Truth Behind Calorie Tracking & Weight Loss: Dr. Layne Norton
Losing Weight, Tracking Calories, Daily Weighing
People trying to lose weight might be getting it wrong. And the blame often falls on the inaccuracies of fitness trackers.
Imagine wearing a gadget that promises to count your calories burned. But here’s the twist: these wrist-bound sidekicks can exaggerate. Big time.
A 2018 study showed they could overstate your calorie burn by 28 to 93 percent!
But wait, there’s more. Online calorie calculators also stir the pot of confusion. They’re not always right. Relying on these can lead to a calorie miscount, and voilà – your weight loss plans get thrown off track.
Are the laws of physics broken, or are the tools flawed? Spoiler: It’s the tools.
Here’s a pro tip from Norton and Huberman. Be disciplined in your weigh-ins. Hop on the scale at the same time every day.
Morning is best, post-bathroom break. This consistency cuts through the noise of daily weight shifts.
Fluid retention is a crafty culprit. It can swing your weight by pounds in a day, sending your motivation into a nosedive.
And those low-carb diets with their quick water weight drop? They’re not helping with their early false promise of success.
Both experts agree. The initial dip on the scale might feel great, but it’s a mirage. Don’t fall for it. Real weight loss isn’t just water.
Accurate tracking, patience, and science – that’s the real deal. That’s what forms the solid foundation for any successful weight loss journey.
Post-Exercise Metabolic Rate, Appetite
Dr. Layne Norton, brings his expertise to the table. They begin with a common question: How accurate are the calorie counters on our fitness devices?
Norton responds with insights draped in biochemistry and nutrition. Reality check: The boost in your metabolism post-exercise? It’s minimal. Not the fat-loss game changer we thought, according to studies cited by Norton’s mentor, Don Layman.
Huberman steers them to another vital piece: appetite post-exercise. Cardio leaves him unfazed, but weightlifting stirs his hunger. Norton nods along.
The exercise we do echoes into our hunger levels, influencing our weight just as much as the burning of calories during the workout itself.
Norton casts doubt on those flashy numbers our wristbands and gym machines boast. Burned 1000 calories in a two-hour weightlifting session? Perhaps not.
Huberman agrees, pointing out personal differences in workout recovery and tolerance.
Exercise does affect our calorie burn and metabolism, but perhaps not to the extent we’ve been led to believe. And it’s not just the burn; it’s also how workouts shape our hunger and food intake.
The lesson here? Dive into these details. Write not just with numbers and goals but with understanding and adaptability.
Exercise & Appetite, Calorie Trackers, Placebo Effects & Beliefs
Dr. Norton shared insights about calorie trackers. They’re not perfect, but they help compare your activity from day to day.
He recommends counting your steps, especially when you’re trying to lose fat. Often, people’s steps decrease without them realizing it. To counter this, you might need to add extra cardio time.
Andrew Huberman shed light on the arbitrary nature of health benchmarks. Take the well-known 10,000 daily steps or the eight-hour fasting window. These aren’t rooted in deep science. For instance, the fasting window’s origin was a grad student’s schedule, not peak wellness habits.
Dr. Norton warned about overgeneralizing scientific studies. Studies offer guidance on what to avoid. But personalized coaching and actual practice provide tailored advice.
A fascinating point of our talk was the placebo effect.
They discussed research on creatine. Participants felt stronger even when they only believed they were taking it. This shows how our beliefs can shape our physical state.
Huberman introduced his colleague, Dr. Leah Crumb, who studies the placebo effect’s psychological side.
Expectations matter. Tell someone stress can boost memory before a test, and their performance may improve. But negative expectations can harm performance.
On exercise and hunger, Dr. Norton had a surprising take: Exercise often suppresses appetite. We don’t eat back all the calories we burn, making physical activity less effective for weight loss than we assume.
Both experts agree: Exercise has undeniable health benefits. Dr. Norton says it enhances health markers like insulin sensitivity and inflammation, no matter the weight loss.
Huberman refers to Dr. Peter Attia’s claim — regular exercise beats any supplement for longevity.
In conclusion, track your steps to keep up with your non-exercise activity.
Believe in the power of your mind to influence your body. And, even with its subtle effects on appetite, exercise is a formidable ally for a longer, healthier life.
Energy Balance, Food Labels, Fiber
Dr. Layne Norton shows us that food labels can be off by a shocking 20%. That means a 100-calorie snack could be anywhere from 80 to 120 calories. This error margin affects the reliability of calorie counting.
The energy our bodies get from food is another puzzle.
Not all listed calories are accessible. Take insoluble fiber, for example. It’s not easily digested, so it provides less energy and more bulk. Plus, gut microbiomes vary. Some people may draw more energy from fiber than others.
Some question the worth of counting calories. But Dr. Norton compares it to budgeting. You can’t predict exact expenses due to inflation or interest rates, but you can get a ballpark figure.
Similarly, while food label accuracy varies, tracking helps us understand our rough caloric intake.
Calorie counting isn’t perfect, but it gives structure to those managing their weight. Knowing the inaccuracies and differences in digestion, we can shape a diet that’s flexible.
It’s not about being exact – it’s about mindful eating and balance.
More From this Episode
Carbon App: Fitness and Nutrition Simplified – Dr. Layne Norton
Dr. Norton on Creatine Monohydrate
Fiber & Gastric Emptying Time in Energy Balance
Gut Health: A Secret Weapon for Weight Loss?
Calorie Quality: Beyond Numbers in Nutritional Science (Dr. Norton)
Exercise as a Pathway to Weight Loss and Self-Discovery
Rapid Weight Loss Satiety & Beliefs – Dr. Layne Norton
Weight Loss, Diet, & Lifestyle Tips – Dr. Layne Norton
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Articles
Role of Nonexercise Activity Thermogenesis in Resistance to Fat Gain in Humans (Science)
Creatine Supplementation Increases Total Body Water Without Altering Fluid Distribution (Journal of Athletic Training)
Biology’s response to dieting: the impetus for weight regain (American Journal of Physiology)
Other Resources
Dr. Layne Norton
Dr. Andrew Huberman:
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