Author questions effectiveness of exercise on fat loss - Page 2 - JP Fitness Forums

Mahler · 10-02-2007, 07:28 PM

This is a job for........... GOBBLA. Ta daaaaaa.

Chris Correia · 10-02-2007, 07:36 PM

It sounds like he relies on a typical logical fallacy: One thing is wrong -- or potentially wrong -- so everything is wrong.

Chiron · 10-02-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klawler

One more comment and then I will STFU (I think I know what that means). I don't think he is talking about athletes or people who have spent their lives working out. Obviously I am here because I believe exercise is a path not simply to a slimmer body but to better health and wellness overall. I'm personally really into the NROL right now and feel energized in the gym like never before. I believe he is pointing to some research that shows that the average person that tries to loose weight using exercise as the prime vehicle for doing so runs into strong resistance from the body. Perhaps given a longer study (I'm sure they have been done) exercise or adaptation to exercise would obviously cause weight loss. My advice is to read and learn everything you can and make your own informed opinions. It's finally working for me.

Just so you know I wasn't directing that at you. It was directed at the author. The problem with what he's saying is that there is a ton of anecdotal and scientific evidence to easily refute it. Plus a lot of us here are current or former trainers and/or we've personally seen people drop bodyfat successfully with exercise (though diet is important too). Besides, it only takes a moment to look up some abstracts that show his point is almost entirely without merit....
http://www.exrx.net/FatLoss/DietExStudy.html See? That took me 15 seconds.

He could've come closer to the truth if he said something like "Exercise shouldn't be the main method for losing weight. Diet is the most important part of the equation." Now if he said that then there would be some agreement.

Most importantly, his point that people that exercise won't lose weight because their appetite increases is stupid in and of itself because it's easy to solve. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you start exercising but also start eating more that you probably wont lose weight. If someone wants to lose weight but working out makes them want to eat more all they have to do is not eat more. Problem solved. It's kinda like he's saying "You shouldn't use an engine to power a car because the engine can only make the car go but can't make the car stop." That's why they invented breaks.

ZDrax · 10-03-2007, 02:47 AM

Gary Taubes has written about science, medicine and health for Science, Discover, the Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, GQ, and a host of other publications. He is currently a contributing correspondent with Science and a contributing editor with Technology Review..
Taubes has won numerous awards for his reporting including the National Association of Science Writers Science in Society Journalism Award in both 1996 and 1999.
Taubes’ most recent book, Bad Science, The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion (Random House, 1993), was a New York Times Notable Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Awards.

ZDrax · 10-03-2007, 02:48 AM

Take away -

The guy is out to sell books and make $$$, not educate the public. See: Girth Control vs. this bro.

Given his track record, how could we NOT entrust our health and diet to this guru among gurus.

Hunter · 10-03-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahler

This is a job for........... GOBBLA. Ta daaaaaa.

LMAO!!

johnst_nhb · 10-03-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZDrax

Gary Taubes has written about science, medicine and health for Science, Discover, the Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, GQ, and a host of other publications. He is currently a contributing correspondent with Science and a contributing editor with Technology Review..
Taubes has won numerous awards for his reporting including the National Association of Science Writers Science in Society Journalism Award in both 1996 and 1999.
Taubes’ most recent book, Bad Science, The Short Life and Weird Times of Cold Fusion (Random House, 1993), was a New York Times Notable Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Awards.

The journal Science is one of the most respected peer-reviewed scientific journals in the world.

Perhaps we should read his book before condeming anything.

Alan Aragon · 10-03-2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnst_nhb

The journal Science is one of the most respected peer-reviewed scientific journals in the world.

Perhaps we should read his book before condeming anything.

Science is also publishes science-related news, as well as opinions on science policy - this is right up Taubes' alley. And take note, you don't have to be bright to be published in peer-reviewed lit. In fact, I know quite an idiot (who I won't name) who makes his living writing for peer-reviewed pubs. I see everyone's point about not condemning Taubes before reading his book, but if those summary points were written by him or reflect the content of the book, then what a glorious waste of time it would be.

Adam Campbell · 10-03-2007, 12:28 PM

I read the first 120 or so pages of Taubes' book during a glucose tolerance test, and enjoyed what I read, which was essentially a historical account of how the currrent dietary recommendations came to be. I think he did a very good job on this part. And I stayed awake while reading it, too, even while my blood sugar was in the low 50s!

I've gotten sidetracked since then, and haven't been able to finish the last 300 pages, (I may get to it this weekend). So I haven't read his chapter on exercise. But I certainly agree with those of you who take issue with the New York magazine article, as well as the points made in the book's summary. I will say that I don't think the summary accurately reflects the way the information is presented in the book, at least not what I've read so far. It's a gross oversimplification (duh, it's a summary!). However, I may change my mind once I've finished reading.

Quote:

I know quite an idiot (who I won't name) who makes his living writing for peer-reviewed pubs

I bet I know his name!

Lisa~ · 10-03-2007, 06:33 PM

Thanks for posting on this topic Adam (and Alan too, but we've been missing Adam!). It's nice to hear from you. We'd love to hear your opinion if and when you finish the book.

Alan Aragon · 10-03-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa~

Thanks for posting on this topic Adam (and Alan too, but we've been missing Adam!). It's nice to hear from you. We'd love to hear your opinion if and when you finish the book.

Adam has been indisposed as of late. His harem keeps him on lockdown, 24-7.

PowerManDL · 10-04-2007, 03:04 AM

I don't care how you're trying to dumb things down, if you can't understand things like "your ass didn't get fat from breathing" you're either an idiot or trying to sell to idiots.

johnst_nhb · 10-04-2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Aragon

Science is also publishes science-related news, as well as opinions on science policy - this is right up Taubes' alley. And take note, you don't have to be bright to be published in peer-reviewed lit. In fact, I know quite an idiot (who I won't name) who makes his living writing for peer-reviewed pubs. I see everyone's point about not condemning Taubes before reading his book, but if those summary points were written by him or reflect the content of the book, then what a glorious waste of time it would be.

Yes, it does. I am very familiar with Science and its contents, due to a previous career.

Idiocy is subjective. I am sure there are some out there that consider you an idiot...

Your point is taken, however.

OldGuy · 10-07-2007, 02:51 PM

NY Times review

Lost Dog · 10-07-2007, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuy

NY Times review

Quote:

As I read Taubes’s book, I kept wondering how he would deal with an obvious question. If low-carbohydrate diets are so wonderful, why is anyone fat? Most people who struggle with their weight have tried these diets and nearly all have regained everything they lost, as they do with other diets. What is the problem?

On Page 446, he finally tells us. Carbohydrates, he says, are addictive, and we’ve all gotten hooked. Those who try to break the habit start to crave them, just as an alcoholic craves a drink or a smoker craves a cigarette. But, he adds, if they are addictive, that “implies that the addiction can be overcome with sufficient time, effort and motivation.”

I’m sorry, but I’m not convinced.

I wonder why she's not convinced. Because there's got to some reason other than lack of willpower? Why do so many people want to have something to blame other than the person who's fat?

Hell, I was overweight for 35 years. I only had myself to blame until I decided I'd had enough and needed to control myself.

Chiron · 10-08-2007, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

I wonder why she's not convinced. Because there's got to some reason other than lack of willpower? Why do so many people want to have something to blame other than the person who's fat?

Hell, I was overweight for 35 years. I only had myself to blame until I decided I'd had enough and needed to control myself.

I don't think that's quite what she meant when she said she wasn't convinced.