The Calorie Myth goes by a few different names

Originally, I got a mailer from Rodale for a book called Eat More Lose More by Jonathan Bailor. I found it used on Amazon and it's been an interesting read. I should note that in the copyright area, it states that it was published as The Smarter Science of Slim by Aavia Publishing in 2012 and The Calorie Myth in 2104.

Since most of us would find it on Amazon as The Calorie Myth, I'll continue to refer to it as that. But the book is the same.

Mr Bailor is a nutrition researcher and wellness entrepreneur. His passion for helping people does come through in his writing.

The Beginning

The first fifteen chapters (or 138 pages in my hardbound book) deal with the problem of obesity in the United States. He claims it goes back to January 14, 1977 when the government issued Dietary Goals for American. After that, obesity skyrocketed.

Let's be honest. People made fun of Atkins because it called for 65% of the diet to be fat. Well the Food Pyramid in 1977 called for 65% of the diet to be carbohydrates without mentioning what kinds.

So what really is a balanced diet?

The Calorie

I have to confess. I used to be an electrical engineer. I used to believe that all calories were the same. After all, energy is energy, right? Even after I saw the light, I couldn't convince my own father…another electrical engineer.

Anyway, if you're also a nerd, yes, energy in and energy out and all. But, calories get burned differently. That's where we've been making our mistakes. We assume that if we eat 100 calories of a cookie, it's going to be the same as 100 calories of raw vegetables.

But think about it. How much more energy does it take to eat the darn vegetables than it does the cookie? And do we feel satisfied?

You Need Fat

We need to embrace fat to feel satisfied after a meal. You actually eat less when you're feeling full.

My main message from this blog has been to avoid anything that cuts out a single food. I don't trust those kinds of diets since I don't think they're sustainable.

So I like this book in that it talks about the healthy fats and good proteins.

What Is SANE?

Mr. Bailor has come up with an acronym to help you choose what to eat.

Satiety: Choose foods that will make you feel full
Aggression: Choose foods that will not aggressively be converted to fat in your body
Nutrition: Choose foods that are healing and dense in important nutrients
Efficient: Choose foods that do not store fats efficiently in your body

I confess to learning a lot about how food is processed in the body. I have insulin resistance and am looking for that single key that will heal me.  The truth is it's a process of putting in the right stuff and eliminating the bad stuff.

I also really loved learning about the idea of a “naturally” thin person and remember back when I was eating more simply. I'd heard about the “set point” theory of weight. Mr. Bailor talks about resetting your set point, and it makes sense to me. You're just unclogging the drain.

Limited Exercise?

This is where I disagree with Mr. Bailor. I was reading about how our natural hormones change as we lose muscle mass. I think it's essential that we do regular weight training to maintain our muscles, if not build them back up.

And I don't think 20 minutes a week is going to do that.

There is a school of thought out there that vigorous exercise increases cortisol. I think you need to figure out your own body. But I know mine is much happier when I'm doing regular weights three times a week and walking daily. I have a fitbit and try to get 10k steps or more. (Dang. I'm only 7661 steps today & it's almost bedtime)

Conclusion

I think The Calorie Myth is a worthwhile read if you're interested in the biology and physiology and how calories are processed at the cellular level.

There's a great list of substitutions…I learned a few good tips.

The recipes and five week plan are OK. I don't think it's anything earth-shattering. I'm not thrilled he suggests Xylitol for sweetener. I prefer stevia.

But, what I do love about the recipes is that there are SANE options and the SANEist options. So you can see where there's wiggle room.

The Kitchen Counter Cooking School was a fun read, and I learned a lot even after cooking well for decades. It finally gave me the courage I needed to butcher a whole chicken.

The Pros

Reading this book will increase your confidence in your cooking abilities. It's fun to learn how Kathleen Flynn decided to set up a cooking school to teach nine volunteers for a year in her life. She did a lot of interviews and took a ton of notes with the intention of writing the Kitchen Counter Cooking School book.  And I'm so glad she did.

She uses her culinary background to really educate the reader about ingredients and how to cook well.

I also enjoyed meeting the volunteers and empathizing with their lifestyles. I too used to waste a lot of food that I'd buy and forget until it was mush in the back of the vegetable keeper. Or I'd get something in the CSA box and have no idea what to do with it.

This book definitely helped me become more fearless.  Since I'm writing this, I pulled it out and am going to read it again.

The Cons

There are no pictures and no illustrations. And there are only 23 recipes.  Thankfully there is an index in the back.  The recipes are all basic and you can expand upon them. For example, the DIY Vinaigrette gives you her basic formula for a successful salad dressing.

(You can also use vinaigrette to marinate chicken, just FYI)

So I would recommend the Kitchen Counter Cooking School no matter what your level. I guarantee you will learn something, and build up a deeper appreciation of the ingredients while you're cooking.

The Better Homes and Gardens cookbook was the first cookbook I ever bought myself back in 1988.

It's one of the best cookbooks I've ever owned, and I still go back to use it to this day. I don't make French toast very often, but their recipe produces one of the best.

The Pros

The directions are clear and easy to follow.

The cookbook really does cover everything from substitutions to general guidelines. The recipes always turn out. I don't always like them and that's where creativity comes in as you learn what you enjoy.

There are nutritional analysis so you can make adjustments as needed for your diet

I also love reading the recipes for ideas.

I also appreciate being able to write down ideas and recipes on the paper.

Also, I like that it's a three ring binder and lays flat on the counter. I can take a page out, photocopy it and not worry about splashing gunk on it. You should have seen me the other night making a Bernaise from scratch. Awkward.

The Cons

Well, it is a little dated. Like my microwave time estimates are for the underpowered microwaves of the 70's and 80's. The newest version will have more updated information. I just have never had any need to buy a new version since I have everything that I need in this one.

And who knows when you need a good recipe for turkey tetrizini, am I right?

I probably haven't made over half of the recipes. However, it gave me a great education in cooking. Plus it boosted my confidence when I was successful.

So I'd highly recommend it if you're starting out.