Why CICO (Cals In-Cals Out=Body Fat Gained) Is a Big Fat Myth

[FluffyChix 17,413]

This is pretty interesting stuff! Jason Fung is a kidney specialist and proponent of the *gasp* low carb/keto dietary program. But wait! Aren't all of us (especially those with CKD) gonna die from the "gobs of Protein we're shoving down our pie holes???!!!!!! *another gasp*. And here's a quick article that discusses why CICO is a myth. Makes a lot of sense...

https://idmprogram.com/the-failure-of-the-calorie-theory-of-obesity/

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

The other part of this, that I swear I have never seen mentioned, is that when we take in too many calories, they don't all get converted to fat. Some are just plain pooped out. If your body doesn't want/need them, it just lets them go. And from my personal experience, one of the first things that happens when I restrict calories, is that the bowels slow way down. And the more times you have screwed with your metabolism, the quicker it catches on! Thoughts?

Edited May 2, 2018 by Orchids&Dragons

[Mattymatt 491]

If CICO worked, there would be no need for all this other crap.

[FluffyChix 17,413]

55 minutes ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

The other part of this, that I swear I have never seen mentioned, is that when we take in too many calories, they don't all get converted to fat. Some are just plain pooped out. If your body doesn't want/need them, it just lets them go. And from my personal experience, one of the first things that happens when I restrict calories, is that the bowels slow way down. And the more times you have screwed with your metabolism, the quicker it catches on! Thoughts?

I don't know about the body just "letting unneeded calories go." That hasn't been my experience. My body is EXTREMELY thrifty and finds some damn way to assimilate the billions of crap cals I've fed it over the years! LOL. My bowels do slow down if I down regulate my Fiber volume.

[allwet 868]

2 hours ago, FluffyChix said:

This is pretty interesting stuff! Jason Fung is a kidney specialist and proponent of the *gasp* low carb/keto dietary program. But wait! Aren't all of us (especially those with CKD) gonna die from the "gobs of Protein we're shoving down our pie holes???!!!!!! *another gasp*. And here's a quick article that discusses why CICO is a myth. Makes a lot of sense...

https://idmprogram.com/the-failure-of-the-calorie-theory-of-obesity/

i really like this guy. The calorie Deception is one of favorites

[Apple203 1,314]

Good read/view!!

[Healthy_life2 8,322]

4 hours ago, FluffyChix said:

This is pretty interesting stuff! Jason Fung is a kidney specialist and proponent of the *gasp* low carb/keto dietary program. But wait! Aren't all of us (especially those with CKD) gonna die from the "gobs of Protein we're shoving down our pie holes???!!!!!! *another gasp*. And here's a quick article that discusses why CICO is a myth. Makes a lot of sense...

https://idmprogram.com/the-failure-of-the-calorie-theory-of-obesity/

I agree a calorie is not a calorie - 2000 calories of all donuts is different than 2000 calories of healthy whole foods. We also have no control of body physiology or metabolic rates. But there are things that may improve your metabolic rate.

Weight loss is in the kitchen. fitness and body composition is in the gym.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/metabolism/art-20046508

Metabolism: Converting food into energy

Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this complex biochemical process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function.

Even when you're at rest, your body needs energy for all its "hidden" functions, such as breathing, circulating blood, adjusting hormone levels, and growing and repairing cells. The number of calories your body uses to carry out these basic functions is known as your basal metabolic rate — what you might call metabolism.

Several factors determine your individual basal metabolism, including:

• Your body size and composition. People who are larger or have more muscle burn more calories, even at rest.
• Your sex. Men usually have less body fat and more muscle than do women of the same age and weight, which means men burn more calories.
• Your age. As you get older, the amount of muscle tends to decrease and fat accounts for more of your weight, slowing down calorie burning.

Energy needs for your body's basic functions stay fairly consistent and aren't easily changed. In addition to your basal metabolic rate, two other factors determine how many calories your body burns each day:

• Food processing (thermogenesis). Digesting, absorbing, transporting and storing the food you consume also takes calories. About 10 percent of the calories from the carbohydrates and Protein you eat are used during the digestion and absorption of the food and nutrients.

• Physical activity. Physical activity and exercise — such as playing tennis, walking to the store, chasing after the dog and any other movement — account for the rest of the calories your body burns up each day. Physical activity is by far the most variable of the factors that determine how many calories you burn each day.

  Scientists call the activity you do all day that isn't deliberate exercise nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). This activity includes walking from room to room, activities such as gardening and even fidgeting. NEAT accounts for about 100 to 800 calories used daily.

[FluffyChix 17,413]

@jenn1 Absolutely agree with you. And DEF love the weight loss is in the kitchen and body comp is in the gym.

I also still maintain that a low carb or Keto diet isn't for everyone or that there is a one-size-fits-all-solution and equation for sustainable weight loss. You know? I just thought he gave a very easy to understand explanation of CICO.