At the Obesity and Diabetes Research Center at the University of Maryland, this exact question was put to the test.
A group of monkeys grew heavier with an identical diet as their thinner counterparts. The difference was the simple carbohydrate to protein and fat ratio. The same number of calories from simple sugars caused more weight-gain than the same calories from proteins and fats.
Monkeys are not the only ones who demonstrate these characteristics.
As humans our bodies react in much the same manner.
A recent study directed by Penelope Greene of the Harvard School of Public Health found that people eating an extra 300 calories a day on a very low-carb regimen lost just as much during a 12-week study as those on a standard low-fat diet. Over the course of the study, they consumed an extra 25,000 calories. That should have added up to about seven pounds. But for some reason, it did not.
"There does indeed seem to be something about a low-carb diet that says you can eat more calories and lose a similar amount of weight" Greene said.
The bottom line is simply this: a calorie of "this" does not equal a calorie of "that".
This is just one of the many reasons I'm not fond of calorie-counting. I don't want to weigh all my food all the time and count calories every day.
Believe me when I say, I don't, and won't, do it.
I eat a very simple diet -- lower in carbs and higher in protein and fat.
That works for me. It may not work for you, but I promise you this:
The "secret" to fat loss and good health is as simple as
- Stick to whole, natural foods, avoiding any processed foods that come in a bag or a box.
- Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
- Eat healthy fats, found in almonds, walnuts, fish, grass-fed beef, and olive oil.
- Substitute green tea and water for sodas, juices, and other high-calorie beverages.
That has been proven, time and time again, to be a successful, satisfying and fulfilling regimen for effective, permanent fat loss.
God bless you,
Steve