Calories Count – But Are They All That Matter In A Fat Loss Diet?

When it comes to dropping fat, it’s a well-known fact that calories are king. Eating more calories than you need is a surefire way to make sure you hold on to stubborn body fat, and wind up storing more.

That’s not a topic for debate, though on the Internet it seems to be thanks to fuck boys that down 800 calories of butter in their morning Bulletproof Coffee. Calories matter, they always will, especially if your goal is to drop fat.

But are calories all that matter when it comes to dropping fat?

For the majority of the population fat loss boils down to a math equation. Burn more than you take in, and fat loss is bound to happen. There are certain hormonal aspects that matter, and things vary on a case-by-case basis.

For the most part calories are the most important factor, that’s for sure. If you don’t have your caloric intake in check, then start there. But that doesn’t mean you need to be eating the right amount of calories from shitty foods.

We’re worried about looking the best we possibly can. In order to make that happen the quality of food we put into our bodies is something we have to keep in mind. Fueling your body with pizza, shitty sources of protein, and Pop Tarts isn’t exactly a symbol of health, and your body will probably look and perform like it.

Instagram trends and moderation.

This is where the popular IIFYM movement has steered many people in the wrong direction. Many of the popular Instagram personalities talk all the time about practicing moderation, eating the foods you love, and all that jazz.

But is it really moderation when you barely eat all day to fit an entire pizza into your macros later that evening?

The truth is, it’s really damn easy to overeat shit quality foods. In fact, it’s way too easy. Need proof? Just look at our nation and the expanding waistline we all have.

Highly palatable and refined foods pack a calorie bomb the size of Fat Man or Little Boy, delivered via an Enola Gay of Twinkies. Sure, you can control for calories, like a lot of people have done successfully, but there are better ways to get a nice set of abs.

Quantity determines weight, quality determines composition.

I believe the above quote is from all time badass Dan John, and I think it’s a very poignant point. The amount of calories determines how much you’re going to weigh. Eat too many, and you’ll weight too much.

The quality of those calories determines how you look. Eat a diet full of shit foods, and there’s a strong chance you’re probably not going to like just how you look in the mirror.

On the flip side, eat a diet full of nutrient dense foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats and what do you get? Someone who looks like they lift and isn’t afraid to take their shirt off at the beach.

Quality foods are full of awesome things like micronutrients, which play a gigantic role in supporting health. When healthy, you have the potential to perform better. When you can perform better, you make better shit happen in the gym. When you make better shit happen in the gym, you look better as result.

This is where things like the Paleo diet, which gets a bad wrap, actually hit the nail on the head. Promoting a diet full of nutritious foods isn’t crazy, it’s common sense. The Paleo diet gets hated on a ton because there are certain zealots who wish we could all go back to caveman times, and those people are generally fucking idiots.

Don’t give up the foods you love, bros. That’s just not a sustainable way to look your best and enjoy your life. It probably is a smart decision to quit eating so many shit foods, though. Calories are important, but they aren’t the only thing that matters.

If you’re wanting to look your best and perform like a badass, then remember what Dan John preaches, “quantity determines your weight, quality determines your composition.”

Tanner is a fitness professional and writer based in the metro Atlanta area. His training focus is helping normal people drop absurd amounts of fat, become strong like bull, and get in the best shape of their life.