Gary Taubes Why we get fat

elburn · 05-05-2011, 07:34 AM

I am 50 pages into this book and a bit discouraged. Tell me it gets better? So far I understand exercise has little effect on weight loss, and he seems to indicate we are doomed to be fat if our parents and genes are fat. Also middle age women are predisposed to being obese.
Is there hope?? Does he offer a solution? I would skip ahead but I have the Kindle version and don't know where to skip to--let me know?

2BoysMom · 05-05-2011, 07:40 AM

yep - he does. Just keep reading - it all builds on itself. It's a great read!

drjlocarb · 05-05-2011, 01:04 PM

Keep reading. There are no shortcuts in weight loss.

shortcut · 05-05-2011, 02:03 PM

it's a "good news, bad news" thing. He just gives you the bad news first.

Mssarge · 05-05-2011, 05:47 PM

It's definitely worth it...however, Tobysgirl posted Taubes lecture on a recent post... Gary Taubes is my new hero that is really worth watching. I did, then instantly bought the book and am highlighting the parts I want to remember...watching the video (it's long, over an hour) is well woth the time...

Mary in SoCal

Contributor · 05-05-2011, 05:54 PM

I ordered this book the other week, looking forward to reading it.

Domino · 05-05-2011, 10:21 PM

LOL!

I've read it cover to cover. Parts of it I've read a couple times. I plan on reading it cover to cover a few more times before I'm done. I found this book on accident, by total chance, while at the library a couple months ago. It's what set me on this low carb way.

DON'T SKIP AHEAD. Trust me, you want to read every single word. The way I looked at the exercise thing (once I was done reading it) was that now I know I don't *have* to kill myself at the gym or at home trying to "burn off" all that weight!! You can't imagine what a liberating thing that was for me. I've had severe (VERY SEVERE) allergies and asthma, along with back problems, for pretty much my entire life. I can exercise, but it is SO hard for me to do it. I don't have to! I don't have to kill myself trying to burn off millions of calories so I can be thin-- I just have to give up most carbs! THAT is the bright spot in all this. You're just not seeing the whole picture yet.

The really ironic thing about all of this-- and I can't say for sure yet if its the LC life, or just coincidence-- but since I've been doing this my allergies are greatly improved, as is my asthma. I have more energy, I actually want to go out and do things I didn't used to. Unfortunately I'm still recovering from ankle surgery, so I can't. But I will! Soon!

clackley · 05-06-2011, 06:18 AM

Domino, AWESOME!!!

Jennifer Eloff · 05-06-2011, 06:25 AM

I agree, Domino - that is awesome! Happy for you!

I have not read the book and I agree with the OP that that would be a little depressing to hear to say the least, but knowing Gary Taubes, he will offer a solution.

Keep reading.

Being a middle-aged woman is tough on the body - hormones really wreak havoc and make it very difficult to lose weight, let alone thyroid isssues that many of us have as well. We have to work twice as hard, some of us.

zipp2play · 05-06-2011, 07:31 AM

I have read the book. Me, I found it a tough/boring read. Now, I completely agreed and appreciated what all was said, but it was very technical at times. Still, good to read and the light bulb went off in my head numerous times while I was reading it.

I am a runner and a gym rat. I have trained for 2 half marathons and the whole time burning all those calories, I didn't lose weight. Now I toned up really nicely. But I didn't get super skinny. I used to always joke that apparently I loved eating more than I did running. Well after reading his book, I know that it wasn't me. No amount of calorie cutting was going to work. I tried it all and was hungry all the time.

franciejones · 05-06-2011, 07:34 AM

That video was removed....I am sad now.

Domino · 05-06-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franciejones

That video was removed....I am sad now.

It's a great Vid, I watched it last night. It's stlll available on youtube. Here's a link:

YouTube - Why We Get Fat - Gary Taubes at OSUMC

Try searching "Gary Taubes" on youtube, there's several other vids too.

franciejones · 05-06-2011, 09:48 AM

YAY..thank you very much

elburn · 05-07-2011, 08:02 AM

So, I finished reading this most excellent book. I love the historical review of the science. I am of the baby boomer generation and so all I know is the calories in /calories out mentality. I grew up during the low fat era and exercise more movement. Remember the running emphasis and Jane Fonda aerobics? Now I understand this time period is a blimp and abnormal to the rest of science historically. Taubes did not mention it in the book, and perhaps I am a suspicious person--but I like to "follow the money". The low fat/high carb movement benefits the food lobbyist. I now understand I have a bigger reason to be successful--long term health. And truly ONE BITE DOES HURT!" I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know the background and sound reasoning behind LC.

shirlc · 05-07-2011, 08:06 AM

A most excellent summerization!

satina · 05-07-2011, 10:41 AM

Marking my spot to I can watch the video later

Sunny7 · 05-07-2011, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satina

Marking my spot to I can watch the video later

me too

jdennysgirl · 05-29-2011, 08:33 PM

Me three

sloppail · 05-29-2011, 08:54 PM

me also

lynnport · 05-29-2011, 10:21 PM

Me too.

Key Tones · 05-29-2011, 10:36 PM

He has appearances posted on his blog as well - garytaubes.com, click on "media."

eastbruce · 05-30-2011, 08:16 AM

I listened to his book on audio - it was not a "quick" or light read, but well worth concentrating on the info. I listened to many parts several times before I "got" the point.

mark · 05-30-2011, 08:08 PM

Oddly enough I read it backwards? I started at the end and read it chapter for chapter to the beginning. I have never done that before, but I was looking for more information on what to eat, but it sucked me in and I had to know the why part also.

fieldofroses1 · 05-30-2011, 10:18 PM

I read the book and loved it, what I got out of it was to watch my fruit intake, even the acceptable one's in OWL. I have PCOS and and I have to diligintly watch my carbs so my insulin doesn't get out of hand. I realized from reading his book that fructose affects everyone differently and I have to watch my fruit intake. its a great book, keep reading you'll get something out it

LCinSC · 05-31-2011, 06:02 AM

Great comments everyone! I recently read an article which made me interested in his book, but I haven't looked into it yet.

Time to see if the library has it.

05-05-2011, 07:34 AM	#1
elburn Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Chicago area, IL, usa Posts: 205 Gallery: elburn Stats: 171/159.5/130 5'3.5" WOE: JUDDD! All the way and never looking back! Start Date: ???	Gary Taubes Why we get fat I am 50 pages into this book and a bit discouraged. Tell me it gets better? So far I understand exercise has little effect on weight loss, and he seems to indicate we are doomed to be fat if our parents and genes are fat. Also middle age women are predisposed to being obese. Is there hope?? Does he offer a solution? I would skip ahead but I have the Kindle version and don't know where to skip to--let me know?

05-07-2011, 08:02 AM	#14
elburn Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Chicago area, IL, usa Posts: 205 Gallery: elburn Stats: 171/159.5/130 5'3.5" WOE: JUDDD! All the way and never looking back! Start Date: ???	So, I finished reading this most excellent book. I love the historical review of the science. I am of the baby boomer generation and so all I know is the calories in /calories out mentality. I grew up during the low fat era and exercise more movement. Remember the running emphasis and Jane Fonda aerobics? Now I understand this time period is a blimp and abnormal to the rest of science historically. Taubes did not mention it in the book, and perhaps I am a suspicious person--but I like to "follow the money". The low fat/high carb movement benefits the food lobbyist. I now understand I have a bigger reason to be successful--long term health. And truly ONE BITE DOES HURT!" I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know the background and sound reasoning behind LC. Last edited by elburn; 05-07-2011 at 08:03 AM..

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05-05-2011, 07:40 AM	#2
2BoysMom Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 3,382 Gallery: 2BoysMom Stats: 197.5/146/145, Back in Feb '13 187.4/187.4/145 WOE: Atkins first time around, now Low Carb My Way Start Date: 1.26.2004 - 1st time. This time 2.3.20113	yep - he does. Just keep reading - it all builds on itself. It's a great read!

05-05-2011, 01:04 PM	#3
drjlocarb Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,171 Gallery: drjlocarb Stats: 274/231/190 WOE: vlc/NK Start Date: 1999,2003,2007,jan2010	Keep reading. There are no shortcuts in weight loss.

05-05-2011, 02:03 PM	#4
shortcut Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 1,376 Gallery: shortcut WOE: No grains/No starch/No sugar Start Date: Sept 2010	it's a "good news, bad news" thing. He just gives you the bad news first.

05-05-2011, 05:47 PM	#5
Mssarge Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sunny Southern California Posts: 1,878 Gallery: Mssarge Stats: 220/177/155 WOE: JUDDD and moderate carbs Start Date: 6/1/2012	It's definitely worth it...however, Tobysgirl posted Taubes lecture on a recent post... Gary Taubes is my new hero that is really worth watching. I did, then instantly bought the book and am highlighting the parts I want to remember...watching the video (it's long, over an hour) is well woth the time... Mary in SoCal

05-05-2011, 05:54 PM	#6
Contributor Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 184 Gallery: Contributor WOE: Low carb Start Date: April 2011	I ordered this book the other week, looking forward to reading it.

05-05-2011, 10:21 PM	#7
Domino Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 677 Gallery: Domino Stats: 258/198/140 5'7" WOE: Low carb my way/Atkins OWL Start Date: April 1, 2011	LOL! I've read it cover to cover. Parts of it I've read a couple times. I plan on reading it cover to cover a few more times before I'm done. I found this book on accident, by total chance, while at the library a couple months ago. It's what set me on this low carb way. DON'T SKIP AHEAD. Trust me, you want to read every single word. The way I looked at the exercise thing (once I was done reading it) was that now I know I don't have to kill myself at the gym or at home trying to "burn off" all that weight!! You can't imagine what a liberating thing that was for me. I've had severe (VERY SEVERE) allergies and asthma, along with back problems, for pretty much my entire life. I can exercise, but it is SO hard for me to do it. I don't have to! I don't have to kill myself trying to burn off millions of calories so I can be thin-- I just have to give up most carbs! THAT is the bright spot in all this. You're just not seeing the whole picture yet. The really ironic thing about all of this-- and I can't say for sure yet if its the LC life, or just coincidence-- but since I've been doing this my allergies are greatly improved, as is my asthma. I have more energy, I actually want to go out and do things I didn't used to. Unfortunately I'm still recovering from ankle surgery, so I can't. But I will! Soon!

05-06-2011, 06:18 AM	#8
clackley Chatty Cathy Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,047 Gallery: clackley Stats: 228.5/168/125 WOE: N.K.=vlc/hf/moderate protein & organic/pastured Start Date: Restart Oct 18 2009	Domino, AWESOME!!!

05-06-2011, 06:25 AM	#9
Jennifer Eloff Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tropics Posts: 3,075 Gallery: Jennifer Eloff WOE: Atkins/Moderate Carbs Start Date: 1999	I agree, Domino - that is awesome! Happy for you! I have not read the book and I agree with the OP that that would be a little depressing to hear to say the least, but knowing Gary Taubes, he will offer a solution. Keep reading. Being a middle-aged woman is tough on the body - hormones really wreak havoc and make it very difficult to lose weight, let alone thyroid isssues that many of us have as well. We have to work twice as hard, some of us.

05-06-2011, 07:31 AM	#10
zipp2play Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 6,696 Gallery: zipp2play Stats: 206/171.2/164 5'8" WOE: -15 from JUDDD	I have read the book. Me, I found it a tough/boring read. Now, I completely agreed and appreciated what all was said, but it was very technical at times. Still, good to read and the light bulb went off in my head numerous times while I was reading it. I am a runner and a gym rat. I have trained for 2 half marathons and the whole time burning all those calories, I didn't lose weight. Now I toned up really nicely. But I didn't get super skinny. I used to always joke that apparently I loved eating more than I did running. Well after reading his book, I know that it wasn't me. No amount of calorie cutting was going to work. I tried it all and was hungry all the time.

05-06-2011, 07:34 AM	#11
franciejones Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: In my head..also Joliet, IL Posts: 715 Gallery: franciejones Stats: 228/215/135 5'5" WOE: Atkins Induction Start Date: 5-6-13	That video was removed....I am sad now.

05-06-2011, 09:48 AM	#13
franciejones Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: In my head..also Joliet, IL Posts: 715 Gallery: franciejones Stats: 228/215/135 5'5" WOE: Atkins Induction Start Date: 5-6-13	YAY..thank you very much

05-07-2011, 08:06 AM	#15
shirlc Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,541 Gallery: shirlc Stats: 144/131/130-5'5" WOE: Low/Mod Carb, JUDDD (JUDDD, 10/25/11 at 141.5) Start Date: March, 2006	A most excellent summerization!

05-07-2011, 10:41 AM	#16
satina Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 695 Gallery: satina	Marking my spot to I can watch the video later

05-29-2011, 08:33 PM	#18
jdennysgirl Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 320 Gallery: jdennysgirl	Me three

05-29-2011, 08:54 PM	#19
sloppail Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 241 Gallery: sloppail Stats: 147.4/144.4/136 5' 3" WOE: JUDDD Start Date: March 2013	me also

05-29-2011, 10:21 PM	#20
lynnport Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego,CA Posts: 249 Gallery: lynnport	Me too.

05-29-2011, 10:36 PM	#21
Key Tones Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 2,554 Gallery: Key Tones Stats: 312/195/? Down 117 Start Date: LC start 2005; Now a paleo potato hacker!	He has appearances posted on his blog as well - garytaubes.com, click on "media."

05-30-2011, 08:16 AM	#22
eastbruce Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fort Myers, Florida Posts: 245 Gallery: eastbruce Stats: 202/187/120 WOE: JUDDD,Low Carb, High Fat	I listened to his book on audio - it was not a "quick" or light read, but well worth concentrating on the info. I listened to many parts several times before I "got" the point.

05-30-2011, 08:08 PM	#23
mark Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 68 Gallery: mark	Oddly enough I read it backwards? I started at the end and read it chapter for chapter to the beginning. I have never done that before, but I was looking for more information on what to eat, but it sucked me in and I had to know the why part also.

05-30-2011, 10:18 PM	#24
fieldofroses1 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 833 Gallery: fieldofroses1 Stats: 300+/217/under 200 WOE: Mostly LC veggies & proteins due to food allergies Start Date: Aug 18 2008	I read the book and loved it, what I got out of it was to watch my fruit intake, even the acceptable one's in OWL. I have PCOS and and I have to diligintly watch my carbs so my insulin doesn't get out of hand. I realized from reading his book that fructose affects everyone differently and I have to watch my fruit intake. its a great book, keep reading you'll get something out it

05-31-2011, 06:02 AM	#25
LCinSC Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 328 Gallery: LCinSC Stats: 314/274.5/180 6'0" WOE: Atkins Induction Start Date: 6/1/2011 at 282 lbs	Great comments everyone! I recently read an article which made me interested in his book, but I haven't looked into it yet. Time to see if the library has it.