Calories Are Not “Real” | Ep 339

Get your free Nutrition 101 guide at witsandweights.com/free to understand the fundamentals of nutrition without getting lost in the weeds, including how to set up energy balance, macronutrients, and calories in a way that actually makes sense

--

"Calories don't exist, they're just made-up numbers."

"You don't eat calories, you eat food."

These statements have gained traction on social media, usually from people trying to dismiss energy balance or suggest that tracking food is meaningless.

But this argument reveals a fundamental misunderstanding about measurement in science and engineering.

Let's dismantle the anti-calorie argument for good.

Learn why calories are actually one of our most precise tools for understanding energy and how, at the same time, you don't need to obsessively count every calorie to benefit from understanding energy balance, and acknowledging their importance doesn't mean ignoring food quality, hormones, or individual differences.

Main Takeaways:

• Calories are a precise unit of energy measurement, just like miles measure distance and money measures value
• The "calories aren't real" argument is a category error that could invalidate any scientific measurement
• Bomb calorimetry directly measures the chemical energy in food's molecular bonds
• Reductionism through measurement is how we understand and control complex systems
• Calories provide a foundational tool that works alongside other factors like food quality and hormones

Episode Resources:

• Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS - the app that uses calorie data to calculate your actual metabolism

Timestamps:

0:02 - The "calories aren't real" argument
4:06 - Measurement validity and category error
6:24 - What calories actually measure and why they're precise
7:42 - Useful approximation vs. perfect measurement
10:59 - 3 reasons people dismiss calories
14:18 - How we use calories for real nutrition results like fat loss

Support the show

📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork.

🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN).

👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram