Calories In and Calories Out

I was just thinking about a good, easy example to show how burning more calories then you eat doesn't result in weight loss. It was difficult because if you do burn more calories and build muscle then you become a more efficient user of energy and usually become a more active person and won't store as much extra sugar as fat. Then I realized that America has tons (sorry about the pun) of fat kids. We all see kids, fat or otherwise, running around and playing and burning all those calories but they are still fat. In addition, these fat kids are burning calories growing taller, but they are still fat. I don't know for sure but I would bet growing uses a LOT of calories. How can kids who are active AND growing get fat if burning more calories then you eat supposedly results in weight loss?

The answer is what I posted on below, weight control is more about chemistry then calories. The fat kids are eating processed carbs and probably TONS of sugar in juice boxes, regular juice, snacks and low fat foods. All processed for a longer shelf life not maximum nutrition. Remember, there are 4 grams of sugar per teaspoon of sugar. Check the sugar content on your juice. There are 28 grams of sugar per 8 oz serving in the juice in our fridge so that's 7 teaspoons of sugar per serving. YIKES!

Where Low Fat Came From and Why It No Longer Makes Sense

This post should be short. My hope is to make shorter post with increased frequency. I write most of these without a lot of planning and I know I can ramble on and on.

So where did this idea of low fat come from and what was the rationale behind it? I think it is a very important question to know the answer to but so few actually understand. About 50 years ago Americans began getting fat. During WW2 Americans were required to ration their meat for the soldiers fighting on the front lines in Europe. To replace the calories America turned to grains and our waist lines started to expand. (This coincides with Coke introducing high fructose corn syrup). Exercise for weight loss was unheard of, it was called "working up an appetite" back then. So America was getting fat and something needed to be done.

The scientists of the day looked at the macro nutrients (nutrients that provide energy) to see where they could make cuts. Protein and carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram and fat contains 9 calories per gram. The simple idea was to cut fat and therefore cut calories. The thinking was that eating fewer calories and exercising (burning calories) would result in weight loss. This sounded easy and is still the current view of most backward thinking doctors. Unfortunately not all calories are equal. Weight gain is not a matter of eating more calories than one burns. Many studies have shown that simple calorie restriction will result in an equal reduction in resting metabolism. The body adjusts the the amount of fuel it is given.

Weight control is more a matter of chemistry than calorie. For starters, cutting fat means cutting a nutrient that the body requires. Ever hear of "essential fatty acids?" Guess what, they come from fat! Also, cutting fat usually means reducing protein intake since most fats are literally attached to proteins. But protein is absolutely required, it is what most of the human body is made of. But what about carbs? Has anyone ever heard of a disease or condition that resulted from not enough carbohydrate in the diet? Absolutely not! Actually, the body's daily requirement for carbs is ZERO! That's right, I will say it again. ZERO! A healthy liver produces all the blood sugar the body requires and that in turn maintains a level blood glucose AND insulin level. Any sugar added to the blood stream, sugar from the digestion a carbohydrate, will cause insulin spikes which tell the body that there is plenty of easy access energy around and now is the time to store it. Extra energy is stored as... Anyone? FAT!

Below is a short clip from the upcoming movie called Fat Head. It is a brief but humerous look at the science that resulted from the poor judgment of cutting fat.

In Memory of Einstein, My Best Friend for 14 Years

Many souls pass through our lives, some stay longer then others. For 14 years my dog Einstein has been a companion through good times and bad but his attitude was always the same. He was amazingly happy, lazy and lovable. Years ago he was diagnosed with a thyroid and weight problem and proper medication and diet were used. By the time he was 12 years old he had pretty bad arthritis and required many expensive med's to keep him going. Recently, at age14, we found a cancerous tumor growing near his shoulder. More med's were added to keep him comfortable and it looked like they were dong the job. On Saturday it appears Einstein suffered a stroke. We rushed him to the Kingston Animal Hospital where the decision was easily made to stop Einstein's suffering. Mary and I were close to him as the injection was made and through tears we shared his final moments of peace.

Many of you remember him as the gentle giant he was; large and lovable and always a long, sticky line of drool (Love) hanging from his lips. No one could resist him though... Once the love was wiped away with a paper towel, that is.

My favorite Einstein story took place in Colorado, his birth place. I was helping my friends the Reynolds build a new deck so I took Darwin and Einstein over the night before to get an early start. I had forgotten to bring breakfast so during the morning Einstein helped himself to the dog food at hand. As many of you know he has always had a sensitive stomach. Around lunch time the new food had worked its magic and had made its way to Einstein's business end. At first no one was sure what we were smelling, certainly no human was going to admit to being the source. The Reynolds had a pretty good size backyard and this was Colorado with lots of open space and fresh air. That said, we all had to go inside to get away from Einstein's power. Yes, Einstein cleared the outside.

Also, apparently Einstein decided to lick his balls during our wedding ceremony in the backyard. Always a charming dog, he did this in front of all our family and friends.

Today, there is an empty spot in my heart like I have never felt before. I am with out a dog. I still think I see him out of the corner of my eye, coming down the hall. It is now possible to walk from one room to another with out have to take 1 large step over him, and I miss that big step. He will never be completely gone though. I am sure I will always have some of his thick fur stuck in a fleece pullover or find some dried drool stuck to the ceiling. He could shake his head and send it EVERYWHERE.

I won't miss stepping in his poop in the hall or picking it up with on a late night walk in the rain (sometimes finding there was a hole in the plastic bag). But that's what I signed up for and I have no regrets. Some where in doggy heaven Einstein is together again with his partner in crime, Darwin, and I hope there are low fences to escape from. There were many in Colorado and escape they did. Once, I had Einstein on a dog run but when I bailed him out of doggy jail I found he had pulled it out of the trees on both ends and dragged at least 75 feet of steel cable around the neighborhood with him.

Einstein will join Darwin and Princess and be cremated the placed in a beautiful wooden box. Einstein's box will hold a position of honor though. He lived the longest and the best. We all could have learned from him. No one could nap better, could hold down a carpet better or just completely relax quite like him. His patience with kids was bottomless.

If you can, please leave a thought or a story about him. There are too many of you to call and tell personally. And Michael is a light sleeper so I can't call you anyhow. I am going to bed now with out him at the end of my bed for the first time in 14 years. I miss him so much already...

Goodnight my friend.