Hard to Swallow

I recently read an article about weight-loss and diet in Reader's Digest that didn't sit very well with me, and that's not because I have horrible eating habits that I need to change. Rather, the issue is what the science journalist (interviewed) recommends people do.

According to the article, much of our thinking about weight loss is wrong (counting calories is impossible; exercising doesn't make you thin; diets don't work). I can understand the thinking behind dieting and counting calories; after all, according to the journalist, the more you workout and the less you eat, the hungrier you'll be (I TOTALLY get that!). Plus, dieting ultimately leaves the dieter feeling hungry. Those are both compelling reasons as to why we need to shift our thinking. However, I have a hard time accepting the hypothesis that exercising doesn't help you slim down. If not, then how come I know of so many people who have? (Granted, they also revamped their eating habits, but changing their diet alone didn't enable them to lose the weight that they did.)

The premise behind the shift in our thinking is that people need to eat in a way so as to keep their insulin low, which means eating more protein and high fat foods and less carbohydrates. Apparently the science journalist made this shift himself and discovered that not only did he lose weight, but he also didn't feel hungry between meals. (Think the Atkins diet.) Again, I agree that eating protein is beneficial for losing weight and staving off hunger; various health magazine articles attest to that. They also support limiting your carb intake, so no problems from me. The problem I have is the claim that a high fat diet is healthy for your heart. Really? Healthy? He doesn't advocate eating solely fats and protein, but he certainly doesn't recommend eating the amount of fruits and vegetables that most nutritionists suggest. Without a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables throughout the day, isn't he depriving himself of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that keep the body healthy? And without exercise, doesn't that limit his body's ability to be at its peak? I notice a difference when I'm making poor food choices and when I fail to make time to exercise; I feel more sluggish, less alert. When I make a point to consciously eat healthy foods and to work out regularly, my attitude, my energy level, my overall well-being improves.

Maybe my perspective is a bit skewed since I haven't struggled with my weight; but then again, maybe that's because I try to make healthy choices when it comes to diet and exercise. (I use "diet" as in what I eat regularly, not in the sense that I'm going on a diet. And this doesn't mean that I eat great all the time.) Overall, shouldn't we try to eat-- protein, fats, carbs, fruits, vegetables-- and exercise in moderation?