Come on, really?
Yep, really. Mark Haub, a professor of nutrition at Kansas State University went on a "convenience store" diet to show that the amount of daily calories matters more than nutritional content when it comes to losing weight. To prove his point, he went on a 10-week Twinkie diet.
For a class project, Haub limited himself to less than 1,800 calories a day. A man of Haub's pre-dieting size usually consumes about 2,600 calories daily. So he followed a basic principle of weight loss: He consumed significantly fewer calories than he burned.
Before the diet, his BMI (Body Mass Index was 28.8. After 10 weeks, he had a BMI of 24.9, which is considered a "normal" weight. Professor Haub ate a Twinkie, or a bag of chips every three hours but also ate more nutritional foods which comprised about one third of his total caloric intake. He drank a daily protein shake and took a multivitamin. And he rounded out his culinary creation with canned green beans or several sticks of celery.
Here's a link to the article on CNN.com.
The results?
He lost 27 pounds
His "bad" cholesterol dropped 20%
His "good" cholesterol increased 20%
Though he states that his health markers improved after the 10 week experiment, health experts say that such a diet may lead to long-tern health consequences. Wow, big surprise there. And admittedly, Haub does not recommend that anyone follow his example. That's right Haub, CYA.
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Mmmmmm.... I love Twinkies. But they just don't love me back
Here's my take on this guy's dietary disaster:
First off, I totally agree that fat loss comes down to eating in a calorie deficit. But there's more to it than that. Imaging what his health would be like after 10 years of eating like that? But really, who eats junk food on a regular basis for 10 years? Ummmm....Most Americans. You think it might increase the risk for Cancer? Maybe Diabetes? Nutritionally, I wouldn't recommend eating like this, either. Not for 10 weeks. And certainly not for a lifetime.
I believe that, as long as you keep within your weekly calorie deficit, a Twinkie here or a bag of chips there won't derail your fitness goals as long as you can control your consumption. If you base your overall diet and calorie intake on nutritionally-dense foods, and stay within a weekly calorie deficit, you can have a weekly cheat day without too much to worry about. So go ahead, have a Twinkie for desert once in a blue moon. Want to pork out on nachos with co-workers after work on Friday? Go for it. Just make sure you don't derail your diet and fitness goals by blowing your calories out of the water. I speak from experience on that one.
Professor Haub proved his weight loss theory, but I think he is missing the forest for the trees. This guy's approach uses an extreme example to illustrate his belief that it's all about calories but what surprises me most is that he is a nutritionist. You'd think he might want to do an experiment that inspires the American public to follow nutritional RDA guidelines to limit calories and lose weight. Instead, he gave overweight people an excuse to have their Hostess Cake and eat it, too.
He argues that families who live in "food deserts" have limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables, so they often rely on the kind of food he was eating. And in his own defense, he stated that, "These foods are consumed by lots of people. It may be an issue of portion size and moderation rather than total removal. I just think it's unrealistic to expect people to totally drop these foods for vegetables and fruits. It may be healthy, but not realistic."
Okay, I agree that it portion control when eating junk food is an issue with most people. And I don't think it is out of the question to expect people to go without junk food. It's called an educated choice. And it comes down to willpower. Most Americans, even in so called "food deserts" have access to frozen vegetables and canned fruit. Even if they can't buy fresh produce. And I am skeptical about him being "healthier" after 10 weeks of losing weight by eating mostly junk food instead of more nutritious options available at connivence stores.
Maybe it was the protein shakes.
Though he "proved" his point by making junk food the main part of his weigh-loss diet, he isn't exactly a shining example to follow.
Wal-Mart now has a carpool lane for express shopping
So what's next? Some family will go on 52 week Wal-Mart Diet and base their calories on Wonder Bread, balogna, tater tots, frozen pizza and Diet Coke? Oops, there's millions of Americans who already do that. My bad.
Final Thoughts
To get a perspective on what the typical American family eats during a week, take a look at this photo, courtesy of Food Matters, "What the World Eats" and compare it to some other countries. For the full list go to http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/what-the-world-eats-shocking-photos
North Carolina, USA (lots of pizza)
California, USA
France
Italy
(I don't see any pizza )
Japan
Chad
(yes, that's a weeks worth of food)
The views expressed on this site are my opinions and should not be taken as a substitute for qualified medical expertise. I am not a Doctor. I do not give medical advice or make claims to cure any sickness, disease or affliction. I simply share my understanding of health and fitness. Please consult your Doctor or Health Care Practitioner before starting any diet or fitness routine.
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