What do you think of the whole calories on the menu thing?

[Pantlegz]

This.

Calories are nearly irrelevant.

What a surprise, the government gets something wrong again.

-KeithP

Not really, typically weight loss is determined roughly by calories in < calories out. There are some exceptions and arguments that can be made in special circumstances but in general this rule is true. That does not mean that where you're getting these calories from doesn't matter because different macro-nutrients interact differently with your body and can cause things like blood sugar spikes that slow weight loss doesn't mean that calories don't matter.

 

[Elias824]

I doubt it helps really most people just look at the picture and think HONNGRAY get in my face hole.

The face hole is my least preferd hole for food.

 

[darkxshade]

Not really, typically weight loss is determined roughly by calories in < calories out. There are some exceptions and arguments that can be made in special circumstances but in general this rule is true. That does not mean that where you're getting these calories from doesn't matter because different macro-nutrients interact differently with your body and can cause things like blood sugar spikes that slow weight loss doesn't mean that calories don't matter.

That's because society[incorrectly might I add] places a greater emphasis on weight control rather than bodyfat %.

 

[Anubis]

seems im the only person that had no idea WTF pizookie was

 

[Pantlegz]

Wont change my eating habits. I dont go out to dinner to diet.

You're doing it wrong. A diet isn't something you go on it's something that is constant. It doesn't always have to stay the same but if you do what most people do and diet for 3-6 months then eat junk for 3-6 months then diet again you're doing it wrong. It's better and easier to manage a healthy weight if you are able to balance eating healthy with eating no so healthy in the same period of time, be it a day or week or whatever, and for this knowing how many calories you're taking in is important to keeping the balance. I keep track of my calories all the time and sometimes it's hard when I go out knowing what to order because I'm unsure of the calorie content and this can skew my number for the day and possibly throw the whole week off.

 

[Pantlegz]

That's because society[incorrectly might I add] places a greater emphasis on weight control rather than bodyfat %.

That still doesn't make calories irrelevant because you could eat 5000 calories of protein a day and get fat. I know there needs to be a balance of macro nutrients but that still doesn't render calories useless. Calories are energy stored in food, fat is energy stored on the body. So the body takes in the calories and processes them whatever is left over turns in to fat, it doesn't matter where the energy came from if it's excess it's going to become fat.

 

[SP33Demon]

Now that I think about it, 1000 calories is a lot for a girl. Considering she's normal size, her caloric intake is going to be around 1400-1500 a day. That pizookie is going to take the place of 2 square meals and if she already ate breakfast, she can't eat for the rest of the day or get fat.

 

[vi edit]

Now that I think about it, 1000 calories is a lot for a girl. Considering she's normal size, her caloric intake is going to be around 1400-1500 a day. That pizookie is going to take the place of 2 square meals and if she already ate breakfast, she can't eat for the rest of the day or get fat.

Or you look at weight maintenance as more of a marathon rather than a sprint....

It takes roughly 3500 calories to gain a pound of fat. That's a 500 calorie excess per day, for an entire week. Skip a couple snacks the rest of the week and hit the treadmill for an extra day and you just negated that dessert.

Our bodies don't operate on 24 hour accounting calendars. You don't lock in the calories for that day and instantly gain the weight. Sure it's easier to track things by day...but you can carry things over and balance them out.

 

[vi edit]

Also a 5'5", 120 pound woman needs around 1750 calories a day to maintain weight. And that's with no exercise.

 

[Genx87]

You're doing it wrong. A diet isn't something you go on it's something that is constant. It doesn't always have to stay the same but if you do what most people do and diet for 3-6 months then eat junk for 3-6 months then diet again you're doing it wrong. It's better and easier to manage a healthy weight if you are able to balance eating healthy with eating no so healthy in the same period of time, be it a day or week or whatever, and for this knowing how many calories you're taking in is important to keeping the balance. I keep track of my calories all the time and sometimes it's hard when I go out knowing what to order because I'm unsure of the calorie content and this can skew my number for the day and possibly throw the whole week off.

I diet, just not when I go out to eat. When I go out to eat it is to enjoy the meal regardless of what I am eating. It is entertainment as much as nourishment. So for me seeing a ribeye dinner at 1500 calories on the menu wont change my mind about ordering it. I diet at home where I can control my portions and it is a meal for nourishment.

And I diet just fine. Lost 40 pounds in 8 months last year and got back into playing weight and look and feel great.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Nothing wrong with the calories being posted at all. I know I am eating food that's considered bad already.

 

[darkxshade]

That still doesn't make calories irrelevant because you could eat 5000 calories of protein a day and get fat. I know there needs to be a balance of macro nutrients but that still doesn't render calories useless. Calories are energy stored in food, fat is energy stored on the body. So the body takes in the calories and processes them whatever is left over turns in to fat, it doesn't matter where the energy came from if it's excess it's going to become fat.

False, protein cannot be converted to fat. Assuming on the strict basis that you're eating 5000 kcal in protein and no carbs.

edit: maybe I might be wrong, I just can't picture it

 

[khon]

That still doesn't make calories irrelevant because you could eat 5000 calories of protein a day and get fat.

Actually you couldn't, since the body can't process protein fast enough for that to happen, which is why the Atkins diet "works".

Anyway, I'm a big of posting nutrional information at restaurants, and frankly the more the better. Having the calorie count listed is a good start, but it's only a start.

 

[techs]

I think its a GREAT idea.
In our society food is much more highly concentrated than our bodies are adapted for. A 150 calorie apple is less than third of the calories of something like a cupcake or muffin that is the same size and takes less time to eat.

Posting the calories on the menu is far less embarrassing for Janey McFattie who weighs 275 pounds than having her go up to some calorie board on the wall where she might get rude remarks directed at her while she is there. Plus, if you are trying to put together a meal that might contain 3, 4 or 5 items, of a certain amount of calories, its far easier to do it while sitting down.

Another strong reason to have the calories right on the menu is the huge differences there can be between two similar dishes at two different restaurants. A pasta carbonara can be made with heavy cream and butter at one place and milk or a milk/cream combo at another, resulting in a far different calorie count.

How anyone can say its the same thing to have it posted on the wall somewhere and on the menu, is beyond me.

Great idea.

 

[Pantlegz]

False, protein cannot be converted to fat. Assuming on the strict basis that you're eating 5000 kcal in protein and no carbs.

edit: maybe I might be wrong, I just can't picture it

It can't be converted directly into fat, but they can be synthisized into carbs which can be stored as fat. I know that it takes the body longer to process this way but in general taking in too much of any macro nutrient can make you fat. There does need to be balance, I was over exagerating to make a point not that anyone would really do something like that.

 

[Perknose]

seems im the only person that had no idea WTF pizookie was

It sounds dirty. Makes me want one.

 

[QuantumPion]

I like calorie labels, some foods have surprisingly high amounts that you would not guess.

For example, I go to subway and get a 6" turkey sub. With lite mayo, that's a mere 350 calories - healthy! But a single chocolate chip cookie has 250 calories! And they aren't that big, I guess they are just pure butter or something.

 

[slayer202]

this has to be some sort of troll thread, right?

 

[zoiks]

It's actually a great idea with the obesity problem that we have here. Yeah, you can ignore it if you wish but just because it hurts when you read it isn't good enough reason why it shouldn't be there.

 

[Pantlegz]

Actually you couldn't, since the body can't process protein fast enough for that to happen, which is why the Atkins diet "works".

Anyway, I'm a big of posting nutritional information at restaurants, and frankly the more the better. Having the calorie count listed is a good start, but it's only a start.

No Atkins diet works by limiting calorie intake(indirectly) and carbs(directly) which is what basically anyone that fights does when they're trying to cut weight for a fight. This works, but only short term because it's not a viable long term solution.

Anyone can drop (some) weight fast if they cut carbs out of their diet almost entierly but the issue with that is you need carbs to survive, they do serve a purpose.

 

[alkemyst]

When I was younger and out with a chick, fuck what the menu said.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I like those labels and it helps me make my decision of what I should be eating.

yes informed decision making.

 

[destrekor]

No Atkins diet works by limiting calorie intake(indirectly) and carbs(directly) which is what basically anyone that fights does when they're trying to cut weight for a fight. This works, but only short term because it's not a viable long term solution.

Anyone can drop (some) weight fast if they cut carbs out of their diet almost entierly but the issue with that is you need carbs to survive, they do serve a purpose.

Atkins goes to an extreme, but has an important idea:
we should all be consuming quite a bit less in the way of carbs. Carbs are the easiest source of energy to utilize, and the body will use carbs before anything else, simply because it's the most easily utilized, and the easiest to find source of energy.

If you go off the standard diet the government thinks is the most appropriate, and go to 100% in every dietary value, you'll be consuming roughly 300g in carbs. If you eat nearly 300g in carbs over the day, no matter how much fat or protein you consumed, the body won't touch other sources of energy until it has burned every carb. So, with a diet high in carbs, your body is extremely likely to store glycogen instead of reaching for fats.

But a diet with a good amount of unsaturated fatty acids, specifically the 18 and 20-carbon chain Omega 3s, you're providing your body both an excellent source of energy, as well as important nutritional compounds. Even greater, a diet higher in those fatty acids will actually help one reach lower blood pressures, lower LDL and higher HDL, and can help boost neuro-growth.

 

[Pantlegz]

Atkins goes to an extreme, but has an important idea:
we should all be consuming quite a bit less in the way of carbs. Carbs are the easiest source of energy to utilize, and the body will use carbs before anything else, simply because it's the most easily utilized, and the easiest to find source of energy.

If you go off the standard diet the government thinks is the most appropriate, and go to 100% in every dietary value, you'll be consuming roughly 300g in carbs. If you eat nearly 300g in carbs over the day, no matter how much fat or protein you consumed, the body won't touch other sources of energy until it has burned every carb. So, with a diet high in carbs, your body is extremely likely to store glycogen instead of reaching for fats.

But a diet with a good amount of unsaturated fatty acids, specifically the 18 and 20-carbon chain Omega 3s, you're providing your body both an excellent source of energy, as well as important nutritional compounds. Even greater, a diet higher in those fatty acids will actually help one reach lower blood pressures, lower LDL and higher HDL, and can help boost neuro-growth.

I agree the 'food pyramid' or whatever they're calling it now is broke and shouldn't be followed. My diet is something like 40/30/20 protein/fat/carbs. I typically only eat carbs first thing in the morning and after a workout along with some good protein. But I also consume well over the recommended 2000 calories a day. My main point was calories aren't meaningless like a few other said earlier in the thread.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

No Atkins diet works by limiting calorie intake(indirectly) and carbs(directly) which is what basically anyone that fights does when they're trying to cut weight for a fight. This works, but only short term because it's not a viable long term solution.

Anyone can drop (some) weight fast if they cut carbs out of their diet almost entierly but the issue with that is you need carbs to survive, they do serve a purpose.

it depends on your activity level. The Eskimos survived on a diet of only meat(fish) and fats for hundreds of years simply because there was no vegetation or carb sources. The body will produce the glucose required on its own from the break down of proteins and fats.

Most people lead a sedentary lifestyle (sit at a desk 8 hours a day, go home and sit in front of the TV.) their biggest carb demand is maybe a low impact walk for 30 minutes. This doesn't require 100+ carbs per day to sustain.