calories-in calories-out theory. I recommend checking out ["Why We Get Fat: And what do to about it " by Gary Taubes] (http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259) to get a peek at one side of the dispute.

Before Keto I did Weight Watchers, and Jenny Craig - I ate no more that 1500 calories a day with an average of walking 3 miles a day when I was 5'4" and 220lbs. I lost weight, but not very quickly (1 lb a week if not in a plateau). Keto has made things much easier for me to manage as I don't track calories in at all, but I am super strict on carbs, atleast for this first 30 days that I am "back on the wagon" I won't go over the 20. I have lost 30lbs total on Keto (3 months)

-Edited for double negative :(

u/IMunchGlass · 1 pointr/Fitness

There are plenty of sources. "Wheat Belly", "Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It", simple carbs can increase bad cholesterol, "Cut down on carbs to reduce body fat"and literally thousands of other articles and books. Wheat is the worst simple carb for your health, so I eliminated wheat from my diet. But OP was asking for a diet that helped me lose weight, and I don't care if there weren't any science at all to back it up - through a whole month of me not eating wheat, I lost 15 pounds effortlessly.

u/michaelflux · 1 pointr/depression

yduimr, here is the best advice that I can give.


"...they even helped me get onto Zoloft..."

In all seriousness 99% of the times people are prescribed happy pills not for the sake of the person feeling better, but so the doctor can sell you a drug. If you have no condition, the doc has no money. Remember that. On top of that remember that any antidepressant doesn't fix the problem of you being depressed, it at best covers up the symptoms. But that's like having a gas leak in your house - you can buy all the air freshers you want and it may cover up the smell for a while, but sooner or later it will still explode. Don't put yourself in a position where you're relying on shit that will only make you worse off in a a year.

To add to that, read this; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-tian-dayton/exercise-the-best-antidep_b_106683.html TL,DR; a basic walk with some light exercise is more effective than the "best" of antidepressants - and it actually helps fix the problem instead of just covering it up.


"...but that doesn't stop my mother from screaming at me..."

Maybe it is your fault, but maybe it's not. Understand that some people bitch at others only to make themselves feel better by making themselves feel like they're in a position of power over you.


"...I get it. I understand. I see the same ugly loser in the mirror that they do..."

Then be better, improve. You're the only one who can fix your life, no-one else can. Start every morning and repeat to yourself 10x a day the kind of person you want to be but as if you already are it. i.e. I'm strong and I don't let others tell me that I'm something I'm not, I don't let the complaining of others control my emotions etc... Repeat it until you believe it. If repeating to yourself that you're a loser is enough to make you feel like a loser, the opposite is just as true. Seriously.


"The one who's too weak to diet and lose that extra 20 pounds"

Did you know that sugar is just as addictive as cocaine? But if a cocaine addict was to say "I'm too weak to not use cocaine", well technically maybe true, the problem with it far beyond someone's personal weakness.

Don't diet, diets don't work and aren't sustainable. Instead eat real food. You really can not even begin to imagine how easy it is to loose weight without even trying when you just stop eating junk (bread, chips, misc crap). Watch this movie when you have a chance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evcNPfZlrZs - and if you have a bit of time read this book; http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259/ - will open your eyes quite a bit. I'm 24, male, In the last year I dropped over 50 pounds (while spending 80% of the day in front of the computer mind you). Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding all this.


"...let alone maintain her room and keep things neat around the house..."

Make a checklist of everything you need to clean up every day, make it as specific as possible - i.e. instead of "clean room" break it up into specific little things which would take no longer than 5 minutes each - i.e. clean things off the floor, vacuum, dust x, dust y, put dishes in the dishwasher, take things out of dishwasher, clean sink etc. When I started doing that it became that every single morning I would wake up and in about half an hour run though 100% of the cleaning. Also apply the 80/20 rule to all the cleaning - i.e. don't waste 2 hours scrubbing some little thing when in the same time you can do a hundred things which are a lot more obvious.


"...The one who smokes pot copiously and drinks out of her secret vodka stash every night to help her forget about the little voice that tells her how worthless and ugly and unlovable she is."

Then tell that voice to shut the hell up because you're better than that, go exercise until you're falling over from exhaustion and go to sleep. You'll fall asleep in 2 minutes and won't even have time for that voice to start talking.

"...The one who lost all her close friends when they thought that she stopped caring; when, in fact, she still loved them and needed their help more than anything but was too weak to ask for help, and then fruitlessly begged for them to come back like some sort of sad socially awkward freak..."

Ask yourself the question, why did you loose them? Were you being the kind of person that you yourself would want to spend time with? And if not, why would they want to be around you? Become the person you yourself want to spend time with and you'll be shocked by how quickly you'll be surrounded by other happy people which in turn will make you feel amazing.


"The one who's supposed to finish a full IB diploma this year and get into a top college and be successful, when in reality she can't even fucking manage to kill herself properly. All I do every day is dream about how to get out. Running away, changing my name, disappearing. I tried to commit suicide two days ago by swallowing a bottle of painkillers, but I involuntarily vomited them back up. Nobody knows, and I don't think any of my remaining friends would even give a shit if I said anything."

Can I please be blunt here for a minute? And please don't take this the wrong way. But just like with the smoking and drinking, all you're doing is trying to hide/run away from problems and to cover them up and when you sober up all the only thing that you will remember is that a) the problems are still there, b) you let them win over you.

The moment you stop giving into the problems and letting them control you, is the moment you'll feel 1000x better.

u/mcrask · 1 pointr/keto

You would be better off reading Gary Taube's book. It's short and explains the basis of losing weight by avoiding carbohydrates better than your ever likely to find even in a subreddit focused on it.

The simple fact is that, as uncomfortable as you may feel with this, calories are not important and they are not what drive weight gain/loss. Energy balance is not what causes people to gain weight and it is very unfortunate to see people in this subreddit of all places still fervently advocating a failed belief.

For whatever reason people are willing to accept that carbs raise insulin and insulin leads to fat accumulation but they won't accept the reverse. If you don't eat many carbs and don't raise your insulin levels you won't accumulate fat and will instead lose it. The energy balance paradigm is so deeply ingrained in peoples' minds I guess it just isn't going away. I'm not interested in getting into an argument here. I'll just shake my head and continue on my way of losing weight without ever having concerned myself with calories. Ever.

u/hclaire83 · 1 pointr/Paleo

Just want to recommend the book "Why We Get Fat" by Gary Taubes to everyone interested in learning about the scientific effects of carbs in our system. The book is also littered with studies about why low-fat, carb saturated diets don't work in the long run. I too was skeptical of eating paleo but I've noticed changes instantly. And I have to say, I went through the "carb flu" during the second week and I'm horrified that a lack of a certain food can make me feel that way.

u/Chunkeeboi · 1 pointr/gaybros

Some suggested reading here. Several of my mates have raved about the results they got from Gary Taubes's book.

u/UnicornBestFriend · 1 pointr/nutrition

Actually, if you are reading Good Calories, Bad Calories, you can skip Metabolic Typing Diet. MTD is just another system to help you determine how your body processes fats and carbohydrates, which imho is the big variable when it comes to diet. But GCBC covers that along with updated information.

IIRC, GCBC also recommends starting with a super low-carbohydrate diet for a few weeks and then introducing carbs until you start to feel funky again, then pulling back til you feel better. This is pretty common practice for a lot of dieticians now. Incidentally, Taubes wrote a follow-up called Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It.
which is a bit of a rehash of GCBC but focuses more on putting the knowledge into practice. IMHO both are worth reading.

I'm also a huge fan of David Perlmutter's Grain Brain, which talks about the link between carbs and the brain and brain disease and imho is really worth a read. It has a couple of follow up books too (Brain Maker about the vital role that gut flora plays and Grain Brain Cookbook).

Since embarking on my nutritional journey, I discovered I have a gluten allergy (explains all those times I fell asleep at the wheel after eating a sandwich). I cut out grains for the most part and eat primarily protein and veg, very little sugar, definitely no refined sugar.
My mood is better and more consistent, brain fog is gone, weight is easier to maintain, and I have more lasting energy.

It's unfortunate that institutions like the FDA and AHA (who are backed by industrial farming corps) hammered the American public with the lie of the one-size-fits-all Food Pyramid and low-fat, "heart-healthy" diets & that the word "diet" carries a connotation of weight-loss instead of health.

Our generation is paying for it with our health.

u/boredtxan · 1 pointr/IsItBullshit

Everyone on this thread needs to read this answer : https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

u/BiancaBlack · 1 pointr/loseit

Good luck with your lifestyle changes. I found this article to be quite inspiring: http://www.vox.com/2016/5/10/11649210/biggest-loser-weight-loss and while it's not everyone's cup of tea this book has helped me a lot: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483538819&sr=8-1&keywords=why+we+get+fat+and+what+to+do+about+it

Let us know how you get on!

u/elemcee · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes. I want to believe, but conventional wisdom is really hard to shake.

u/betacrucis · 1 pointr/Fitness

Yep, I've lost over 15 pounds (7kg) in under 2 months on a low carb diet. Continuously trying to tweak it, but great to hear that reintroducing dietary fat to your diet is working for you.

Never thought that eating pretty much as much fat as I want -- within limits -- would work. But once I dropped bread, rice, other starchy carbs, and sugar -- despite still eating fruit and some other Atkins no-nos -- I started dropping fat at a pretty steady rate.

P.S. This is my first post on reddit. lol
P.P.S. Get this book! (Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes)

u/littlewonder · 1 pointr/KetoBabies

I had to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight within six months due to my job and I didn't have issues, despite sticking to a 1200-1600 calorie average and VERY strict keto.

Also, see #2 on this IBC website.

As for being new to keto, just make sure you've researched it to death so you don't get discouraged. For instance, when starting out, if you don't get enough salt or potassium in the first week, you'll get the "keto flu" and feel like crap. This is often misinterpreted as "my body just can't do keto" and results in quitting. Just drink some chicken broth or bouillon and keep on doing your thing. I second what the other poster said about just cutting the carbs first. You'll still lose weight. After a while you'll plateau and that's the time to start thinking about calories.

This book is great for understanding the science of keto and why it works.

There are some other threads in this subreddit about losing weight while BFing if you don't get many responses in this one.

u/vaguely_va · 1 pointr/xxketo

Two weeks of keto! Haven't even contemplated any type of cheating. My SO is trying a week of keto starting today, so I'm excited!!

I've just read Why We Get Fat and it was really eye-opening. Most of the diet books out there are pretty... daytime talk show-y. Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, kind of over-exaggerating and scaremongering. This was articulate, interesting, and based on science and studies. I know it's nothing new to veteran Keto-ers, but for any newbies, give it a look!

Over the next few days, we'll be eating maple pecan pancakes with yummy syrup (from ruled.me), chicken fingers, pizza, burgers, thai peanut chicken, chocolate mousse, and brownie mug cake (ibih). I'm hoping to lure SO to stick to keto in this week. Wish me luck!

u/hitssquad · 1 pointr/unpopularopinion

Details were requested and you dodged the request. Duly noted.

There's no such thing as "obesity-level".

Read the sources. If cardio didn't cause metabolism to drop, our otherwise ancestors would have died before reproducing and we wouldn't be here to discuss it.

"Weight loss" is fastest with 24-hour bed rest: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259/

u/tzamora · 0 pointsr/nutrition

Sorry for not providing any source. Here is the book where I learned: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0307474259?pc_redir=1406358845&robot_redir=1

Maybe you have heard about lowcarb diets. They kind of resume what I said and I believe is the healthiest diet

u/_louis · 0 pointsr/Fitness

I don't understand why people rely so heavily on something as short term as cutting calories alone.

900 calories of 'junk food' which is probably high in sugar, will cause an insulin spike, and subsequently you will store that food as fat. 900 calories of meat/veggies will not spike your insulin.

With body composition concerned, to an extent it doesn't matter how much you eat, what you eat is important. If you want to eat 1800 calories of twinkies a day go ahead, yes you'll lose weight, but it'll be more muscle than fat. No one likes a skinny fat.

EDIT: If any of you feel like an argument, read this first

u/north7 · 0 pointsr/hockeygoalies

That's an extremely over-simplified view of things.
Studies are now showing that weight gain and loss is a function of a hormonal process, not strictly of "calories in/out", and specifically the process/relationship around blood sugar levels and insulin production.
This is a great book if your're interested.

u/edingc · 0 pointsr/keto

I have this one, but I can't say I use it all that often.

Couple of thoughts:

  • Have you considered taking your favorite recipes and compiling them into a "book" for your parents to have? Some quick work in MS Word and a trip to Staples/Kinkos/OfficeMax should yield a DIY cookbook with a good handful of recipes.
  • Make sure you include Why We Get Fat in your gift basket. It's a great primer on low carb diets, but much less science heavy than Good Calories, Bad Calories.
u/Lazytux · 0 pointsr/Christianity

I didn't say it had nothing to do with eating in excess but little, CICO is imperfect. The body is not a machine and there are many cases that show CICO is imperfect. There are processes involved in eating and digestion that are unaccounted for in a traditional CICO tracking eating plan.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/debunking-the-calorie-myth

The main reason many are obese today is false information pushed by the large food conglomerates. There are many ways to lose weight, some are more effective than others. In most cases high carbohydrate diets increase inflammation, disrupt leptin and ghrelin levels, dis-regulate the gut microbiome and promote weight gain by making insulin ineffective. I point this out to say, many processed foods are full of carbohydrates (including an ungodly amount of sugar in nearly everything), carbohydrates (convert into sugars in the body) are addictive and the food companies know that.

Many people are overweight simply because they don't know how to eat better and they are addicted to sugary foods, we have been sold a lie when it comes to nutrition. I could go on and give more information regarding this but go read through the hundreds of studies I have labored over and you would probably come to the same conclusion. You can find a few of those studies discussed and linked in r/ketoscience but most of the research I did was independent of that source.

Decent START to research--references in the back of the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

u/YottaWatts91 · 0 pointsr/fatlogic

Gary Taubes would like to strongly disagree with you.

u/Aldotroid · 0 pointsr/videos

Definitely head over to /r/keto and if you want to dive more, read Why We Get Fat And What To Do About It.

Thanks to that, many friends, family members and myself reached our ideal weight. Give it a try :)

Edit: I'm not implying she didn't work that hard, just letting her know there are other approaches she might not be aware of.

u/ALexusOhHaiNyan · -1 pointsr/loseit

Obesity is not an emotional problem nor is it from lack of will power - neither is any way a proven fact. Furthermore it reveals that we've gotten so confused about why we get fat that we're blaming it on psychology, because the science contradicts so much that it doesn't make any damn sense anymore.

What is a fact is that our food system has "changed more in the past 50 years than it has in the past 10,000" according to noted food journalist Michael Pollen

Food marketing and science is a multi-billion dollar industry, geared towards making us eat shit we don't need. The rest of the mess we've got ourselves in is due to bad science and governmental policy.

She's "addicted" to sugar and carbs. I cannot urge you strongly enough to go to /r/keto and read the FAQ, as well as this book as your wife's well being may very well depend on it. It's in the food. Until americans start demanding real, whole, and fresh food at a reasonable price we're going to continue to get fat.

Etc,

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/712666.Gary_Taubes

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/dr-mark-hyman-shows-deadly-sugar-addiction-article-1.1608553

u/Vinegar_Fingers · -2 pointsr/funny

Please and I don't say this to be a dick read this book it opened my eyes and allowed me to loose a lot of weight it very clearly dispels the myths of a calorie is a calorie and sets you up for a better understanding of how the body works and how to be healthier

u/Devon47 · -4 pointsr/askscience

Read "Why We Get Fat". It's a detailed review of the science and addresses your question directly. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0307474259/

u/half-wizard · -6 pointsr/Fitness

How is this bro-science? Please explain.

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307474259

I was under the assumption that eating additional carbs creates a higher insulin response which causes your body to store more fat, which increases your appetite and makes you eat more -- and if you eat more carbs, you get a higher insulin response, your body wants to store more fat, and appetite increases. By cutting carbs, you are minimizing your body's storage of fat in this way, as well as eating more satiating foods thereby increasing your total caloric intanke. Also, If you cut carbs low enough, you begin producing ketone bodies which aid in burning fat.

I don't understand how this constitutes bro-science.