I am not trying to silence discussion here. I am still open-minded to accept evidence-based proof from others. But I am not convinced simply by the assertions of someone in a blog’s comments. If you want to convince me that I am wrong, you will need to provide primary sources that I can read for myself and apply my own critical thinking.

Obesity is definitely much further upstream than insulin alone, notwithstanding insulin’s role in it. I don’t buy this food reward theory, but I do believe that it is most likely in the brain. As part of my masters program in exercise physiology, I had to take nutrition, but also used every available term paper to selfishly research obesity and metabolism. From what I have read, something happens in the brain, and then it is all downhill from there. I believe that something is inflammation – high circulating energy in the blood can cause it (possibly due to mitochondrial dysfunction); high blood glucose; high insulin levels; possibly palmitic acid; most processed shit – vegetable oils, fructose, and wheat, etc.

Bottom line is, this WOE works for jocko, because it gets at the source (I think) in the same way low-carb does for others. The inflammation model explains a lot of the observations and synthesizes why carbs work for jocko, and meat and veggies works for me. It also explains some other ideas that Galina and I found out – that we have to fast (not that it’s painful in the least) to enjoy the benefits.

It really could come down to… what inflames your individual brain? Cut it out, and your good. There’s got to be something else to swapping gut biota and gaining or losing body fat on a dime. Gary wouldn’t disagree – he would just like to see meaningful and supportive research in whatever direction is closer to the truth.

-Al

We are not in the same metabolic state as the populations who eat traditional carbohydrates like rice and taro , it takes years of consuming Western diet before western deceases appear.

And I give credit to Gary for not muzzling me either. Come to think of it, maybe he just doesn’t give a toss, since he’s laughing all the way to the bank.

FrankG, I ignored you the first few times because I feel that if you were really as inquisitive and genuinely interested as you claim in getting to the bottom of fat loss and health, you would have accepted the evidence I cited about the diets of hunter gatherers and present-day Asian countries who eat a carb-based diet. Or you could have at least checked it out for yourself.

You also ignore the fact that Jimmy Moore is 300 lbs after gaining back 115 lbs of his initial weight loss, though he is LC-world’s leading cheerleader. You also ignore the evidence in every single university physiology and biochem textbook that has taught for years that fat can be lost even when insulin is high, and that fat can be gained even when insulin is low due to a myriad of other hormones the actions of which are ignored on this blog. You ignore the thousands of obese people with normal insulin levels and no insulin resistance. You ignore the thousands of thin people with high insulin levels and/or insulin resistance.

Since you obviously don’t read what I write, I’ll repeat it again for you: Why is someone who disagrees with your cargo-cult science a troll??

Just face the facts Frank. You don’t want to hear contrary evidence that upsets your biases. That is why dialogue with you is useless. Take a tip from Galina and Al, who are actually trying to learn and apply their brains to this problem in a manner that serves the science and the sick people who need help, not the fame and bank account of a best-selling writer.

As above: we are told that the carbohydrate + insulin hypothesis is dead but I have yet to see convincing proof of this… meantime I am called a mindless zombie for believing in this “dogma” as if I am a religious zealot following a guru; instead of an open-minded individual, who seeks knowledge from evidence-based proof, and applies critical thinking to draw my own conclusions.

I think you will find that the majority here ARE open-minded to discussion of both sides. Perhaps you need to be wary that those you seek to defend are not the ones who are preaching a dogmatic viewpoint that does not stand up to scrutiny but instead relies on ridicule of its “opposition” in an attempt to seem valid.

I’ve no doubts that carbs+insulin is NOT the whole story of obesity etc… but I am currently convinced than carbs + insulin are major players; and trying to dismiss any further discussion of their roles by using terms like “dead”, “coffins”, final nails” etc… is not convincing me in the least.

I agree that trolling is best ignored but I have also said I remain open to reasonable discussion. As is already evident in the above comments.