Writer's Block: What if calories didn't count?

[i_amthecosmos]

[Error: unknown template qotd]Oh, screw you. I would eat the way I normally do (that is, whatever I want). Thanks a lot for this "diets are life" question. This assumption that everyone is one some sort of diet is annoying. Notice it doesn't say "your blood pressure/cholesterol won't be affected", just "your calories wouldn't count".

And fuck, I can't get something better from a magic genie? How about some money, you stingy asshole?

Comments

[chrismm.livejournal.com]

And fuck, I can't get something better from a magic genie?

Seriously. What a useless genie.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

I'm sayin'. I could get almost anything, and I get calorie free food? Come on.

[sidewinder.livejournal.com]

Just as a slight nitpick, calorie counting does not necessarily = dieting. For me it's a matter of keeping a balance as part of an overall lifestyle.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is true. I see variations of that in my bipolar self help books, since weight gain is such a big side affect of most medications for bipolar. So you're right, it doesn't always follow that calorie counting is a bad thing.

It's the the social assumption that everyone is doing it that drives me crazy.

[drummergurl4.livejournal.com]

I agree, there are so many better things I'd wish for. just have to make sure you state your wish just right.

[eternitys-curse.livejournal.com]

I think this answer made me fall in love with you...Go you!

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks! But seriously, people take dieting way too seriously. It doesn't even work 99% of the time anyway.

[quiet000001.livejournal.com]

It also completely ignores the fact that realistically, what you do in one single 24 hour period really DOESN'T make much difference to your body. (This is a subject near and dear to my heart because my mom keeps going on diets and whatever my own opinion on such things is, I do my best to keep her at least realistic and not developing any really whacked out eating habits, and one of the big issues she has is feeling like she's completely screwed up if she goes 'off diet' one day and has, like, a slice of cake or something. 'cause then she gets all hard on herself and feels like a failure, blah blah.)

Unless you actually have some kind of metabolic issue like diabetes, spending a day pigging out on whatever the hell you want to isn't going to cause you any lasting harm or make you blow up like a balloon. (Unless you eat lots of salty stuff, in which case you might put on some water weight.) In fact, some people who diet (mostly body builders, who are trying to get down to ridiculously low bodyfat while maintaining muscle, so eat really weirdly anyway) intentionally build in 'free' days because routinely having days when you're NOT basically starving yourself helps keep your metabolism from slowing way the fuck down by confusing your body as to if there's actually a famine or not.

[magdalyna.livejournal.com]

If the calories didn't count, then how would the body have energy to function?

From m-w online

1 a : the amount of heat required at a pressure of one atmosphere to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius that is equal to about 4.19 joules —abbreviation cal —called also gram calorie, small calorie b : the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree Celsius : 1000 gram calories or 3.968 Btu —abbreviation Cal —called also large calorie
2 a : a unit equivalent to the large calorie expressing heat-producing or energy-producing value in food when oxidized in the body b : an amount of food having an energy-producing value of one large calorie

Which is just poking the wonky science of that question. Not even touching the skeezy assumptions about how everyone is on a diet, and would bloat up like a balloon gorging on 'bad' foods.

[plastiqueallure.livejournal.com]

Srsly, I'd prefer the money, too!