Are you still counting calories for weight loss?
Calories in versus calories out, this is what the food industry would love you to continue to buy into, both literally and figuratively. On the surface, it seems to makes sense, if I eat 3,000 calories on Thanksgiving and then run a marathon at midnight burning 3,000 calories, I’ll be even!!! If only it were that simple, unfortunately we are not the equivalent of a Bunsen burner but a very complex organism that hormones, not calories determine whether or not we store or burn calories.
Think about this logically, how does your body process 250 calories of ice cream versus 250 calories of steamed broccoli? You don’t need a nutritional biochemistry class to understand that the consequences are very unique. Counting calories exclusively ignores the main driver of weight management, insulin, the energy/ fat storage hormone.
If all calories are not created equal, then where we choose to spend our calories is the pivotal question. The answer may reside in part by considering why we are driven to eat what we eat!
The three top drivers of food selection:
Calories: we are driven to seek out calories which we need for energy, growth and survival. In particular, we are drawn to calorie dense foods that provide a combination of carbohydrates and fat, ie: bread and butter. Interesting to know that the only place in nature where carbohydrates and fat appear together in is breast milk, where we want the largest growth in our lifetimes. It is no wonder we find it impossible to control eating certain foods such as ice cream or cheese. While our brains are still wired to prevent us from starvation, we are surrounded by a constant available buffet of dietary choices!
Nutrients: our cravings for a variety of flavors haves been linked to the presence of nutrients in our food that we require for optimum health. Your cravings for specific flavors foods may reveal the need for specific nutrients, such as needing the magnesium in chocolate!
Unfortunately, two major changes in our modern food supply have made our bodies innate intelligence for obtaining what it needs a challenging task.
Number one: we have been growing crops and livestock to increase volume and ultimately profits as quickly as possible. The price we pay for this increase in yield is in the loss of precious nutrients, leaving us with a far inferior product.
Number two: we have had the explosion of the flavor industry where we now have the ability to recreate every flavor in nature in a chemical. The final result is that we are increasingly eating foods loaded with artificial flavors, that do not contain any nutrients and leave use unsatisfied and always craving more. This is why nacho, taco or buffalo flavored snacks are addictive but never fill us up. Your body requires nutrients in order to feel satisfied.
Reward: We are the only species that will consciously decide to eat simply for the pleasure, joy or entertainment of the activity. Having a good day or particularly bad day, one can always rationalize how a special treat is the remedy! Most of us have been socialized from the beginning to associate food with reward, even going to the doctor is made better by grabbing a piece of candy at the reception desk.
Final takeaways: If counting calories, minding our cravings or rewarding ourselves with food isn’t the answer, then what is? Start counting nutrients, focusing on the most nutrient dense foods that provide both the essential macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and you will find that your body is satisfied and you will naturally and instinctually know how much to eat what, all without counting calories!
If you want to know how a personalized plan could be the missing link in achieving your goals, please call now 941-685-8074 or click here to schedule a free 15 minute discovery call.
