Mark Haub, a nutrition professor at Kansas State University, wanted to prove that calorie counting, not nutritional value, is the key to losing weight.
So, he set up a ten-week challenge to show that it’s not the nutritional quality of the food that impacts body weight, but rather the total calories consumed.
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| Image credits: WCPO 9 |
For the experiment, he ate foods like Oreos, Doritos, and sugary cereals every three hours instead of traditional meals.
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However, he limited himself to 1,800 calories a day, compared to his usual intake of 2,600 calories. His principle was simple: “Consume fewer calories than you burn.”
According to CNN, here’s a breakdown of Mark’s daily consumption:
Espresso, Double: 6 calories; 0 grams of fat
Hostess Twinkies Golden Sponge Cake: 150 calories; 5 grams of fat
Centrum Advanced Formula From A To Zinc: 0 calories; 0 grams of fat
Little Debbie Star Crunch: 150 calories; 6 grams of fat
Hostess Twinkies Golden Sponge Cake: 150 calories; 5 grams of fat
Diet Mountain Dew: 0 calories; 0 grams of fat
Doritos Cool Ranch: 75 calories; 4 grams of fat
Kellogg's Corn Pops: 220 calories; 0 grams of fat
Whole milk: 150 calories; 8 grams of fat
Baby carrots: 18 calories; 0 grams of fat
Duncan Hines Family Style Brownie Chewy Fudge: 270 calories; 14 grams of fat
Little Debbie Zebra Cake: 160 calories; 8 grams of fat
Muscle Milk Protein Shake: 240 calories; 9 grams of fat
Totals: 1,589 calories and 59 grams of fat
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The result? Mark ended up shedding 27 pounds in two months, along with a 20% drop in cholesterol.
“I think it’s unrealistic to expect people to completely give up these foods for vegetables and fruits. It’s not realistic. It’s more a matter of portion size than total removal,” he said.
Mark’s experiment is a great reminder that calorie counting can help individuals achieve success in weight loss.
Before starting this teaching tool of a diet, Mark revealed that he used to eat a lot of vegetables and healthy meals, but he still wasn’t truly healthy, as he was eating too much.
Now, he eats only until he’s satisfied, then pushes the plate away.
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