On Gary Taubs and “Why We Get Fat”:
His demonization of the calories-in/calories-out principle strikes me as a bit of a straw man argument. He says exercising and reducing total calorie intake don’t work; moreover, he says they can’t work. Most of us would argue that they can and do; the problem is not with the principle, but with its implementation.
This is not what Taubs is saying. Yes, calorie restriction works. It absolutely does. Anyone who’s looked at the studies knows this. Low-carb diets usually result in eating fewer calories per day. But that’s all beside the point.
The point is, if you eat 1500 calories / day of twinkies, you are going to feel miserable. You will be hungry and starved for energy, both of which are bad if you’re trying to maintain new eating habits and exercise. You will lose weight, but it will suck, and failure is easy.
If you’re looking at it like “I can eat all the bacon I want!” without counting calories, you will probably hit the same calorie target without the misery. High-fat foods are satiating. Low insulin levels mean leptin is actually working for you, and you feel more full, faster. Low insulin also means your fat cells aren’t struggling to store everything they can, and triglycerides float freely through your blood to provide you with energy.
It’s not a magic cure-all; you may still get the 3pm slump. But it takes a lot less willpower to say “no ice cream” when your fat cells aren’t screaming “HEY WE NEED MORE CARBS.” It’s also easier to say “no cake tonight” when the alternative is all the steak you want rather than just enough sweets to make you crave more.