I used to see it all the time in every single social media platform ("used to" as in I don't linger around social media anymore): "I'm a 180kg 2m tall male in my 20s, I'm stuck at a plateau or I'm gaining weight, even though I'm steadily eating 800 calories a day". My brain of course goes like "800? RIP common sense".
Then a couple of studies pop up on my emails like this one: Weight-loss induced increase in fasting ghrelin concentration is a predictor of weight regain. Or this one: Caloric restriction alters the gut microbiome increasing pathogenic bacteria. Or this one: Daily fasting improves health and survival independent of diet composition and calories. And of course my sarcastic brain went "gee, what a surprise!" 🧐🙄
I know. You're in a hurry. You got a wedding or a party you want to look good into, you're impatient, you don't want to exercise, you don't want to give up your favorite treats, and your favorite influencers said it's all calories in calories out, so the less, the faster you'll get there (supposedly). And THEN you can make a post about a new complaint: loose skin. Or symptoms of nutrient deficiencies, or the ever so usual, almost as if it was something normal, the "I fell off the wagon" announcement.
Well let me tell you something, if you fell off the wagon, you're on the wrong wagon.
When I tell people that it's not about calories, they act like I just came out of a mental institution. If calorie deficit was the end all, be all, then the obesity epidemic would already have come to an end. But we all tend to rather conveniently forget hormonal imbalances, medications, CRRAHP foods (Calorie-Rich Refined And Highly Processed), gut dysbiosis, stress and depression, insulin resistance and metabolism.
All of the above more important than calories, proven by decades of scientific research, but nobody wants to point at them because they love it when you go back for further consultations or paid programs and diet plans after your regain all the weight and more, or for getting diagnosed with a new disease that just came "out of the blue", like a heart disease after doing keto, severe nutrient deficiencies that ended up in hospitalizations after being a vegan for a while, thyroid diseases, low testosterone or other hormonal aftermath after being on extremely low body fat and caloric restrictions for bodybuilding competitions or just to look good on Instagram.
Before getting into a new diet, ask yourself this question: How hungry is that diet gonna make you on a (long term) daily basis? For how long do you think you can keep at it? Because there are still people out there who believe that changing your diet is just a temporary thing to lose the weight, and then on maintenance you can "relax" a bit, whatever the hell that means.
And that's how yo-yo diets are born.
Forget calories. Uninstall MyFitnessPal, throw away your FitBit tracker, keep your food scale only to measure ingredients for new recipes, use your body scale and measuring tape only when it's time to buy new clothes or your doctor needs to know.
You want to lose weight for good and keep it off? Stay tuned for the next post, and no, you won't have to buy anything, you won't have to starve yourself or feel hungry, you don't have to count anything, and you don't have to hate life every time you sit down to eat.
Disclaimer
I am NOT a doctor, personal trainer, registered dietician, nutritionist, athlete, influencer, nor at the end of my fitness journey. The content of this blog is based on what worked for me and is for informational purposes only, not a replacement for medical advice from a professional. Furthermore, we and our bodies are unique, so everybody is different. My results may not reflect your own. Any action you take upon the information provided by ZenGainz is strictly at your own risk.