29/07/2023
Despite many claiming we should only focus on specific foods when trying to lose fat, the amount of body fat we have is always defined by the total number of calories we consume and burn, regardless of the food we eat.
For those who may retaliate to my post and claim that specific foods do matter for fat loss, I’m not saying they don’t matter at all - they can influence behaviours that influence calories consumed. My point is that, in spite of this, portion size and overall caloric consumption matters more for fat loss.
Broad research shows that those who consume higher quality diets tend to be leaner than those who don’t. This is probably because there is more satiety and energy expenditure during digestion, along with being more likely have a lifestyle more conducive to greater energy output.
We cannot argue that an avocado is infinitely more nutritious than a Kit Kat chunky. But while you may select ‘an avocado’ as a ‘better’ choice for fat loss you must take note that avocados come in different sizes, and therefore different calorie values.
Some may argue the avocado has greater satiety and therefore there would be less chance of eating sooner compared to the Kit Kat. While possibly true, it is entirely hypothetical. What if someone enjoyed an otherwise satiating, calorie controlled diet that prevented them from overeating, but on occasion enjoyed a KitKat (which is 163 calories than the avocado?)
While some will think they are supporting fat loss by simply selecting salmon or nuts, the portion size of any food is still the most important element for this goal. Others may think they are ruining their fat loss progress by eating a cinnamon swirl, but the portion can still align with the fat loss goal.
Individual foods vary in size, and therefore energy. For fat loss, the caloric volume and portion size of any food is a more important consideration than selection of the food itself. 🙏