The Twinkies Diet Dilemma: How To Lose Weight The Healthy Way
If you havent heard about the recent Twinkies diet that a Kansas State University professor underwent where he lost 27 pounds in two months, you may be instantly intrigued to look it up and discover for yourself how to lose weight on what he dubbed, the convenience store diet.
However, approach this diet with extreme caution. Even Mark Haub, the man who ran this self-experiment on food consumption theory has been quoted saying, "I'm not geared to say this is a good thing to do. Why would he even allude to the fact that this type of weight loss may not be ideal? Isnt weight loss always good, no matter how you achieve it? Well lets dive into the facts about weight loss and try and discover if losing weight in a healthy way is better than a crash diet.
What Is and Isnt Healthy Eating to Lose Weight:
First, we need to discuss the two pools of thought that exist on the topic.
1)A calorie is a calorie. Those who count calories religiously will tell you that no matter if you only eat Twinkies and Little Debbies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner you will be able maintain or lose weight if you eat less than the amount by which you burn. This, in essence, has some truth in it. For instance, in the case of the Twinkies Diet, Mark Haub did, in fact, lose weight, lowered his body mass index, while his healthy levels of cholesterol were increased. To some, that would be all the proof they would need to gobble up every processed food they could find, but still keeping their calories low. For others, weight loss alone isnt enough and longevity of life and quality of that existence are worth more than a pants size.
2)A calorie is not just a calorie, quality matters. This thinking should be the norm. First, the amount of calories you consume will always either help or hinder your weight loss goals. You can never eat with unbridled abandon and expect to lose weight, even if you are eating healthy. Too much grass fed beef, or too many slices of Ezekiel Bread slathered with raw nut butter will still contribute to stubborn numbers on the scale. However, longevity of life and the maintenance of weight loss can only be supported by a long-term plan to eat foods that are low in pesticides (organic when possible), and devoid of modern-day preservatives, cheap fat, and sugar substitutes. The quality of the food you eat can and does effect long-term weight loss success.
Portion Sizes and Food Quality: Are Calories Good or Bad?
First, calories are good. You must eat in order to stay alive, get through your day with energy, and keep your body functioning the way that it should. The quality of those calories can dictate how long that life may be, how much energy you have on a consistent basis free of caffeine or other stimulants like sugar, and can aid or injure the way your body functions.
So if weight loss is your goal, portion sizes must be addressed. However, losing weight on a diet that solely consists of chemicals, highly processed foodstuffs, trans-fats, and high-fructose corn syrups may lead to weight loss as is seen with the Twinkies diet; however, you will also suffer from lethargy, gas, bad skin, hormonal and emotional highs and lows. And, while only time will tell, poor diet has been linked to a wide range of diseases which can end your life prematurely, and has even been linked to the development of cancer in adults.
However, approach this diet with extreme caution. Even Mark Haub, the man who ran this self-experiment on food consumption theory has been quoted saying, "I'm not geared to say this is a good thing to do. Why would he even allude to the fact that this type of weight loss may not be ideal? Isnt weight loss always good, no matter how you achieve it? Well lets dive into the facts about weight loss and try and discover if losing weight in a healthy way is better than a crash diet.
What Is and Isnt Healthy Eating to Lose Weight:
First, we need to discuss the two pools of thought that exist on the topic.
1)A calorie is a calorie. Those who count calories religiously will tell you that no matter if you only eat Twinkies and Little Debbies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner you will be able maintain or lose weight if you eat less than the amount by which you burn. This, in essence, has some truth in it. For instance, in the case of the Twinkies Diet, Mark Haub did, in fact, lose weight, lowered his body mass index, while his healthy levels of cholesterol were increased. To some, that would be all the proof they would need to gobble up every processed food they could find, but still keeping their calories low. For others, weight loss alone isnt enough and longevity of life and quality of that existence are worth more than a pants size.
2)A calorie is not just a calorie, quality matters. This thinking should be the norm. First, the amount of calories you consume will always either help or hinder your weight loss goals. You can never eat with unbridled abandon and expect to lose weight, even if you are eating healthy. Too much grass fed beef, or too many slices of Ezekiel Bread slathered with raw nut butter will still contribute to stubborn numbers on the scale. However, longevity of life and the maintenance of weight loss can only be supported by a long-term plan to eat foods that are low in pesticides (organic when possible), and devoid of modern-day preservatives, cheap fat, and sugar substitutes. The quality of the food you eat can and does effect long-term weight loss success.
Portion Sizes and Food Quality: Are Calories Good or Bad?
First, calories are good. You must eat in order to stay alive, get through your day with energy, and keep your body functioning the way that it should. The quality of those calories can dictate how long that life may be, how much energy you have on a consistent basis free of caffeine or other stimulants like sugar, and can aid or injure the way your body functions.
So if weight loss is your goal, portion sizes must be addressed. However, losing weight on a diet that solely consists of chemicals, highly processed foodstuffs, trans-fats, and high-fructose corn syrups may lead to weight loss as is seen with the Twinkies diet; however, you will also suffer from lethargy, gas, bad skin, hormonal and emotional highs and lows. And, while only time will tell, poor diet has been linked to a wide range of diseases which can end your life prematurely, and has even been linked to the development of cancer in adults.
