
Loading summary
A
Hi guys, it's Tony Robbins. You're listening to Habits and Hustle. Crush it.
B
Hey friends. You're listening to Fitness Friday on the Habits and Hustle podcast where myself and my friends share quick and very actionable advice for you becoming your healthiest self. So stay tuned and let me know how you leveled up.
C
Before we dive into today's episod. First, want to thank our sponsor, therage. Their Trilite panel has become my favorite biohacking thing for healing my body. It's a portable red light panel that I simply cannot live without. I literally bring it with me everywhere I go. And I personally use their red light therapy to help reduce inflammations in places in my body where honestly, I have pain. You can use it on a sore back, stomach, cramps, shoulder, ankle. Red light therapy is my go to. Plus it also has amazing anti aging benefits, including reducing signs of fine lines and wrinkles on your face, which I also use it for. I personally use Therassage Trilite everywhere and all the time. It's small, it's affordable, it's portable, and it's really effective. Head over to therassage.com right now and use code BEBOLD for 15% off. This code will work site wide. Again, head over to therasage T-H-E r a s a g e.com and use code bebold for 15% off any of their products.
B
We've always heard, and me coming from the business background of health and fitness, that really it's about the calories you bring in versus calories out. And you're saying if you want to lose weight, that is actually, that's actually not correct information. It doesn't work as simplistic as that. Why? Can you just kind of talk about that a little bit more?
A
Yeah, absolutely. So the whole idea with calories in, calories out is that, you know, it, it, it makes a few false assumptions. First of all, people look at it and they say, you know, calories represents one part of the foods that you eat, that is the energy that's contained within that food. Okay. But when you're trying to gain or lose weight, there's actually much more to it than simply the energy that's contained in that food. So it's not just the energy, it's what your body does with that energy. Right. So if you take 100 calories of cookies, for example, or brownies, versus 100 calories of, you know, salad or broccoli or, you know, salmon or whatever, the, the body can choose what to do with that energy, right? So you can either store it as fat or you can burn it and use it for energy. You can generate body heat, for example. So simply, you know, taking in that energy doesn't mean that you're going to store more fat. Because if your body simply uses it, then you're not going to store fat. However, on the other side, if you take in 100 calories of cookies and your body immediately shovel, you know, shuttles it into body fat, which is simply the storage form of calories, well, you don't have any energy, so then your body is going to have 100 calories less energy because you've put it into storage, right? And so therefore you're going to be hungry or you're going to generate less body heat. None of which sort of, you know, you know, breaks the laws of thermodynamics. Because people always say, oh, it's thermodynamics, it's thermodynamics. And they actually, anybody who says that clearly doesn't understand thermodynamics in any way. Because remember that it's the energy balance equation is body fat equals calories in minus calories out. And that's always true. But there's three variables there. There's body fat, which is storage. There's what goes in and what comes out, right? So if you take less in, for example, you're reducing your calories in. You don't necessarily reduce body fat. What could also happen is that if calorie what comes in goes down, what goes out, that's energy expenditure can also go down and your body fat can stay the same. So that is one of the choices the body can make. But it depends on the hormones within your body, right? So if you're eating less, but you're burning less, then your body fat is not going to go anywhere, right? And it doesn't break the laws of thermodynamics. So simply eating less doesn't automatically translate into lower body fat. It depends on what your body does with it. And that's all about doing hormones in your body, right? So we know, for example, that insulin is a hormone that promotes storage of those calories. So if you simply take foods that, you know, have a very high insulin stimulating effect, your body is going to want to store that because that's what you've told it to do. So therefore what happens is that you don't have energy to burn because you've stored it away. So just like if you have, if you go to the grocery store, for example, and you take that food and you immediately put it all into your freezer. Well, you have nothing to eat, right. So you're either going to have to eat less or whatever. Right? Same thing. If you take those calories, store everything away, you have no energy. So then your body is going to burn less because it has no energy to use. So that's one of the most important things when you eat. The food contains not just the calories, but also contains information as to what to do with those calories. Right. So it's not just the in and out.
B
I have two questions. Is that why when people are in their, in their, when they're heat like kit middle age or over, over 40, they tend to have more body fat? Not. It's because, you know, a lot of times your hormones are changing and you have, it's all about the hormones and they're, and they're gaining a lot of weight in their midsection and what they try to do to offset it is eat less, but they're still not losing that body fat. Right?
A
Yeah. Because it really depends on and, and it happens to everybody. So everybody notices this. Right?
B
So, right.
A
If you look at teenage boys, they are eating a lot and they're not generally overweight. I mean, if you look at sort of middle age and older men, they're more overweight than sort of 20 year olds.
B
Right.
A
Those 20 year olds, if you've ever had a teenage boy, boy, they eat a lot of food.
B
Yes.
A
And everybody knows that. So therefore they must be also burning a lot. And that's probably just the stage of life they're at. The hormones and their energy and what they do, their lifestyle, that kind of thing. So it plays a role. But the point of the whole thing about calories is that you have to really look beyond the calories and you really have to look at what the information contained within that food is as to what your body's going to do with it. So if you are taking certain foods that have more fattening, then you're, you know, it's because of the hormonal response to those foods. That is as soon as you put the cookies in your mouth versus when you put broccoli in your mouth. The hormonal response of our bodies is completely different. We know that. That's, that's just science. Right. So we have to pretend, you have to pretend that those hormones don't play any role in body fat. But it does. Everything depends on the hormones. That's how our body works. So this whole idea of calories is completely Un physiologic. That is, there is no. No system within our body that simply monitors the calories in, calories out. We actually have no way of measuring how many calories in. The only way our body knows. Should I store body fat? Should I burn it and generate body heat? Should I, you know, have too much sugar and become diabetic? The only way our body knows what to do with it is the hormones. And that's really what you have to focus on. And it doesn't break any laws of thermodynamics. It doesn't go against. It doesn't mean you can eat everything you want. The only thing it means is that certain foods are more fattening than other foods. And, you know, that's sort of common sense because your grandmother would have told you, like, nobody gets fat eating broccoli. It just doesn't happen. But the people, all those sort of scientists who are sort of real, it's all about the calorie sort of thing, will try and convince you that, you know, well, a hundred calories of cookies is just as fattening as a hundred calories of broccoli. But it's not true in any way. Cookies are very fattening. Everybody knows that. But yet somehow they tried to convince everybody and did. They were quite successful to a certain degree that they did convince everybody. So there are doctors out there saying, oh, you could eat ice cream for dinner and not get fat as long as you count your calories. It's like, well, you know, some calories are more fattening than other calories. If you eat a block of wood, it has 100 calories, but it doesn't matter. Your body doesn't absorb it. It just goes right through you. Your body can't process it. So it's not the energy. So it's energy plus what you're supposed to do with that energy. And that's really what's important.
B
So there's a couple. You said a bunch of stuff that I'm very much want to ask you about. So the first part of this is, it's. Is it because your body is what your body does with that particular calorie, Right? Because you can have a bunch of cookies, 100 calories of cookies versus 100 calories of broccoli. Your body metabolizes it different. So you. There's a couple things. So I heard you say that. So the trick, by the way, is to. Not the trick. The. The thing is to keep your insulin leveled, right? Not to spike your insulin. So are you Saying that like cookies, processed food, of course, sugar, all of those things are obviously spiking your insulin. But I think I heard you say on someone's podcast or even in your book, maybe that protein can even spike your insulin, which is something that I've never heard anybody say before. Is that like, how is that possible?
A
Yeah, protein can spike your insulin for sure, but it has other effects. It also, because insulin goes up, but then other hormones go up, like glucagon, it doesn't tend to have any effect on blood glucose as opposed to carbohydrates, where it does have a big effect. Um, but then there's other effects. I mean, it's, it's, it's the sort of totality. If you look at protein, for example, there's other effects. If you eat protein, you're going to stimulate peptide yy, which is a satiety hormone and it's going to make you not want to eat. That's why they have those, you know, contests where you, you know, you eat 120 ounce steak, we'll give it to you for free. They're not giving away a lot of free steaks because those satiety hormones are just so strong that you can't force yourself to eat that much meat because of the protein. So there, you know, yes, insulin is going to go up, but if, on the other hand, your body is going to naturally stop eating it, like, you know, if you've ever gone to a buffet and just been super, super full and somebody said, here, have another pork chop, you go, you know, I'm going to throw up. Right? That's just the way it is. So therefore it's going to naturally sort of regulate itself. And therefore protein's not particularly fattening. A lot of people eat high protein diets and do very, very well. Carbohydrates, of course, is a little bit especially processed carbohydrates, natural carbohydrates, probably less so. But processed carbohydrates to a big extent is the big problem. And I don't think that's terribly controversial. I mean, it's simply, you know, sugar and it's not at all refined, refined grains and stuff. A lot of stuff that, you know, we probably accept that is not good. You know, the whole point is that it's, it's, it's the foods that you eat are important in many different ways other than just the calories. So you do have to look at these, these, these, these other things because they're really just really, really important.
Podcast Summary: Habits and Hustle - Episode 418: Dr. Jason Fung: Why Calories Are Not the Key to Weight Loss
Introduction
In Episode 418 of the Habits and Hustle podcast titled "Why Calories Are Not the Key to Weight Loss," host Jennifer Cohen engages in a deep and insightful discussion with Dr. Jason Fung, a renowned nephrologist and expert in intermittent fasting and low-carbohydrate diets. The episode, released on January 24, 2025, challenges traditional weight loss paradigms by emphasizing the critical role of hormones over mere calorie counting in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Challenging the Calories In vs. Calories Out Paradigm
Jennifer Cohen opens the conversation by questioning the long-held belief that weight loss is solely a matter of balancing calories consumed with calories expended. She states:
"We've always heard, and me coming from the business background of health and fitness, that really it's about the calories you bring in versus calories out. And you're saying if you want to lose weight, that is actually, that's actually not correct information. It doesn't work as simplistic as that."
[01:51]
Dr. Fung immediately addresses the oversimplification inherent in the calories-in/calories-out (CICO) model. He explains that this approach fails to account for the complexity of the body's metabolic processes and hormonal responses to different types of food. Dr. Fung emphasizes that:
"It's not just the energy, it's what your body does with that energy. Right. So if you take 100 calories of cookies versus 100 calories of broccoli... the body can choose what to do with that energy, right?"
[02:12]
The Role of Hormones in Weight Regulation
Dr. Fung delves into the hormonal mechanisms that govern how the body processes different nutrients. He highlights insulin as a pivotal hormone that dictates whether energy is stored as fat or utilized for bodily functions. He articulates:
"Insulin is a hormone that promotes storage of those calories. So if you simply take foods that have a very high insulin stimulating effect, your body is going to want to store that because that's what you've told it to do."
[06:09]
Jennifer Cohen probes further into how hormonal changes, particularly those associated with aging, affect weight gain and fat distribution:
"Is that why when people are in their middle age or over 40, they tend to have more body fat?... they're still not losing that body fat."
[06:29]
Dr. Fung responds by correlating hormonal shifts with metabolic changes that occur with age, which can lead to increased fat storage despite reduced caloric intake:
"It really depends on the hormones within your body... the hormonal response to those foods is completely different."
[06:43]
Beyond Calories: The Quality of Food Matters
One of the key takeaways from the conversation is that not all calories are created equal. Dr. Fung challenges the notion that 100 calories of cookies are equivalent to 100 calories of broccoli, arguing that the body's hormonal response to these foods varies significantly:
"Calories in calories out is completely unphysiologic. There's no system within our body that simply monitors the calories in, calories out."
[07:50]
He further illustrates this by comparing calorie sources, stating:
"If you eat a block of wood, it has 100 calories, but it doesn't matter. Your body doesn't absorb it. It just goes right through you."
[08:10]
This underscores the importance of food composition in metabolic health, advocating for a diet that considers hormonal impacts rather than merely caloric content.
Insulin Dynamics: Carbs vs. Protein
Jennifer Cohen raises an important point regarding insulin spikes caused by different macronutrients, including protein:
"I think I heard you say on someone's podcast or even in your book, maybe that protein can even spike your insulin, which is something that I've never heard anybody say before. Is that like, how is that possible?"
[10:45]
Dr. Fung confirms that while protein does trigger insulin release, it simultaneously increases glucagon, a hormone that counteracts insulin's fat-storing effects. He explains:
"Insulin goes up, but then other hormones go up, like glucagon, it doesn't tend to have any effect on blood glucose as opposed to carbohydrates."
[10:50]
He further elaborates on the satiety effects of protein, noting that:
"If you eat protein, you're going to stimulate peptide YY, which is a satiety hormone and it's going to make you not want to eat."
[11:15]
This hormonal interplay ensures that high-protein foods are not inherently fattening, as they promote fullness and regulate appetite, contrasting sharply with the effects of processed carbohydrates and sugars.
Metabolic Adaptations and Weight Maintenance
The discussion also touches on how the body adjusts energy expenditure in response to caloric intake. Dr. Fung points out that:
"If you take less in, you're reducing your calories in, you don't necessarily reduce body fat. What could also happen is that if calorie what comes in goes down, what comes out, that's energy expenditure can also go down and your body fat can stay the same."
[03:30]
This highlights the body's ability to adapt to lower caloric intake by decreasing energy expenditure, making weight loss more challenging when solely focusing on calories.
Conclusion: The Importance of Hormonal Balance Over Caloric Restriction
Dr. Jason Fung concludes by reinforcing the idea that effective weight loss is rooted in understanding and managing hormonal responses rather than obsessively counting calories. He asserts:
"There's no way of measuring how many calories in. The only way our body knows is what to do with it is the hormones. And that's really what you have to focus on."
[09:50]
Jennifer Cohen summarizes the key insights, emphasizing the need to prioritize food quality and hormonal health to achieve sustainable weight loss and overall well-being.
Key Takeaways
Calories Are Not the Sole Determinant of Weight Loss: The hormonal response to different foods plays a crucial role in whether consumed calories are stored as fat or utilized for energy.
Insulin's Central Role: Insulin regulates fat storage. Foods that spike insulin levels, such as processed carbohydrates and sugars, are more likely to contribute to fat accumulation.
The Quality of Calories Matters: Whole foods like vegetables and proteins elicit different hormonal responses compared to processed foods, making them more conducive to weight loss and satiety.
Metabolic Adaptations Complicate Weight Loss: The body can adjust its energy expenditure based on caloric intake, often hindering weight loss if only calorie reduction is attempted.
Protein's Dual Effect on Insulin: While protein can increase insulin levels, it also elevates glucagon and satiety hormones, mitigating its impact on fat storage.
Hormonal Balance Over Caloric Counting: Sustainable weight loss and health are better achieved by focusing on hormonal regulation through food choices rather than merely counting calories.
Notable Quotes
"Calories in calories out is completely unphysiologic. There's no system within our body that simply monitors the calories in, calories out."
— Dr. Jason Fung [07:50]
"Insulin is a hormone that promotes storage of those calories. So if you simply take foods that have a very high insulin stimulating effect, your body is going to want to store that because that's what you've told it to do."
— Dr. Jason Fung [06:09]
"If you take a block of wood, it has 100 calories, but it doesn't matter. Your body doesn't absorb it. It just goes right through you."
— Dr. Jason Fung [08:10]
"You have to look beyond the calories and you really have to look at what the information contained within that food is as to what your body's going to do with it."
— Dr. Jason Fung [07:20]
Final Thoughts
Episode 418 of Habits and Hustle provides a compelling argument against the traditional calorie-centric approach to weight loss, advocating instead for a nuanced understanding of hormonal impacts. Dr. Jason Fung's insights encourage listeners to rethink their dietary strategies, emphasizing hormone regulation and food quality as essential components of a healthy and sustainable weight loss journey.