4 ms·

I don't think people should count calories. Your sense of hunger and satiety accurately tells you how many calories you need if you're eating properly. If you

I don't think people should count calories. Your sense of hunger and satiety accurately tells you how many calories you need if you're eating properly. If you eat a 1,900 calorie lunch you're just not going to be hungry in the evening and things will net out. The main reason hunger as a guide breaks down and people feel the need to count calories is a poor diet, usually heavy with starch and light on saturated fats. You also see a lot of people religiously following a meal schedule. If you're not hungry, don't eat! Skip meals occasionally. People just don't listen to their bodies.

robg 18y ago
Someone who's fifty pounds overweight still has strong biochemical urges to eat though they may not need to. Aren't they listening to their bodies? More problematic is the evidence that suggests that eating changes the brain. Sure, some of that is cultural. But most of that is physical including emotional needs.
- kingkongrevenge 18y ago
  They have the urge to eat to excess because: their endocrine system is all wacked up from too much starch and from a lack of fasting periods (they eat too frequently; the body is meant to go the odd 12 hour stretch without food), mineral and vitamin malnutrition create hunger, and sedentism. If you fix the diet appetite will usually work fine. A pure calorie counting approach is surely doomed to failure, anyway. Hunger is far too powerful a motivator. You have to fix the appetite first.
  - robg 18y ago
    Right, I agree. I was just disagreeing with the "listen to your body". That won't work if your body is out of whack and has been for years. I'm a big believer in my nutritionist. But calorie information is very helpful and it seems profitable. I don't see anyone advocating a "pure" calorie counting approach at the expense of what you're eating.
  - mlinsey 18y ago
    I just started the Hacker's Diet 3 weeks ago (http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/ http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/), which is basically calorie counting. Although I'll obviously hold final judgment until I am able to reach my goal weight and hold it for a long period of time (considering how overweight I am, this will probably take around a year), I'm pretty convinced already that it will work. I'm convinced not because of the measly five pounds I've lost so far (I know all too well how easy that can come back), but because of the change in my habits that I've noticed. I used to eat until full. Now that I'm calorie counting (and actually maintaining a pretty large calorie deficit), I finish eating what I planned to and feel a strong urge to eat more, but five minutes after stopping I realize I'm actually not hungry. I haven't had strong hunger in between meals since day 3 or 4 of the diet. I should also note that I'm eating basically from the same two food groups I was before, namely processed/junk food and lots of carbs. I know that's it's own problem, but for me the idea of giving up baguettes is way more unthinkable and would require way more will power than simply eating less. I recognize not everyone who is overweight is so for the same reasons I am. But for me, clearly portion control was an issue. Hopefully this can take me all the way to my goal weight, because honestly this has been a really painless process. If not, and I stall somewhere above it, I'll consider increasing my workout regimen and/or changing what I eat.
walterk 18y ago
I'm afraid that information transparency tends to be a lot more effective than admonitions. Also, it's considerably less hassle to me if I can check the calories upfront and order a meal I can eat in full, rather than make a series of evaluations, calculating the marginal dis/utility of an extra bite (is my hunger satiated? if so, do I stop eating because my hunger is satiated or continue because the food still tastes great?). There's also a longstanding norm against leaving food on your plate which can make people feel uncomfortable about not finishing. The emphasis calorie counts put on ordering a meal which you can feel comfortable about eating in its entirety are also encouraging restaurants to switch to smaller plates, which helps change our perception of what a "normal sized meal" is. And it's less wasteful.

robg 18y ago

Someone who's fifty pounds overweight still has strong biochemical urges to eat though they may not need to. Aren't they listening to their bodies? More problematic is the evidence that suggests that eating changes the brain. Sure, some of that is cultural. But most of that is physical including emotional needs.

kingkongrevenge 18y ago
They have the urge to eat to excess because: their endocrine system is all wacked up from too much starch and from a lack of fasting periods (they eat too frequently; the body is meant to go the odd 12 hour stretch without food), mineral and vitamin malnutrition create hunger, and sedentism. If you fix the diet appetite will usually work fine. A pure calorie counting approach is surely doomed to failure, anyway. Hunger is far too powerful a motivator. You have to fix the appetite first.
- robg 18y ago
  Right, I agree. I was just disagreeing with the "listen to your body". That won't work if your body is out of whack and has been for years. I'm a big believer in my nutritionist. But calorie information is very helpful and it seems profitable. I don't see anyone advocating a "pure" calorie counting approach at the expense of what you're eating.
- mlinsey 18y ago
  I just started the Hacker's Diet 3 weeks ago (http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/ http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/), which is basically calorie counting. Although I'll obviously hold final judgment until I am able to reach my goal weight and hold it for a long period of time (considering how overweight I am, this will probably take around a year), I'm pretty convinced already that it will work. I'm convinced not because of the measly five pounds I've lost so far (I know all too well how easy that can come back), but because of the change in my habits that I've noticed. I used to eat until full. Now that I'm calorie counting (and actually maintaining a pretty large calorie deficit), I finish eating what I planned to and feel a strong urge to eat more, but five minutes after stopping I realize I'm actually not hungry. I haven't had strong hunger in between meals since day 3 or 4 of the diet. I should also note that I'm eating basically from the same two food groups I was before, namely processed/junk food and lots of carbs. I know that's it's own problem, but for me the idea of giving up baguettes is way more unthinkable and would require way more will power than simply eating less. I recognize not everyone who is overweight is so for the same reasons I am. But for me, clearly portion control was an issue. Hopefully this can take me all the way to my goal weight, because honestly this has been a really painless process. If not, and I stall somewhere above it, I'll consider increasing my workout regimen and/or changing what I eat.

walterk 18y ago

I'm afraid that information transparency tends to be a lot more effective than admonitions. Also, it's considerably less hassle to me if I can check the calories upfront and order a meal I can eat in full, rather than make a series of evaluations, calculating the marginal dis/utility of an extra bite (is my hunger satiated? if so, do I stop eating because my hunger is satiated or continue because the food still tastes great?). There's also a longstanding norm against leaving food on your plate which can make people feel uncomfortable about not finishing. The emphasis calorie counts put on ordering a meal which you can feel comfortable about eating in its entirety are also encouraging restaurants to switch to smaller plates, which helps change our perception of what a "normal sized meal" is. And it's less wasteful.