CatHerder's Journal, 15 May 16

So many studies, so many different - and opposing - results! I agree that every dieter has to find what s/he can stick with and calories are a factor. My personal experience tells me I will lose weight if the calories are lowered, but also that the higher the carbs the higher my fasting blood sugar levels. Higher blood sugar does damage in the body. So for me the effects of my dietary choices trump the calorie count, and any person with a tendency to diabetes ought to factor in the health cost of eating larger amounts of carbohydrates. Some folks can lose weight and the type II diabetes goes away, but for others the tendency will always be there.  

One small study isn't enough to falsify a theory, but people are going to believe whatever they like. I really don't care one way or another but I do find it problematic that there are so many people bent to prove or disprove different diet strategies. There's a whole lot more going on with someone struggling to lose weight than solely what they're eating and you can't address a singular aspect with any hope of success.  

I'm sticking with a balanced carb/fat/protein diet myself, and simply cutting portions, substituting healthier more nutritious alternatives, eating more fruits and veggies, and exercising more. Not feeling deprived at all even though I've shaved 500 calories off my weekly caloric intake so far (and working my way down), so it's working for me.  

Absolutely philmck. "Studies" will "claim" something totally different a year from now. They also don't address the mental states that may be causing extreme weight fluctuations and what about drugs or as drug conglomerates call them "medications" that effect metabolism or your bodies ability to burn fat? I am sure drug companies will find another miracle pill (probably amphetamine) to push (make money for them) to "lose weight", get it on the market and than after thousands of people die or are hospitalized, they will pull it. WE need to be smarter, get healthier and tell those billionaires to buzz off... 

These "researchers" that make bogus claims only hurt their own credibility with anyone that's actually got any scientific training, which really should be everyone, the Scientific Method is taught in public school starting from early grade school, unfortunately not everyone paid attention in public school or sought post-secondary education. I can easily and definitively declare Dr. Kevin Hall guilty of engaging in pseudoscience, anyone that pays him any attention after that does so at their own folly.  

I agree Cat Herder, not one size fits all, but in my case, LCHF kills nagging hunger which is always my demise! Whatever one can STICK to and continue is best, pounds don't melt off in 1 day, it takes months & months of dedication. 

Thanks for the link catherder! Interesting stuff 

" I can easily and definitively declare Dr. Kevin Hall guilty of engaging in pseudoscience". What is your basis for that? That's a pretty bold claim. The study seems pretty sound. Four weeks was a bit short of a timeline but it seemed like results were stabilizing at that point.  

I agree 100%! Most important thing is a diet you can stick with. You gotta do what works for you.  

A seventeen participant study over the course of a few weeks (going off memory from the last time I read the article/watched the video) isn't significant, and certainly not enough evidence to declare keto/insulin theory "falsified". At best "warrants further study", but certainly doesn't settle the science.  

KobeG, I agree. Didn't set out to eat more veggies, fruit. Didn't set out to eat smaller portions. I'm continually surprised I'm doing both (most of the time). I was sold by the 5:2 promise of eat 5, fast two. Enough. Not seeking the science as long as it's working. If/When I stall out, I'll do some research. I'm no one's example as my food diary will attest. I enjoy pizza, Chinese, Mexican, so I guess I'm the Charles Barkley of losing weight. I'm not a role model.  

years ago I tried LC and did not watch calories. Failure. I blamed it on the "diet". This time around I am LC AND watching calories...... 

Hell, in the video Dr. Hall even hedged his bet by saying, to paraphrase, "it will never be long enough, there will never be enough participants", he knew when he said keto/insulin theory had been "falsified" that he was just spouting hyperbole. I'm not criticizing his experimental design or method, which I'm sure if I were inclined to pick it apart I could find experimental flaws, I'm criticizing the blatant misrepresentation of the results.  

Sorry phil, his comment was from criticisms of his pilot study along a similar vein. Here's the complete context of his comment.YH: So there is a question from Katherine, she wants to know if it goes completely away, but it looks like you haven't done a long enough study to necessarily conclude one way or the other? Maybe it goes back up maybe it goes down, maybe it stops. KH: Who knows/ But I guess one would have to postulate some very interesting physiological phenomenon to suggest that it goes back up. YF: I'm sure people will. KH: Everybody will. IT's never going to be long enough, it's never going to be extreme enough... Interestingly from the purpose of our last paper where the complaint was that nothing that you would get an increase further augmentation of fat oxidation after the first week YF: And so briefly though for people who hadn't seen the first paper, the first paper was criticized because it was too short. KH: Too short and not YF: And so the thinking was that they weren't fully induced into the KH: They weren't fat adapted. YF: They weren't fat adapted into the ketogenic state. So that would not be the case here because KH: Right 

Who cares? This entire relentless vapid Fatsecret CICO vs. LCHF debate misses the point for many of us here and retards the potential for dialogue on more substantive health issues. Yes, fcukin' yes, a caloric deficit is obviously necessary for weight loss. Pounding this point is at best trivial. At worst, advocating "moar carbs" to those fighting obesity is damaging health advice. Hi Carb = Fatty Liver, hepatic steatosis, NAFLD, and potentially cirrhosis, all of which confound weight loss. Conversely, lo carb diets accelerate the reversal of fatty liver. #rantover 

So now he has a pilot study and a longer term study which shows the same thing. No advantage for calorie and protein matched keto and low fat diets. It's not saying anything about the other factors involved with dieting. I'm just tired of the old mantra from the low carb crowd that says you need to reduce insulin to lose fat and that any insulin release automagically puts on fat. 

Agreed catherder. Personally, I think insulin is the diet 'woo' of the day. First it was low fat, then it was high fat, who knows what the next thing will be. Because "moderation and low calories" isn't as fun :-/ 

Insulin Puts on MUSCLE. Not just fat. That's why bodybuilders use it. Bodybuilders who get down to <5% fat... 

The study is still pseudoscience, and why should it bother you if other people claim they have an adverse reaction to high insulin levels, it doesn't affect your diet. I already stated I don't care one way or another, criticizing other diet strategies isn't productive.  

It is all about building muscle and losing body fat for me...I do what best works for me! Congrats on staying with your low!