I have done #1 and #2. Number 1 worked, but wasn't sustainably. Number 2 worked, too, and changed my life. I don't think about the calories I consume, but I don't gain anymore and I'm still losing........with strength training!

I am trying lower carb for the first time. So..no white flour, potatos, pasta, less fruit. Oatmeal and beans are ok. I am truly amazed at how much less hungry I am. I have always been a weight watchers style person. I know I am losing because I am eating less but the fewer carbs make me so much less hungry. Down 7 pounds in 2 weeks..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.

Calorie in/calories out is only half the story, if that much. The hormones in your body affect your metabolism, whether and how you store fat, whether and how you have strong cravings. Read Gary Taubes.

This has been studied ad nauseum in the lab. Calories in/ calories out is exactly 100% of the story.

That is precisely NOT what the science shows. You can get people to gain weigh on a starvation diet.

Please link to your sources. I'll start. In the Minnesota Semi-starvation Study, participants lost 25% of bodyweight.

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/135/6/1347.full

I didn't say people couldn't lose weight by starving, I said you could get them to gain weight on the same diet, and you can, if you adjust their hormones.

For example, artificial sweetners affect your hormonal response to food and cause gain:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/04/saccharin-aspartame-dangers.aspx

The same is true of products like olestra:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21688890

Eating a ton of sugar causes many hormonal changes that differ from the same number of calories in meat or vegetables:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-lustig-md/sugar-toxic_b_2759564.html

We know you change your insulin levels by what you eat.
Changes in insulin levels will affect how strongly you crave more food and whether your body stores calories as fat:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7014326

The point is that food affects your hormones and your hormones affect what your body does with calories and cravings, which in the end will affect what you eat next.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.

Calorie in/calories out is only half the story, if that much. The hormones in your body affect your metabolism, whether and how you store fat, whether and how you have strong cravings. Read Gary Taubes.

This has been studied ad nauseum in the lab. Calories in/ calories out is exactly 100% of the story.

That is precisely NOT what the science shows. You can get people to gain weigh on a starvation diet.

Please link to your sources. I'll start. In the Minnesota Semi-starvation Study, participants lost 25% of bodyweight.

http://jn.nutrition.org/content/135/6/1347.full

Gary Taubes critical reviews:

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/2011/05/16/thin-body-of-evidence-why-i-have-doubts-about-gary-taubess-why-we-get-fat/

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/why-we-get-fat/

http://reason.com/archives/2003/03/01/big-fat-fake

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.

Calorie in/calories out is only half the story, if that much. The hormones in your body affect your metabolism, whether and how you store fat, whether and how you have strong cravings. Read Gary Taubes.

This has been studied ad nauseum in the lab. Calories in/ calories out is exactly 100% of the story.

That is precisely NOT what the science shows. You can get people to gain weigh on a starvation diet.

1

Well. Scientifically it's #1, no brainer. However, in practice most people suck at accurately counting calories, it makes them miserable, and they quit. So, if #2 has the effect of lowering their net caloric intake without the misery (as has been my personal experience) it would definitely be better.

Anonymous wrote:2.

Calorie in/calories out is only half the story, if that much. The hormones in your body affect your metabolism, whether and how you store fat, whether and how you have strong cravings. Read Gary Taubes.

This has been studied ad nauseum in the lab. Calories in/ calories out is exactly 100% of the story.

Not a direct answer to your question, but I think one of the biggest and best changes you can make it to lift weights. More muscle=more calories burning. Also tigher everything. Yes, adding muscle initially adds weight, but your waistline will be reduced and you will be healthier and fitter overall.

2.

Calorie in/calories out is only half the story, if that much. The hormones in your body affect your metabolism, whether and how you store fat, whether and how you have strong cravings. Read Gary Taubes.

#1

Calories in vs. calories out

well...my brother is a terrible eater. Think bagels, hamburgers, pasta, butter, peanut butter and bread. Little to no veggies and fruit. He started counting calories and does not go over at all. Ever. He has been doing this since April and has lost 45 pounds. So I guess it works. For health reasons, I think option 2 is better. Little to no bad carbs, lean proteins, veggies and fruit.

Consume fewer calories. Burn more calories.

1) change how much you eat = count calories

or

2) change what you eat (please say what you should eat)