I don't disagree that not all calories are created equal. I mean that's kind of no duh.

However, I have been following CIO for 5 months and I have lost 37 pounds. It definitely works. It's based on my baseline maintenance, which is around 1,500 calories per day. I eat 1,200 calories a day. I make sure they are healthy calories (fruits, veggies, proteins, whole grains). When I have been a bit stuck and the scale isn't moving, I have reduced it to 1,100 or 1,000 for a period of time. I rarely if ever feel hungry.

I exercise 4-5 days a week and those calories that I burn I add back in to how many I can eat that day. So if I burn 300 calories on a run, I can eat 1,500 that day.

Once I reach my goal weight then I will maintain by having 1,500 calories per day, which at this point feels like a lot!

This might not work for everyone, but it is definitely working for me. It's not rocket science to know that those calories need to be predominantly healthy calories for the benefit of health. I would probably still be losing weight on 1,200 junk calories but I certainly wouldn't be healthy.

FYI - I am female, 47, and I have a thyroid disorder.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As whacky as he seems, I guess Dr. Funk was right about Glycemic Index and insulin load, and its really WHAT you eat more than how much.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/927735

It is hard to separate. People are overeating carb laden foods. Giant Frappuccinos, bucket of fries, triple scoop waffle cones, bread bowl of soup, foot long subs. Portions are out of control

Those people are not the same who desperate to lose weight

Yes they are, just in a different cycle. They yo yo from dieting to overeating and back and forth again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m genuinely curious if any of the posters here who think CICO is not effective have lost weight with some other type of weight loss/maintenance philosophy (such as carb/insulin like the study cited)? What worked for you and how do you maintain it? How long ago did you lose weight?

Ok, I'll bite
I did
230 to 180, took me about 10-12 month, maintaining ever since.
Diet based on managing blood sugar/insulin level

Sure, but do you if you were eating the same amount of calories than before ? My guess is managing your insulin managed your cravings and your appetite and you ended up eating less

I am eating more than before for sure calorie-wise probably within the same range
Before I would skip breakfast (coffee and roast maybe), get something for lunch (Panera or subway and such), and dinner with no carbs. Maybe late-night snack
Now I eat 5 times a day, there are almost no restrictions on food, just on timing. And I'm feeling great 👍

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m genuinely curious if any of the posters here who think CICO is not effective have lost weight with some other type of weight loss/maintenance philosophy (such as carb/insulin like the study cited)? What worked for you and how do you maintain it? How long ago did you lose weight?

Ok, I'll bite
I did
230 to 180, took me about 10-12 month, maintaining ever since.
Diet based on managing blood sugar/insulin level

Sure, but do you if you were eating the same amount of calories than before ? My guess is managing your insulin managed your cravings and your appetite and you ended up eating less

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As whacky as he seems, I guess Dr. Funk was right about Glycemic Index and insulin load, and its really WHAT you eat more than how much.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/927735

It is hard to separate. People are overeating carb laden foods. Giant Frappuccinos, bucket of fries, triple scoop waffle cones, bread bowl of soup, foot long subs. Portions are out of control

Those people are not the same who desperate to lose weight

Anonymous wrote:As whacky as he seems, I guess Dr. Funk was right about Glycemic Index and insulin load, and its really WHAT you eat more than how much.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/927735

It is hard to separate. People are overeating carb laden foods. Giant Frappuccinos, bucket of fries, triple scoop waffle cones, bread bowl of soup, foot long subs. Portions are out of control

Anonymous wrote:I’m genuinely curious if any of the posters here who think CICO is not effective have lost weight with some other type of weight loss/maintenance philosophy (such as carb/insulin like the study cited)? What worked for you and how do you maintain it? How long ago did you lose weight?

Ok, I'll bite
I did
230 to 180, took me about 10-12 month, maintaining ever since.
Diet based on managing blood sugar/insulin level

As whacky as he seems, I guess Dr. Funk was right about Glycemic Index and insulin load, and its really WHAT you eat more than how much.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/927735

The difference is that some calories curb your appetite and some don’t. So in that sense not all calories are equal. But in the end it is down to CICO.

I am currently on a classic whole food low carb diet. The magical part is that I am less hungry so I can easily reduce calories