I don't dislike low carb and paleo type diets.
They are a clever way to create a calorie deficit.
...and these diets work for a lot of people.
The biggest contribution the Paleo movement has made to the fitness industry is reminding us that natural fats aren't evil.
I also like their focus on whole unprocessed foods.
What I don't like about Paleo:
The idea that the majority of our health problems come from carbs.
The information about fats was great
...but then the pendulum swung too far in one direction.
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The older I get, the more cautious I am about avoiding "Extreme Ideologies".
The truth typically lies somewhere in the middle.
- Paleo is an example of an extreme ideology.
- The low fat movement was an extreme ideology.
- The raw food movement is an extreme ideology.
When it comes to diet:
Protein, carbs, and fat can all make up a healthy diet.
If you are tying to lose weight, creating an ongoing calorie deficit works pretty much 100% of the time.
If it is easier for you to create a deficit, by limiting carbs
...then there is nothing wrong with following a Paleo approach.
If you find it easier to create a deficit with more carbs and less fat
...then eat more carbs and less fat.
Both diets work.
Maybe you want a balance of fat and carbs?
Works just as well as long as you are in a deficit.
I'm even open-minded about calorie deficits.
The idea of calorie deficit could be viewed as an "extreme ideology".
If there comes a time when a large body of scientific literature disproves the idea of calories in/calories out?
I will take on a different believe system.
I'm open minded when it comes to changing my advice based on new knowledge gained through scientific research.
This book I recommend simply shows that at this time, here's what the largest body of scientific research is showing:
...calories in/calories out is what matters when it comes to gaining, maintaining, or losing weight.
It isn't slamming low carb.
It is just pointing out that low-carb is just another way to create a calorie deficit.
PS: A good quote from Charlie Munger (business partner of Warren Buffet), about extreme ideologies:
“When you’re young it’s easy to drift into loyalties and when you announce that you’re a loyal member and you start shouting the orthodox ideology out, what you’re doing is pounding it in, pounding it in, and you’re gradually ruining your mind.
So you want to be very, very careful of this ideology. It’s a big danger."
I try to keep an open mind about every subject.
As science advances, many of the things we used to think were true were proven wrong.
It took a long time for a lot of people to believe the earth was round.
It appears flat, and makes sense to believe that.
...but then science proves that it is not flat.
I still believe that we are have a ton to learn when it comes to health and fitness.
...so I'm flexible in my beliefs.
It helps me give the better and better advice to people to achieve their fitness goals.
