Comments on: It was carbs all the time http://www.americanmadness.com/2008/11/02/it-was-carbs-all-the-time/ Intelligent Criticism in the Service of a Better Nation Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:43:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Josh Friedlander http://www.americanmadness.com/2008/11/02/it-was-carbs-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-163404 Josh Friedlander Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:50:52 +0000 http://www.americanmadness.com/?p=2201#comment-163404 Awesome short article for those unwilling to watch the "boring" video: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/diet/interviews/taubes.html Awesome short article for those unwilling to watch the “boring” video:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/diet/interviews/taubes.html

]]> By: Josh Friedlander http://www.americanmadness.com/2008/11/02/it-was-carbs-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-163393 Josh Friedlander Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:38:43 +0000 http://www.americanmadness.com/?p=2201#comment-163393 Jason: I think I can make a blanket statement like that. It's carbs that cause the excess adipose, not fat from steaks or extra vegetables or more lean meat in the diet or just plain ol' extra calories. Extra calories are not just stored as fat unless the body says to store them. I know you don't have that much interest, but the video says it all. Jason: I think I can make a blanket statement like that. It’s carbs that cause the excess adipose, not fat from steaks or extra vegetables or more lean meat in the diet or just plain ol’ extra calories. Extra calories are not just stored as fat unless the body says to store them. I know you don’t have that much interest, but the video says it all.

]]> By: Josh http://www.americanmadness.com/2008/11/02/it-was-carbs-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-163370 Josh Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:28:22 +0000 http://www.americanmadness.com/?p=2201#comment-163370 No worries, Amy, but I am in weight loss mode now, because I'm pretty heavy. I know I'm heavy, but other people tell me I'm not. Part of that is that with a fattening society, most people feel they are only slightly overweight. There's a hysterical post <a href="http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/weight-loss/changing-perceptions-of-obesity/" rel="nofollow">on it here</a>. I should be about 170. I'm a wee bit (a lot) fatter than that right now. I can blame late night binging and beer. No worries, Amy, but I am in weight loss mode now, because I’m pretty heavy. I know I’m heavy, but other people tell me I’m not. Part of that is that with a fattening society, most people feel they are only slightly overweight. There’s a hysterical post on it here.

I should be about 170. I’m a wee bit (a lot) fatter than that right now. I can blame late night binging and beer.

]]> By: Amy http://www.americanmadness.com/2008/11/02/it-was-carbs-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-163355 Amy Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:16:17 +0000 http://www.americanmadness.com/?p=2201#comment-163355 So the big question is - will you (Josh) return to eating hamburger patties with a fork and no bun? You seem to be at a healthy weight from whatever photos you've posted this year on Facebook. Why the worry? So the big question is – will you (Josh) return to eating hamburger patties with a fork and no bun? You seem to be at a healthy weight from whatever photos you’ve posted this year on Facebook. Why the worry?

]]> By: Jason Ihle http://www.americanmadness.com/2008/11/02/it-was-carbs-all-the-time/comment-page-1/#comment-163340 Jason Ihle Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:16:23 +0000 http://www.americanmadness.com/?p=2201#comment-163340 Obviously you've read a lot more about this than I ever will because I just don't care enough about it. And I don't doubt the science that you note. But a couple of things: of course exercise helps weight loss. The calorie burning that occurs during exercise is not the only factor. As you exercise more you build muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat. Take 2 people each weighing 200 pounds. One is 6' 4" and all muscle, the other is 5' 6" and mostly fat. The tall muscular guy is going to burn more calories while he's sleeping, watching TV, sitting in his car than the short fat guy. Tall muscular guy is going to consume more calories daily as well, but chances are his body is going to crave foods that support his healthy body. I notice this when I'm training for a marathon - I almost never have the urge to go out for an ice cream or buy a chocolate bar. I attribute this to two things: my body is naturally craving healthier foods; I'm eating more sensibly, i.e., regular meals at normal times of day so I don't find myself suddenly starving because I skipped breakfast and lunch and the quick fix is McDonald's (which I tend to do occasionally when I'm not training). Moreover, I would argue that while the balanced diet didn't exist for human beings 10,000 years ago they also didn't (as you pointed out) live as long, grow as tall, develop truly healthy bodies. I don't doubt there's a whole lot more to healthy eating than simply saying we need to eat X servings of carbs, X servings of proteins, etc. The key is to identify the right carbs and proteins and vegetables. But making blanket statements like "carbs are bad" and "it was carbs all the time" is a load of rubbish. Seriously, no one's going to get fat eating a lot of raw fruit. Obviously you’ve read a lot more about this than I ever will because I just don’t care enough about it. And I don’t doubt the science that you note.

But a couple of things: of course exercise helps weight loss. The calorie burning that occurs during exercise is not the only factor. As you exercise more you build muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat. Take 2 people each weighing 200 pounds. One is 6′ 4″ and all muscle, the other is 5′ 6″ and mostly fat. The tall muscular guy is going to burn more calories while he’s sleeping, watching TV, sitting in his car than the short fat guy. Tall muscular guy is going to consume more calories daily as well, but chances are his body is going to crave foods that support his healthy body.

I notice this when I’m training for a marathon – I almost never have the urge to go out for an ice cream or buy a chocolate bar. I attribute this to two things: my body is naturally craving healthier foods; I’m eating more sensibly, i.e., regular meals at normal times of day so I don’t find myself suddenly starving because I skipped breakfast and lunch and the quick fix is McDonald’s (which I tend to do occasionally when I’m not training).

Moreover, I would argue that while the balanced diet didn’t exist for human beings 10,000 years ago they also didn’t (as you pointed out) live as long, grow as tall, develop truly healthy bodies.

I don’t doubt there’s a whole lot more to healthy eating than simply saying we need to eat X servings of carbs, X servings of proteins, etc. The key is to identify the right carbs and proteins and vegetables.

But making blanket statements like “carbs are bad” and “it was carbs all the time” is a load of rubbish. Seriously, no one’s going to get fat eating a lot of raw fruit.

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