Which Way the Calories Burn

What is required to lose weight? Is it low fat? High Protein? Low Carb? No animal products? No starch? Limited fruit? No sugar? Protein drinks? Supplements? What if it's just as simple as calories in - calories out? What if at the end of the day if you are eating more calories than you are burning you will gain weight and if you are eating less you will lose weight. What if there are no short cuts or magical pills? What if carbs are actually really important for brain function? What if there is such a thing as too much protein or too little fat? What if diet coke actually makes weight loss harder? What if loosing weight quickly is actually a bad thing? What if everything I have done for the last 15 years to my body has been destructive? What if?

I started taking a nutritional science class in February. I wanted to learn about nutrition for personal and professional reasons. Gaining a beginners understanding as to how the body uses the foods we eat has been both fascinating and horrifying. In five short weeks I have learned that carbohydrates are what the brain uses for fuel so under-eating them might not be very smart. I've learned that protein is a very busy substance and shouldn't be asked to do the job of carbohydrates. I've learned that sugar isn't the enemy, excess is. I've also learned that I was eating double the amount of protein my body required and a lot more animal protein than necessary. I've learned that soybeans are a perfect protein containing all the essential amino acids, just like a piece of chicken does. I've learned that the only Americans suffering from a protein deficiency are under-eating, consequently protein drinks and protein bars are totally unnecessary.

This has had a tremendous effect on my eating habits for the last month. I'm rethinking everything as I continue along the process of my last diet. I am a beginner again and for someone who has been dieting since I was 12...that's saying something.