Two Day Magazine

Do you overeat accidentally?

A new study by the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that the number of calories you (over)eat - regardless of whether those calories come from proteins, fats or carbs - cause weigh gain. 

Now before you say, "Duh!" and boo me off of the stage, I'd like you to hear me out about why this report is newsworthy.

A lot of people still don't understand that you gain weight when the calories you consume outnumber the calories you burn.  It really is (barring any other medical issues or medications that might cause problems) that simple.

Calories in versus calories out.  That's it.

But somewhere along the line, we all started to believe otherwise.  

We are not so far removed from the Atkins Diet craze.  And there are still people I know who swear by the South Beach Diet.  These diets were based on the premise that entire food groups are naughty and should be limited or eliminated completely from your diet  if you have any hope in the world of losing a pound or two.  Atkins, in particular, tells you that you can eat basically anything that you want as long as it is carb-free and sugar- free.

Atkins taught us that potatoes to be put on the naughty list and that we should forget about eating yogurt or a banana ever again.  But how ridiculous is it to think it is evil to have a bowl of cheerios for breakfast and healthy to eat 3 eggs and two strips of bacon every day?  It's ludicrious. Moderation, not deprivation, is the key to long term success when it comes to dieting.

Take a look around your break room at work and listen in on conversations between coworkers about what they eat or don't eat.  I guarantee you that there will be people poo-pooing carbs or eating only a half a banana because it has “too much sugar" in it. Shoudn’t we instead focus on eating nutritious, whole foods at a caloric amount that is appropriate for their individual bodies?

When dieting, however, food becomes the issue when we eat too much of it.  A serving of pasta is about a half of a cup. Most people eat at least three times that amount without even realizing it. Eating pasta in and of itself isn’t going to make you gain weight, but when you eat three times what the serving size is on a regular basis, don’t expect those jeans to magically zip up without a struggle.

I think it is very easy in our society to overeat.  We're being programed to do so.  Free breadbaskets sit on every restaurant table.  Coffee is more like dessert at most coffee shops, especially when one adds the syrups and whipped cream on top. Of course, it’s always encouraged to enjoy it with giant-sized chocolate chip muffins.

Go ahead and eat that 1,000 calorie muffin.  But you better run a 10K afterward to burn it off if you don't want to gain weigh!

Calories in versus calories out.

Say it with me.

Calories in versus calories out!

Calorie restriction is not something that is easy or fun to do.  Trust me, I know.  My doctor, with whom I work closely to maintain a healthy weight, told me that one of the greatest disservices a woman can do to herself is assume a 2,000 calorie a day diet is appropriate for her.  Consultations with an endocrinologist, a sports medicine specialist, and a dietitian proved that her philosophy was true.  For me, at my weight, build, and hulking Eastern European heritage, I have to exercise an hour a day and eat much, much less than 2,000 calories to prevent weigh gain.

I go about my day sizing up the calorie content of food I encounter and calculating how much food I can eat.  I eat delicious food all day, every day... the difference is that it is all portion and calorie-controlled.

Think of me and this study the next time you scold yourself for wanting deliciously carbohydrate-laiden fettucini.  Enjoy the fettucini!

Just don't eat three freaking cups of it.

**********************************

twoday magazine wants to know: What fad diets have you tried that you realize weren’t sustainable? And what are your favorite tips for staying in shape all year long? Facebook us your thoughts!