Are All Calories Equal ?
IntoFit | January 21st, 2010 | Weight Loss Tips | 4 Comments »
Short answer. No.
VS 
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you have to eat to lose weight. But you have to eat the right things.
If a cookie is 2 points on Weight Watchers and a glass of milk is 2 points. The glass of milk and the cookie are NOT equal.
The glass of milk will help you loose weight, the cookie will not.
The milk is full of protein that will help you stay full and curb your appetite for later cravings. It will regulate your insulin levels so that you don’t ‘feel like’ crap. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT WHY PROTEIN HELPS KEEP YOU FULL!
The cookie is full of sugar and simple carbohydrates that will leave you feeling hungry after you eat it and it will leave you craving more cookies (and other such carbohydrates things).
THERE IS A CHEMICAL REASON why after you eat a high in sugar food (even the fake kind) you only want more of it.Your insulin spikes and your Adrenal Gland actually releases a ‘feel good’ kind of secretion – 10 minutes later your insulin drops and the feel good goes away- so although you actually don’t NEED food – because you just ate 3 cookies- you ‘feel’ fake signs of hunger.
Where you get your calories from DOES matter.
- Lean protean, high fiber, fruits and vegetables and low fat dairy rich foods will lead to weight loss.
- Eating processed high in sugar foods, simple carbohydrates like white anything and low calorie processed treats will negate weight loss. You will feel hungry after you eat them, you will activate your ‘sweet tooth’ leading you to want seconds and a thirds.
Have a look at this chart comparing 3 Oreo Cookies to 1 ounce of Almonds :
| Calories | Carbohydrates | Protein | Fat | Fiber | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 3 Oreo Cookies |
| 164 | 5.6 | 6 | 14.4 | 3.3 | 1 Ounce Almonds |
The calories are the same, and in fact, the Almonds have more fat in them than the Oreo’s! But here is the kicker, The Oreo’s are all carbohydrates and no protein or fiber. A formula bound to set you up for more treats or at the very least more calories throughout the day. And although the Almonds are higher in fat, it’s a natural fat that is good for your heart – not a processed one like you get from the Oreo’s. Not to mention the protein and fiber in the Almonds will help keep your hunger (AND CRAVINGS!) at bay, the sugar in the Oreo’s will ignite hunger (AND CRAVINGS). When in doubt read the ingredient list. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INGREDIENT LISTS. The Almonds are made of one thing. The Oreo’s are made of 19 ingredients- many of which are not even food!
I’m interested in your thoughts on this one! Send ‘em in!
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thank you for posting this! i am trying to keep track of things kind of a la WW again, and i’m SO frustrated by this, especially with things like seeds, nuts and raisins, which are high points, but also full of things like iron and protein!
Very interesting post. A lot to digest. It totally makes sense.
I get the frustration with WW because I did try that diet but felt it encouraged me to kind of eat badly some of the time. Like the oreos – the diet brags that you CAN eat oreos but they don’t really stress the importance of staying away from these “hunger inducing” foods.
Now the only problem is sticking to 1 ounce of almonds! It’s always something…
Thanks for writing in Katrina! I do think Weight Watchers is a great diet for teaching people portion control and a path to a healthier lifestyle. However, attention needs to be paid to situations where something that is ‘bad for you” is equal in points to something that is ‘good for you’. And as you know, I’m a big fan of nuts! In 1 ounces portions they provide huge benefits! If you are sticking to counting your points, I think you’ll find that you have room in your diet for the points that come with nuts if you stick to filling up on the right kinds of foods like veggies and fruits and protein – and staying away from the pre-made cakes, cookies and candies! Good luck! Keep me posted on how it’s going!
Thanks for the comment! It is always something! But you did say it best- WW is a good diet – but they don’t stress staying away from the hunger inducing foods. I think they want people to feel like they can have their cake and eat it too- when the reality is- if your trying to lose weight you have to make sacrifices. It sucks, but it’s the truth. Having the cake while you trying to lose instead of the healthy choice can lead to trouble.
P.S- I find that eating my nuts in small portion controlled baggies (sorry environment) instead of out of a bulk bag can really help keep me in check. I know you won’t fell FULL after your 1 ounce, you may not even feel 100% satisfied – but it will hold you over till your next meal only an hour or so away.