Are calories all that matter?

Apr 28

You probably do not get caught up in nutrition arguments on Instagram (and I would not recommend that you do), but since this is what I do for a living, I occasionally come across some very passionate debates about certain nutrition & fitness topics. And one of the most heated of those is the question of calories in versus calories out and whether calories are really all that matter. This is also an argument that has been ongoing in my family for quite some time…

The basic concept of calories in versus calories out is that calories are all that matter. In order to lose weight, you need a calorie deficit, so you have to burn more calories than you take in. And since this deficit is all that matters, you can take in those calories however you choose. If you want to eat 1200 calories worth of cookies then great, just make sure you are burning more than 1200 calories and you will be fine.

You can probably imagine my feelings on this based on the way I described it. But beyond my personal feelings, there are a number of proven issues with the calories in versus calories out method.

This calorie deficit might be all that matters when it comes to weight loss, but it is definitely not all that matters when it comes to health. 1200 calories of cookies might allow you to lose weight, but you will be missing out on nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to thrive.
How do you actually know how many calories you are taking in?? Or burning?? It is extremely difficult to accurately count your calories. And unless you are in a metabolic chamber, it is also not that easy to know how many calories you are burning (fitness watches and monitors are great, but they are more estimates than a precise calorie count).
It does not take into account the complex interactions that occur in the body. No mention of hormones, digestion, metabolism, stress or how food affects your behavior. For example, we know that certain foods cause you to eat more food or that lack of sleep causes you to eat more. If you are just focusing on counting your calories, you might lose weight, but it will probably be much more difficult if you are not taking into account these other factors.
Do you want to be counting calories every day for the rest of your life? And dragging around your food scale so you can measure every bite of food that you are taking in. Calorie counting can lead to an unhealthy relationship with food and doesn’t actually help you create a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

So yes, is it true that in order to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume? Yes that is a correct statement. But for all the reasons outlined above, it is probably not the best way to go about achieving your ultimate health goals, including weight loss goals.

If you would like to create a sustainable health plan, reach out and set up a call!