Why?

>>What does that tell you about the quality of research and education in the field of nutrition?>>

Nothing. Intelligence and education have nothing to do with character and the willpower to resist the desire to do what we know we shouldn’t do. Or the character to do what we know we _should_ do – like exercise.

Just because you _know_ doesn’t mean you _do_.

Right on. Much of what I have learned has come from this source, along with Richard K. Bernstein and the “radical” diabetic movement. Funny that much medicine and health policy is written by people in classrooms, all the while ignoring those like bodybuilders who have decades of anecdotal success doing the very things the doctors and policy makers wish to do. Just like how our education policies are often written by people who have no children.

My wife has that gene. She is small and eats around 1200 calories/day for a maintenance diet. If she eats 1500 calories/day her metabolism does not increase so she can slowly put on pounds at that calorie level. In order to lose weight she has to go to 900 calories/day and increase to 1200-1300 every third or fourth day. A week at 900 calories and her metabolism down regulates to burn just 900 calories/day and the weight loss stops. She eats about six times a day to keep a slow but steady supply of calories fueling her system. She also changes up her workouts. They are mostly aerobic exercise (walking) punctuated with anerobic exercise of different types (calisthenics with light weights, kettle ball exercises, fast bike rides, etc.)

When someone says they have a hard time losing weight, my first suspicion is that they have the anti-starvation gene and know that it really is harder for them to maintain their weight much less lose excess weight.

Refined foods (not as much fiber, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes) are a problem for many of us. It has only been in the last 50-60 years that our diets have become laden with refined foods. Our systems are not evolved to handle that kind of diet. Fiber is what protects the system from insulin spikes. For some people refined sugar in all its forms are a major problem as it creates insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes for many people. There are, however, some people who can live on refined carbohydrates and not show adverse affects. (My father-in-law was one.) We are not all exactly alike and that is what makes medicine difficult. Each individual needs to be treated as a unique individual, not as if we were all identical.

Coupled with the increase in refined foods in our diets in the last 50-60 years there has been a corresponding decrease in physical activity. Just five days a week of walking for 30-45 minutes can make a big difference for many people. How many people get that much exercise these days unless they make a concerted effort to do so?

This subject has been a continuing part of my life. As an airline pilot I was required to take a thorough physical every six months. Diabetes, a heart condition, high blood pressure, etc. meant losing my job. I began jogging before jogging was cool. I tried to learn all I could about preventive medicine (mostly diet and exercise) as employment insurance. After I retired, I took up masters bodybuilding as a hobby. As a result, I have learned quite a lot more about diet and exercise. The natural bodybuilding community (those who don’t resort to steroids) knows the best ways to eat and exercise to produce a well-conditioned body.

I have also been frustrated and confused by the way the medical community has changed recommendations over the years. Obviously, there is still much to be learned.

http://www.amazon.com/200-Calorie-Solution-Martin-Katahn/dp/0425096688?tag=dogpile-20