Dieting and Exercise Aren't Effective Fat Loss Tools, page 20

Originally posted by Teebs
if I were to suddenly increase the calories I am consuming to above the level that I am burning them, my body would of course store (what it could not use for energy) fat, regardless of the fact that my body is producing almost no insulin.

Well, without understanding your entire situation (sex, age, physical activity level, food sensitivities and body fat %) it's really hard for me to give you a reason for what's happening; however, and I mean this sincerely, your anecdotes don't mean very much given the context. I'm not saying you're wrong....but if you noticed, I haven't provided any of my own personal anecdotes for the same reason. Just one question....have you actually measured your serum insulin levels fasting and postprandial?

Animal and human lab studies have shown that a positive caloric balance does not always lead to fat to fat gain.

Of course there are other factors involved besides calories in Vs. calories out when it comes to adipose tissue retention, but in the end, that is the PRIMARY factor. To say otherwise is simply wrong.

Well, considering the compensatory effects of calorie restriction and calorie surplus...calories in vs. calories out-- in a healthy individual and barring extreme circumstances (starvation..forced overfeeding)--don't really matter.

In other words, when you're healthy and you're eating healthily, if you eat too much you're body compensates naturally to maintain fat mass; if you eat too little your body compensates naturally to maintain fat mass.

You should read some bodybuilding forums if you really want to educate yourself. In bodybuilding, it's common to cycle between high calorie (meaning a caloric surplus, as in MORE calories than you are burning) 'bulking' periods in order to put on muscle (which also puts on fat), and then switch to low calorie (meaning a caloric deficit) 'cutting' diets in order to loose the fat gained, while attempting to keep muscle loss to a minimum.

Oh...thanks for bringing this up. I frequent bodybuilding forums daily (for tips on workouts/sports nutrition for me and my small clientele). Yeah, you have to eat more to provide your body with enough fuel for muscle hypertrophy; however, hormones are the dominate factor here. For without hormones..muscle growth is impossible (testosterone, HGH, etc.)

And while it's true that "bulking" typically leads to increased bodyfat...that's not always the case if done correctly. Look into some work by Dr. John Berardi...and G-Flux. His clients consistently build lean body mass and lose body fat while maintaining a positive caloric balance. I'm talking 4000 calories a day and dropping body fat.

Bodybuilders also eat high-GI carbs before, after and during their workouts. They literally eat pure sugar (dextrose/glucose),

Hey, me too....except I take maltodextrin and dextrose.

Also,another thing you forgot to mention (I think) is that high body-fat levels in men REDUCE endogenous testosterone production, which is not good for business.

Absolutely...which certainly adds to the vicious cycle.

As one final note, the meaning of the word 'diet' has become completely misused. Your 'diet' is simply what you eat, so of course we are all on a 'diet'. Whether or not our diet consists of a caloric surplus, or a caloric deficit is another matter. When people say they are 'going on a diet', what they really mean is 'I'm going to introduce a caloric deficit into my eating plan with the desired outcome of losing adipose tissue deposits while retaining lean body mass'. You never go 'on' or 'off' a diet, you just modify your eating plan.

....exactly. Most people's idea of diet means..."Eat Less".

Thanks for the post!