Calories In Calories Out

Does this work for managing weight?

We are taught in medical school the phrase “Calories in Calories out”.

We are told all the time that it is all about calories in weight management.

I’ll let you in on a little secret.

There is so much more to weight management than calories.

So so so much more.

This is why when I am asked “Should we count calories or macros”, my answer is usually “Meh”.

Question- If calories make me gain or lose weight, then “What does a Calorie weigh?

I can’t answer that because a calorie is a measurement of energy, not of weight.

Funny, back when I was a chemistry major in college, the above meant so much more to me. I thought I would be allowed to forget this when I graduated and went on to medical school. Just my luck I get to relive what a calorie really is on Common Sense Health and Wellness.

Back to topic.

How much does the 🔥 flame on your gas grill weigh? The energy released from the burning gas is what is measured in calories, not the weight of the gas.

OK, did I drill that down enough??

I hope so as I don’t have another “weigh” right now to explain it.

Let me ask you another question and I hope it makes you think.

How many calories are there in a quart of water?

The answer is there are Zero calories in a quart of water.

We all agree.

Water in most any calorie counting diet is unlimited as it is known to not count as a calorie in the traditional sense. So when we drink water we should in the traditional sense remain weight stable.

Now answer this.

If you weighed 160 lbs and then drank a quart of water which is zero calories, what would you weigh as soon as you finished the quart of water?

Do the calories matter or does it matter what the quart of water weighs?

What does a quart of water weigh?

What is the difference between calories supposedly measured in food and what the food physically weighs? Does it matter?

Am I asking too many questions??

So let’s say that 1 quart of water rounded off weighs 2 lbs. After drinking the entire quart of water, or drinking 2 lbs of water, add the 2 lbs to the 160 lb person and they now weigh 162 lbs.

But water has no calories!

How come consuming something that has no calories caused 2 lb weight gain?

Try this at home if you don’t believe me, as long as you are thirsty enough and can handle the water.

How come consuming something that has no calories caused 2 lb weight gain?

The answer is that calories in calories out does not stand up to scientific scrutiny. But the establishment that has used this as their mantra for longer than I have been a physician will just not let it go.

I’ll discuss this more in a future Common Sense Health and Wellness about what does contribute to weight gain and weight loss, if you want me to.

Let me know this and any other comments below.