I wondered what our beloved Dr. Oz would say about Gary Taubes’s controversial book, Good Calories, Bad Calories
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEqhar40TVw]
The conversation really heats up in Part II. I’ve written before about the importance of looking for disconfirming evidence in scientific research. Can you spot the one who’s seeking disconfirming evidence in this next clip?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LNH0RPXI0M]
ANAYST’S NOTE: I don’t watch the Biggest Loser, but I did see the episode of Oprah last season when Eric Chopin confessed to putting the weight back on since his season three win. (It was the same episode where Oprah also admitted to falling of the wagon. Again.) If Taubes is right, this is bound to happen to people who lose weight simply by restricting calories for a period of time instead of changing the diet to bring insulin levels back into balance.
This post is part of Real Food Wednesday hosted by Cheeseslave.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I wish they would have let Taubes talk more!
Me, too! At least he was allowed to get in several hundred pages worth of words in his book. I wish more docs and physical trainers would take the time to read it.
Did Jillian Micheals actually imply that Taubes didn't have scientific evidence? Does she know anything about his book? It was about as dense with scientific studies as I've ever read, yet she says that he's never used what he is talking about it?
I know, Bonnie! I love how he pointed out that he is a science journalist. She seemed to think that anyone who is not a personal trainer is not entitled to speak about the science of weight loss! I agree with you about the book, too. I think it's one of those books that will have a lot of historical significance in the decades ahead. Thanks for your comment!
Is it possible that they're all right?
So, I'm sitting here drinking coffee spiked with ice cream and chocolate chips (because I ran out of milk, so those made a great alternate creamer…) while watching these video clips.
And, in reality, I'm only procrastinating, because I am supposed to be doing research on another topic toward my Masters in Psychology.
Being that my brain is kinda wrapped up in the Psychology realm right now, I started wondering some things while watching this (and drinking my oh-so-unhealthy-by-ALL-Standards coffee):
Taubes (as well as the Analyst, from all I've read) makes really good points about how my body utilizes the different types foods I put in it. As far as I know, carbs in excess are bad by Taubes', Jillian Michaels', and Dr. Oz's standards… Can we look at an even bigger problem?!! WHY do we like to eat them in the first place? Hello??!
This has actually been a HUGE issue for me over the past six months. (Well, throughout my life, really, but I've spent a great deal of time and energy on the cunundrum most recently). Putting aside for just a minute which method of healthy eating is ACTUALLY the best, I KNOW how to make my body drop pounds and inches. I dropped 20 lbs with dedicated exercising and "proper" food intake (ie, dropped cheese intake to only 1-2 oz a day, no refined sugars, did mostly sprouted grains, increased proteins). For ME, this coupled with a HOT personal trainer (er, I mean dedicated gym time) did the trick. Where I fumbled had nothing to do with food or exercise (technically).
In comes the psychological aspect of this. I got SCARED! of what? losing my personna; getting back to weights I have only ever been when I was in the throws of an eating disorder or major depressive episode; and proabably a lot more that I didn't identify.
Even with that though. So what? How does that information effect my gym time and eating habits. A TON! I freaked out. Chocolate and cookies and candy became my solace again. I quit caring about all I "knew" was right and good for me, and I started to sabotage myself again.
I guess what I'm getting at, is someone like me with some sort of ugly relationship with food in the first place is going to have a lot of trouble following ANY of those expert opinions, if I don't first identify why I'd rather eat myself in to a fat and unhealthy lifestyle, than to just feed myself the vegetables and grains and meat and dairy that I KNOW are good for me. All the great research and advice in the world pale in comparison to the demons that are in my head telling me to just eat a spoonful or two of that cake icing – right out of the storebought container. Why even waste time baking the cake?! It's just the icing I want anyhow, right?!
My expert opinion (and I know I'm throwing stones here): Fix the mind first, and the rest will follow!! Exercise? sends Dopamine and other happy chemicals to the brain, so it's good. But if you don't like exercise, maybe it's not worth the trade off.
Ok.. Enough nonesensical ramblings for now. Just wanted to throw in my $.02. (Which was probably way closer to like 4 or 5 cents…) sorry I get wordy!
Amanda, I love your musings! From what you wrote of your experience, it illustrates the point Taubes was making with calorie restriction. You said you limited cheese and sugars and ate mostly sprouted grains and proteins. Does that mean you limited fats? According to Taubes, you will lose weight on this type of plan, especially with a lot of exercise, but it is unsustainable. Eventually, your appetite will force you to consume more calories because you have not effectively dealt with the insulin issue. (And according to Taubes, insulin regulates appetite).
The way I see it, restricting calories and trying to burn them off through exercise is a firehose approach to weight loss. Why not try limiting one thing (sugar) and increasing your fat intake? I recommend a book called Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig. It's an upcoming selection for our Cellulite Book-of-the-Month research group. Maybe you could scout it out ahead of time and let us know what you think?
Thanks for your comment. I love reading through your thoughts on these things!