Yes, it’s possible to lose weight eating only Twinkies, provided that your calories in are less than your calories out. And it’s that logic that leads many people to conclude that calories are simple math. Even astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted, “A weight-loss book by physicists would be one sentence long: ‘Consume calories at a lower rate than your body burns them.'” Trouble is, things are not that straightforward.
The Takeaway
In short, the “calories in versus calories out” equation works, however it’s pretty much impossible for an individual to measure either with precision. So do what works for you.
Given the inaccuracies, counting calories may seem like a waste of time, but plugging your foods into a calorie-tracking app isn’t completely pointless for everyone: There’s some evidence that writing down food intake can contribute to weight loss
And if you like crunching numbers but question the whole calorie-counting thing, there are several alternative tools, such as the NuVal and Orac scales, that can help you judge the healthfulness of foods without relying on a running tally of calories.
For others, for ignoring calories completely and instead focusing on consuming whole, nutritious foods may be better. In addition to providing tons of good-for-you nutrients, these kinds of foods typically take more work to digest. If you’re looking to lose weight, try playing with proportions—bump up the fraction of unprocessed foods in your diet and see what happens.