I still enjoy every second of this new lifestyle I have adopted. When I began my weight loss journey about three and a half months ago, I weighed 234. As of my current "low" weight in progress, I weighed 209.6; I have lost nearly 25lbs! I am currently in the midst of one of my inexplicable "gains" -- I think it's hormone or possibly salt induced water retention -- but once my body decides to let it go I will lose all that I have retained and then some. I get more compliments as time goes on regarding my improved looks, and I overall just feel better as a person beyond the health implications. My reading of Gary Taubes has brought me a lot of knowledge I did not have regarding the nature of fat metabolism, sugar and carbs' involvement with metabolic syndromes, and, most rewarding for me personally, obesity not being a behavioral (mind over matter or slovenly state of overeating) issue but a metabolic disease that CAN be treated by changing the diet (low carb of course!). I was also surprised to find that most exercise in no way effects weight loss, and it gives me an excuse not to have to do it since I don't really enjoy it personally!
As someone with a very direct link to the supplements industry and a deep knowledge regarding some of the most current research on fat metabolism, I was looking at a large leaflet by the company Natural Factors regarding their product PGx. I in no way disagree with the statements about the product's efficacy itself because I know they have done their research and have proven it to have positive impacts for those already dieting, exercising (heh...), and trying to watch their blood sugar levels. My issue is actually the inane information that they use as the side-board for the product, catch phrases such as a "healthy" diet or information regarding saturated fats in the diet. Laughable, guys, just laughable. Let's dive into the issue.
In this 48 page leaflet, on page 4, it asks two questions that most of us that are actually obese have pondered throughout our overweight lives: "If the current approach to weight loss works, then why are 60% of adults overweight and 25% of those obese? If diets work, why do so many people end up regaining all the weight they have lost?" These are both great questions, and I will answer them from my personal standpoint and from the research I have done: (1) The current approach to weight loss does not work; calories in/calories out has been, and always will be, a dismal failure to those in the grips of the worldwide obesity epidemic. (2) "Diets" do not work; with the usage in the United States at least, a "diet" implies a short term change to induce weight loss, not something that becomes a lifestyle change. When a lifestyle change (of the proper type) is implemented, weight loss will be permanent because the things causing one to become obese have been eliminated permanently never to return (and thus, obesity is eliminated permanently as well).
On page 5, the true crux of the issue I have with this publication arises: "...PGx users typically reduce the amount of food they consume." This implies that those that are obese overeat, which surprisingly is not always the case; it also implies that obesity is a mind over matter (behavioral) issue such as I discussed above, which has been refuted by scientific study and Taubes' compilation of data. This also implies that Natural Factors is buying into the calories in/calories out theory.
Page 6 - "The new science of appetite control: volume & viscosity" -- This is another theory, one of many, that has been refuted by actual science. Fiber (volume/viscosity) is no replacement for actual foods and calories that truly control appetite -- those being the macronutrients fat and protein. Purchase Good Calories, Bad Calories and get your learnin' on, guys. On the same page the product guide mentions that apples, which are full of fiber, are more filling than eating a fast-food meal; personally, I would choose neither -- I forswear fructose (fruit sugar such as in apples) just as vehemently as I forswear fast food (full of who knows what kind of shit), BUT if I had to choose I'd eat the fast food hamburger and throw away the bun and all other toppings except things like bacon and cheese. Lastly, this particular page talks about "fattening calories" -- the calories you eat are not the enemy, it's the carbohydrates and sugars you eat that are. I'd prefer to eat a spoon of coconut oil, butter, or lard any day over a bite of bread or pasta!
Page 7 - touts exercise, "healthy" meals, and "high-volume, low-calorie" foods as the keys to a successful diet plan. What is "healthy"? This is such a vague catch-phrase in the weight-loss industry, and most Americans have no idea what a healthy diet may even mean. Exercise is another huge money making industry and does not impact weight loss enough to consider part of any weight loss regimen. High fiber, low calorie foods are useless and will leave you just as hungry as you were before.
Page 11 - "unwanted calories" are mentioned; once again, calories are not the enemy but carbs are. Smaller portions are also mentioned; wouldn't it be nice to have a diet where you ate when you were hungry, stopped when you were full, and didn't have to watch portions or calories so much? Welcome to low-carb livin', folks.
Page 12 - more talk about low calorie baloney.
Page 14 & 15 are titled "Some helpful tips for a satisfying relationship with food". Once again that star of this volume, high-volume low-calorie foods, makes its appearance; they say they improve "satiety" - fancy word for fullness - and are going to give you lower calories than other foods. Ugh, who gives a crap about calories??? I haven't counted calories once since I started this routine almost four months ago, and I've done pretty damn well! Foods they suggest include: low-fat salads (gross, and a waste of time), high-fiber soups (hungry ten minutes later, or have to eat a gallon of it), legumes (beans are being implicated in a lot of things as having negative health benefits - and peanuts are a legume too), low-fat stews (that's just a soup, dear, stews imply hearty beef concoctions with plenty of fat to be had), raw or cooked non-starchy veggies (maybe with a heaping side of protein like eggs or beef), boiled whole grains like barley, quinoa, or oatmeal (carb-laden and will kill you faster than a steak). Healthier food alternatives mention lower sugar (yes, I agree with this wholeheartedly), less fat (nope, I do about 75% of my cals daily in fat), and lower calories (useless measurement, look at the carbs first).
I really don't have the patience to continue. Needless to say, I in no way condone any product that believes that things such as calories and fats are the demons of the SAD. If you are not able to get with the times and realize that carbohydrates are killing the world then I will not promote your products at work to my customers!!! The worst part of this terrible pamphlet is that it states that saturated fats and other animal fats are specifically unhealthy and damage cells' ability to communicate and properly use insulin...WHICH IS A FLAT OUT LIEEEEE!!! It says to improve your insulin function you should not eat saturated fats...okay...but you fill your softgel with coconut oil, which is almost entirely a SATURATED FAT?! PLUS, animal fats are roughly 70% healthy fats that are GOOD FOR cholesterol, and 30% of them still raise HDL (good cholesterol and a good thing to raise), lower triglycerides (very good) and slightly raise bad LDL, which in the end means that animal fats are a positive impact on overall cholesterol profiles, since HDL and triglyceride levels are the main indicators of your risk for a heart attack. Even the LDL that is raised by animal product is raised in volume, not in number; large, fluffy LDL particles are healthy and normal and do not affect the risk for heart disease issues; however, if you eat large amounts of carbs your LDL is more likely to be small and dense, which promotes atherosclerosis and other heart disease issues...
In a proper low carb regimen, fats are the mainstay of your calorie intake. I make sure that I ingest more fat vs. protein and little to no carbs. I lose weight and feel wonderful. I am amazed at people who demonize the benefits of low carb and are not astute enough to understand current research on the many health benefits that a low-carb regimen has to offer. Get your facts STRAIGHT before you publish this garbage!
