loss, undeniably disproves this 3500 calorie deficit theory.
If you could see me right now, I’m sitting in a coffee shop slamming my fingers into my keyboard while writing this, because, for now, to me, my computer represents all the government agencies, private health companies, diet coaches, ill-informed bloggers and everyone else that has helped perpetuate this myth. Here’s a big F-YOU, 2006 Macbook! Can you tell I’m a little upset? I know it's not their fault though -- biologically speaking, we still don’t know enough.
On my personal blog, I discussed why it was important to question everything. Let me reiterate this -- it's EXTREMELY important to question everything you hear or read, when it comes to fat loss, especially!
Why They're (Mostly) Wrong
First, let's look at the fat on your body, or adipose tissue. Adipose tissue (fat) on your body can range in lipid fraction (how much is actually pure fat) from roughly 55% to 85%. This would clearly throw off the 3500 calories per pound equation quite a bit -- in fact, depending on the adiposity (how much is pure fat) of your body fat, you'd need to decrease your calories by almost 2000 more per week just to make the math work, even though it doesn't really work.
Second, if this simple math actually were true, it means, inevitably, it would also be true if you ate 500 calories more per day. Thus, you should gain one pound of fat every week if you simply ate an extra 500 calories every day. That’s a coke and a granola bar. How many people do you know that have gained 52 lbs in one year, of pure fat?
know that have gained 52 lbs in one year, of pure fat? Not many. But, I'm sure you and even many people you know overeat by much more than a coke and a granola bar every day. The average person gains roughly 1-2 lbs per year throughout their adult life…and that’s AVERAGE!
Third, this whole “3500 calories less per week equals one pound of fat” equation is also assuming (wrongly) that when you “burn” calories, they are solely coming from fat stores on your body. This is the most preposterous part of the equation, as we know fat stores on your body won't be mobilized for fuel until the glucose in your blood is used up. I could go on all day with this, but I’m just not willing to put in all the effort in order to debunk this hare-brained “theory”, if you can even call it that.
If you take away anything from this article, let it be this: If you are considering changing your diet in order to lose fat, any diet that bases its efficacy solely on caloric restriction, regardless of macronutrients or body composition should be skipped over quickly. Let me know if you have any questions. I’m more than happy to set the record straight with you individually. Or, at the very least, I can give you some lame motivational quote to pin on your Pinterest “Fitness” board.
WARNING: Don’t Fall For This Fat Loss Myth
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Website: www.DadLifts.com
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