Nutritionists
I finally took a look at this thread on this jujitsu board and just ended up shaking my head.
I think the whole point that 95% of the population misses - including nutritionists - it that a "wholesome, healthy diet" for fat loss exists. There is no such thing.
By definition, fat loss dieting is NOT healthy and will never be - no matter WHAT method is used - because the human body was not designed and did not evolve to lose fat!
You cannot be "balanced" and lose weight - if you are "balanced" you will maintain weight. Sure, the "balanced" way would be to only consume the exact amount of protein you need to replace body cells and to only eat enough carbohydrate that you are completely depleted at the end of the day. But this isn't going to change or improve your body. Nor does our modern lifestyle allow us to eat this way.
The human body, like the rest of the mammals on the planet - evolved to STORE fat until needed in the future. THAT is natural. But we don't live in nature. We never access the stored fat - our lives are just not that challenging anymore.
Anything we do to lose fat goes against our natural biological program. This is not balance - this is overriding the system. So just the concept of a "healthy, balanced diet for weight loss" is an oxymoron - PERIOD. Losing weight or losing fat goes against the design, and isn't going to be "healthy" under ANY circumstances. In nature, losing body fat means something is wrong. But again, we don't live in nature. Our bodies are designed (have evolved) to USE fat - not LOSE it.
To keep your body fat level down, you need sufficient muscle mass. To produce or maintain muscle mass, you need adequate protein. Sure, if you HAVE to, you can make it out of tons of plant protein, but it's not the best way or the quickest way. Putting on and maintaining enough muscle is how you USE fat. It's the only healthy way of "losing" fat.
It isn't "natural" to eat 4 servings of fruit a day - it's natural to gorge yourself on them for the few weeks they are in season and then live on meat all winter. It is not "natural" to eat bagels - they do not grow on trees, you know. Potatos, in their natural state, are not palatable except to the desperate. There are no pasta bushes. Agriculture itself, isn't "natural" and unfortunately our bodies have not, in ANY way, caught up with our technology.
I'm NOT 'elite' or a serious body builder - I just enjoy being fit and healthy. I'm an older chick who is happy with any BF% under 25% - really. I don't lift weights anymore, but I certainly don't think I can maintain my health and weight under 75-85 grams of protein a day. My last bloodwork in July was PERFECT - I've been doing lo-carb, adequate pro for 5 years! So much for non-BB's doing low carb and being sick!
There is no epidemic of 'gout' either. I've met plenty of average folks - NOT BB's - who low carb and hi pro - who are fit and happy. Not sick. No gout. No blood lipid problems, etc. They are fitter than their high-carb counterparts - smooth skin, toned muscles, healthy coats, good teeth, good attitudes. They are not 'elite', but because they eat adequate protein, they are a lot closer to 'elite' than the hi carb 'average joes'.
Fawn