Four Diet Types Compared

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Ron AKA replied on Sat, Feb 28 2009 10:12 AM

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NMC you missed the point of the originally posted study. They found there was no difference in the four diets.

The reason that a low carb diet can promote a quick weight loss is due to another effect. Carbohydrates are preferentially stored as glycogen in the muscles. If you restrict carb intake then the glycogen stores of energy are drawn down, while fat stores are built up. For the same stored energy value, fat weighs much less than glycogen. The reason is that glycogen has a lot of water in it. So eating a low carb diet does not change the energy balance. All it does is change how energy is stored, and has the opposite effect that people think it is having. Instead of reducing fat in their body, water is reduced and fat is increased! Further glycogen provides a quick energy source so you feel good, and full of energy when your muscles have lots of it. When an athlete "hits the wall" they have in effect depleted their glycogen and are burning fat. A terrible feeling and your pace goes a way down. Because the pace goes down energy consumption goes down, so again having the reverse of the desired effect. Not so dramatic but a person not running can experience the same.

Next you will probably tell me that it takes more energy to burn fat than carbohydrates, or some other rather insignificant effect in the scheme of things -- such as not all carbs are digestible. While this may be true it is not really significant compared to the energy in -- energy out balance. That is why the posted study makes a lot of sense.

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nomorecarbs replied on Sat, Feb 28 2009 5:43 PM

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What we have here is a failure to communicate.  I doubt that further posts by me, on this thread will improve communications.   I've posted what I had to say, those that wish to disagree with me, I wish them the best.