Why do people make things so complicated?

[LukaSarapa]

I was just wondering.

I hear a lot about all these kind of diets not just in the bodybuilding/fitness world but all over the place, low-carb diets, keito diets, slim fast diets no eating before 7pm diets, but I have simply been watching my calorie intake and eating at a 500 calorie deficit and seem to be doing ok.

so why when all you need is to watch your calories in v calories out, do people come up with all these complex ways of eating to lose weight? It really should be simple shouldn't it? or am i doing it wrong? am I gonna put the weight all back on as soon as I start eating normally?

What are the benefits of all these other diets?

[PepPete]

I was just wondering.

I hear a lot about all these kind of diets not just in the bodybuilding/fitness world but all over the place, low-carb diets, keito diets, slim fast diets no eating before 7pm diets, but I have simply been watching my calorie intake and eating at a 500 calorie deficit and seem to be doing ok.

so why when all you need is to watch your calories in v calories out, do people come up with all these complex ways of eating to lose weight? It really should be simple shouldn't it? or am i doing it wrong? am I gonna put the weight all back on as soon as I start eating normally?

What are the benefits of all these other diets?

Depends how many calories u mean by normally

[LukaSarapa]

Depends how many calories u mean by normally

by normally i mean not even counting my calories

[gloria7]

if ''not even counting'' means going nuts, yes you will put all the weight back plus some more. But if it means eating when hungry, normal size meals and keep doing some sort of activity, you will keep the weight off.

[nikeduck23]

unless u have will power of the gods

[rwsimbulan]

b/c they like avril lavigne! jks

[MoldyGopher]

Some people prefer to have a specific eating plan laid out for them. Maybe they're beginners, maybe they've got their own reasons.

[lee__d]

People don't want to be told they're failing at something so simple; thus, they over-complicate it and justifying their failure.

ok, idk i just made that up.

[djlogik]

Maybe because at the beginning of their journey the weight just comes off, but as they diet longer and longer the loss slows and the eventually they plateau. So they try numerous ways to get that scale moving again and sometimes it works, and sometimes it don't. Its not always as easy as calories in calories out. Eventually people eat too little and cant drop those calories any lower. Thats where complete diet breaks, refeeds, or recomps come into play. I've been on a pretty strict diet for well over a year, so I can relate to some of these issues.

[MCrow]

There are three reasons:

#1- The noob that does not know better but is listening to advice from bad sources.

#2- The lower BF% you get the more important the details are, and higher the complexity.

#3- What may seem complex to you is more simple to others and they might find what you do to be complex.

[Frosty67]

Maybe because at the beginning of their journey the weight just comes off, but as they diet longer and longer the loss slows and the eventually they plateau. So they try numerous ways to get that scale moving again and sometimes it works, and sometimes it don't. Its not always as easy as calories in calories out. Eventually people eat too little and cant drop those calories any lower. Thats where complete diet breaks, refeeds, or recomps come into play. I've been on a pretty strict diet for well over a year, so I can relate to some of these issues.

I agree with this considering my own journey. People need a structure to use, a plan laid out might help someone out that can't make their own. People at my job look at me weird cause I am the only person that makes all my food to bring to work.

[justmightbecraz]

Because people have failed at so many fad diets that are "simple" sold by people looking for repeat customers that they refuse to believe the solution can be simple any longer.

[msm00b]

People don't want to be told they're failing at something so simple; thus, they over-complicate it and justifying their failure.

ok, idk i just made that up.

I agree. You can be wildly successful on a wide range of dietary strategies.

[Shankapotamus]

To answer your question about the examples given: Because they want money. That's why Slim-Fast and other fad diets exist.

[Igotyernose]

Every body is different, and responds to different things.

[cut4dayz]

some people may think that counting calories is more complicated (you have to measure everything etc)...not eating certain stuff (ex: carbs) is easier for them...that's what i thought..

[PopeGregorius]

I hear a lot about all these kind of diets not just in the bodybuilding/fitness world but all over the place, low-carb diets, keito diets, slim fast diets no eating before 7pm diets, but I have simply been watching my calorie intake and eating at a 500 calorie deficit and seem to be doing ok.

Because there are billions of dollars invested in the food and diet industry.

Q, Why are there so many grains in western diets.
A. They are cheap, profitable to produce, & lobbyists have the govt in their hands. Veges dont have lobbyists or marketing budgets. Here, have some more bread.
Q. I cant lose weight
A. I have this eating plan an it will only cost $$$. And buy this book, which takes 200 pages to say 'calorie deficit'.
Q. I have type II diabetes.
A. You need this medication, and plenty of grains, eventhough they caused the problem. Remember 100 years ago when people had to walk everywhere, you can't tell people that these days eventhough it may save their life.

[jarhead89x]

I think it's because companies are taking advantage of lazy people. They create new diets that say you lose weight faster and easier. Same **** with the whole 8 minute abs. So many fad diets. Some diets make sense, though, like the "low-calorie" diet. But yeah, companies are taking advantage of lazy people who don't know anything about health or diet but want to lose weight.

[jarhead89x]

I think they should start teaching about Calories and Deficits in highschool P.E. Just because the food you eat is healthy or "organic" doesn't mean you're going to lose weight. Subway is pretty healthy, but you can't gorge on a 12" Sweet Onion Teriyaki sub on flat bread every day.

[ShweezyBTFO]

I agree. You can be wildly successful on a wide range of dietary strategies.

I know I troll you a lot, but all I gotta say to OP is this, this, and more of this.

[senor_mortgage]

Nutrition is in reality a very new field and weight loss research is even newer. Until maybe 5-10 years ago calorie counting was incredibly tedious and misinformation (even more) rampant than it is today. As such, thousands of rules, guidelines, etc... have been ingrained in an attempt to define things like "healthy foods" and "how to burn fat." Most sites are still based on said misinformation because a) it appeals to the beliefs of its readers and b)made up broscience sells a lot more product than diet and exercise. Even now there is a lot more to be learned. Its going to take a while (think decades) for the collective ideas in regards to diet match up to what is actually needed.