Calories In vs. Calories Out - The Debate is Over

Mike's Instagram:

Putting an End to the Calorie Debate - Do Calories in Calories Out Matter?

So, calories in versus calories out. A question that comes up constantly: Does it truly matter and is it a real thing? All over the internet right now, we see people that are talking about, just, if it fits macros, or eating whatever you possibly want as long as it fits within a specific caloric range. Then we have another subset of people that talk about the ketogenic diet and say that when you're on a keto diet, calories don't matter at all, or when your fat-adapted calories don't matter at all.

Thomas DeLauer: What we want to do is we want to break this down. In order to break this down, I brought in someone that I highly, highly respect in the YouTube space. This is Mr. Mike Mutzel, and Mike, I appreciate you coming here.

Mike Mutzel: Buddy, thanks so much for having me. It's an honor.

Thomas DeLauer: Totally. Tell everyone kind of, you know, a little bit about you and why they should be listening to what we're talking about today.

Mike Mutzel: Sure, yeah. It's a great question. I have master's degree in human nutrition, undergraduate degree in biology. I've been studying this stuff for a long time, like you. We have similar backgrounds. I used to work with medical doctors, integrative doctors, and so I've worked with a lot healthcare practitioners, studied the research. I too am a skeptic, initially, right, of all these different thing. I was even a skeptic at first of keto. I like to go into the research and see what's going on, what scientists are saying, what they're publishing. Yeah, I mean, one of my passions, like you, is looking at metabolic science and figuring out ways that we can optimize our body's physiology, so that's what I focus on on my channel.

Thomas DeLauer: Awesome. Very cool. For those of you that know my background ... Some of you may or may not, but when he said we have similar backgrounds, we both came from sort of this medical background in the sense that we're not doctors, but we worked closely with physicians. I managed over 1,200 physicians in the world of ancillary lab services, providing lab services to them. You worked in the industry and worked for closely with pharma and everything. We just know the good, the bad, and the ugly of the industry.

Okay, so calories in, calories out. You and I kind of come from the say cut of cloth when it comes down to this, but the common thing that I've been getting hit with lately is you're having these guys come and say that, especially with the advent of the keto diet, that calories are the end all, be all. Like, it's all going to come down to calories. Is a calorie really a calorie? Is calories in going to be calories out? I first want hear your initial stance on this, and then we can get kind of a discussion going.

Mike Mutzel: Sure. No, that's great. I mean, it's really interesting to think about because if we think about when we go to the gym and say we burned 3,500 calories, right? Let's say you and I were in beautiful Southern California, we go for a bike ride. I used to race bicycles, and several times when I was training on the weekend for six hours, I would burn north of 6,000 calories. Theoretically, I should have lost about two pounds, just under two pounds of fat per day doing that, but sometimes I would actually gain weight, right? I think it's oversimplified.

Mike Mutzel: The human metabolism is so integrated with nutrient-sensing receptors, hormones, and so we really need to think of all the different networks and so forth on the cellular and biological level. I think it's just been oversimplified. I mean, if we think about what a calorie is, it's a unit of energy to break down ... It's a unit of heat, sorry, to break down an amount, a finite amount of energy. The body doesn't necessarily work like that. That's a concept in physics, and so I think it's just calories certainly matter. I don't think you can over-consume a lot of calories, more than your physical activity would garner, and necessarily lose weight; but I think with the hormonal shifts and the nutrient-sensing receptors that are up-regulated with fasting, with keto, with exercise, we have a lot of wiggle room there.

Thomas DeLauer: Guys, make sure you give him a follow. Honestly, he's going to drop some knowledge bombs that even make my mind just go, so-

Mike Mutzel: Thanks, guys. Thanks for having me on.

Thomas DeLauer: All right. See you soon.

[Highintensityhealth]

Thanks so much for having me on! What a blast this was.

[drealsidewinder]

1997 I was told by a medical doctor that the LOW CARB diet I was on was unhealthy and even deadly.
Early 2000s, a Nutritionist told my wife she was in danger because she was on a LOW CARB diet.
2019, we are still on LOW carb (KETO now) diet and heathier than anyone our age, not on keto.

[jackLoveX]

"Some doctors know less about the healthcare industry than people working on the admin side." You just earned my like.

[Rick-seqm]

Finally, two subject matter experts who are not throwing one another under the bus. I have replayed this several times and will continue to do so.
Thanks guys!

[cemilcrrk]

I never count calories on keto+IF but I lose fat every day, having abs for first time in my life, also no cardio

[nhambarian]

You both fed off each other well. Other topics were brought up and explained. Very informative and really helpful. Following Mike now too, appreciate the introduction Thomas.

[bignoknow]

So cool that you got Mike on the channel! He’s a friend of mine and he’s brilliant.

[angelamoore]

More Mike and Thomas collaboration? Yes please! Great video guys!!

[papernummies]

Thank you so much for getting together and sharing knowledge with us! Love you both and will watch every single collaboration you share. Thx again!

[markd]

Just wanted to ad this comment, when I feel bloated, I fast! It’s that simple!! Listen to your body, it never lies!

[lisadouglas]

Yeah, some hormonal information towards women going through peri-menopause and menopause too please. Love both you guys, great collaboration, yes do more.👍

[GodSaveTheClothes]

Yay! Love Mike’s channel! I’ve learned so much from you both!

[scottschneeman]

Great job guys. Love the science behind it all. Looking forward to more collaboration between you. Keep up the good work. You’re helping to educate so many. Thanks

[alphacause]

Thank you Thomas for bringing on Mike, from High Intensity Health. He is such a valuable resource of knowledge and it is nice that you have provided him a platform so that he can get more exposure. With regards to the keto vs calorie restriction model, the conflict between these two camps is unnecessary. Yes, energy deficits are necessary to lose weight, and energy balance is necessary to maintain weight. However, keto, when done with a deliberate focus on maintaining food quality, is the BEST means to achieve both this energy deficit and energy balance. Hence, these two ideas - calorie restriction and keto - are not diametrically opposed. Instead, they are quite complementary.

[TAZMASTA]

There needs to be more of these videos on your channel! It's just nice to hear discussions like this.

Love this collab, u guys should do more 🙌🏻

[Linglingfolife]

I love watching these types of videos and being able to understand all of it. Thank you!

[ambslyn]

Can you guys do this again because there’s something very calming about both of you, especially with such an overwhelming subject, , and all the extra knowledge was just a bonus. ☺️

[sphismth]

more collabs please omgggg. great stuff, love and support you two all the way!

[TheJoeLee]

Totally awesome collaboration guys.
Mike, I was turned on to your channel when I started my intermittent fasting and Keto lifestyle two years ago when I discovered Thomas Delauer and I have learned and enjoyed your interviews with MD Jason Fung, Dr. Eric Burg and many others..
In fact both of your channels have been key in my current dietary knowledge and current state of health.
When I started two years ago I had to make a radical change in my nutrition because my health was suffering.. I want to thank you both for your dedication to educating your followers... keep them videos coming.
Thomas you are the man!