'A Calorie Is Not a Calorie'

If a hypothetical lifter were to eat almost exclusively donuts and protein shakes in a calorific deficit, be maintaining (or gaining) strength levels and is currently losing weight at a steady rate… Would it be safe to say that individual is dropping fat whilst retaining muscle?

I only ask because I’ve read that article by a trainer who went on a “twinkie diet” or something similar (eating some fruit/veggies and protein on the side… but twinkies as the main energetic macro source) to demonstrate that calorific intake is the top most priority for fat loss purposes - however I always read about how a “calorie is a calorie”, etc.

[quote]benmoore wrote:
If a hypothetical lifter were to eat almost exclusively donuts and protein shakes in a calorific deficit, be maintaining (or gaining) strength levels and is currently losing weight at a steady rate… Would it be safe to say that individual is dropping fat whilst retaining muscle?

I only ask because I’ve read that article by a trainer who went on a “twinkie diet” or something similar (eating some fruit/veggies and protein on the side… but twinkies as the main energetic macro source) to demonstrate that calorific intake is the top most priority for fat loss purposes - however I always read about how a “calorie is a calorie”, etc.[/quote]

A couple of thoughts on the topic,…
1- losing ‘fight’ isn’t the same as losing ‘weight’
2- while your body can make carbs from protein, it can’t make protein from carbs (or specifically sugars, or fats), which will drastically impact the maintenance of lean muscle when protein isn’t being ingested (and once your body has scavenged all of your skeletal muscle tissue)

So I guess theoretically, so long as you were ingested enough protein to support current muscle tissue, even if only from protein shakes, which in turn will support your metabolism, and through some odd chance, you’re getting enough healthy fats that your hormones don’t take a horrible dip, it is possible. I imagine such a drastic choice for the majority of non-essential calories is sort of like IIFYM taken to extremes.

Remember though, when in a severe deficit, and without reasons to retain muscle, your body will burn through muscle quickly as it’s “costly” to maintain. This is a very quick, and simple way to lose “weight”, although I doubt you’ll find many people on this site who would be willing to follow such an approach.

S

What’s the point of even talking about a “twinkies and whey” only diet, or whatever ridiculous combination IIFYM bashers come up with? NO ONE eats like that, it would be impossible to actually hit macros while still covering micronutrient needs. Everything in moderation

[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
What’s the point of even talking about a “twinkies and whey” only diet, or whatever ridiculous combination IIFYM bashers come up with? NO ONE eats like that, it would be impossible to actually hit macros while still covering micronutrient needs. Everything in moderation[/quote]

I wasn’t bashing anything? If anything I prefere IIFYM style eating.

All I was asking is if your calories and protein are in check… and you’re loosing weight whilst gaining strength… would it be safe to assume that the bulk of that mass is fatty tissue?

I would say a calories is not a calorie… yes, you can lose weight by eating a few twinkies a day (and some protein and vitamins) but you’re gonna feel like crap.

That’s how I judge a calorie: what it does for you. A twinkie is JUST a fuel source (a bad fuel source at that), but some broccoli gives you much more calorie for calorie.

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:

[quote]benmoore wrote:
If a hypothetical lifter were to eat almost exclusively donuts and protein shakes in a calorific deficit, be maintaining (or gaining) strength levels and is currently losing weight at a steady rate… Would it be safe to say that individual is dropping fat whilst retaining muscle?

I only ask because I’ve read that article by a trainer who went on a “twinkie diet” or something similar (eating some fruit/veggies and protein on the side… but twinkies as the main energetic macro source) to demonstrate that calorific intake is the top most priority for fat loss purposes - however I always read about how a “calorie is a calorie”, etc.[/quote]

A couple of thoughts on the topic,…
1- losing ‘fight’ isn’t the same as losing ‘weight’
2- while your body can make carbs from protein, it can’t make protein from carbs (or specifically sugars, or fats), which will drastically impact the maintenance of lean muscle when protein isn’t being ingested (and once your body has scavenged all of your skeletal muscle tissue)

So I guess theoretically, so long as you were ingested enough protein to support current muscle tissue, even if only from protein shakes, which in turn will support your metabolism, and through some odd chance, you’re getting enough healthy fats that your hormones don’t take a horrible dip, it is possible. I imagine such a drastic choice for the majority of non-essential calories is sort of like IIFYM taken to extremes.

Remember though, when in a severe deficit, and without reasons to retain muscle, your body will burn through muscle quickly as it’s “costly” to maintain. This is a very quick, and simple way to lose “weight”, although I doubt you’ll find many people on this site who would be willing to follow such an approach.

S[/quote]

Thank you for this reply!

What do you mean when you say “fight” however?

[quote]benmoore wrote:

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:

[quote]benmoore wrote:
If a hypothetical lifter were to eat almost exclusively donuts and protein shakes in a calorific deficit, be maintaining (or gaining) strength levels and is currently losing weight at a steady rate… Would it be safe to say that individual is dropping fat whilst retaining muscle?

I only ask because I’ve read that article by a trainer who went on a “twinkie diet” or something similar (eating some fruit/veggies and protein on the side… but twinkies as the main energetic macro source) to demonstrate that calorific intake is the top most priority for fat loss purposes - however I always read about how a “calorie is a calorie”, etc.[/quote]

A couple of thoughts on the topic,…
1- losing ‘fight’ isn’t the same as losing ‘weight’
2- while your body can make carbs from protein, it can’t make protein from carbs (or specifically sugars, or fats), which will drastically impact the maintenance of lean muscle when protein isn’t being ingested (and once your body has scavenged all of your skeletal muscle tissue)

So I guess theoretically, so long as you were ingested enough protein to support current muscle tissue, even if only from protein shakes, which in turn will support your metabolism, and through some odd chance, you’re getting enough healthy fats that your hormones don’t take a horrible dip, it is possible. I imagine such a drastic choice for the majority of non-essential calories is sort of like IIFYM taken to extremes.

Remember though, when in a severe deficit, and without reasons to retain muscle, your body will burn through muscle quickly as it’s “costly” to maintain. This is a very quick, and simple way to lose “weight”, although I doubt you’ll find many people on this site who would be willing to follow such an approach.

S[/quote]

Thank you for this reply!

What do you mean when you say “fight” however? [/quote]

lol, typo! Damn autocorrect kills me every time. I meant ‘Fat’ :slight_smile:

S

Definition: calorie. The unit of heat equal to 1/100 the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water from 0 to 100°C at 1 atmosphere pressure.

A calorie is a calorie.

What I’m getting from this: A new term “calorific deficit” is born… a term to describe below maintenance calories, whilst still getting to enjoy foods like twinkies.

I hate this example by virtue of the fact that Twinkies are nasty. If you’re gonna IIFYM, at least do it right: peanut m&m’s, skinny cow ice cream sandwiches, lucky charms, fat-free pringles, mmmmmmm

Ben Pak covers this topic very well in my opinion.