The CICO diet stands for calories in / calories out. It is a diet that says one can lose weight, if one burns more calories than one eats. This may make some people believe that if they eat any food they want, they can still lose weight by simply burning off those extra calories. This idea is wrong because foods affect the body in different ways. For example, a high-sugar or high-carb food may cause insulin to increase rapidly. This causes a sugar crash later, leaving one feeling tired and hungry. It would be harder to stick to one’s calorie limits as one eats more to feel better. Calorie restriction also slows metabolism to conserve body fat. Another example – a high protein / low carb diet may initially work, but the body may suffer due to inflammation from high protein intake. Research suggests that instead of counting calories, use a ketogenic diet of high fat / medium protein / low carbs. The body will learn to burn fat in lieu of the reduced carbohydrate intake.
Key Takeaways:
- Some diet seekers are looking at the basics; ignoring everything else except counting calories, no matter what they come from.
- While calories are calories, it still matters to a certain extent if people are eating healthy or sugar laden calories.
- Another issue with CICO diets is they pay no attention to managing the metabolic curve that can rise and fall as sugary or fat heavy meals are eaten.
“Nutrition experts agree that calorie-counting as a weight loss method is old and outdated. And while it may sound easy and painless, putting quantity ahead of quality leads to energy crashes, hunger pangs, a sluggish metabolism, and, ultimately, a weight loss plateau.”
Read more: https://blog.bulletproof.com/counting-calories-cico-diet/