I’m not really one to get into internet feuds. If you’re not aware, everyone on the internet is an expert at everything and arguing with these individuals is a complete waste of time and energy.

But just recently, someone replied to a comment I had made on my sister’s post that just rubbed me the wrong way.

Quick background on how all this unfolded. My sister posted this exact picture to Instagram with a caption that read something similar to ‘coworker is leaving, but he left these to soften the blow of his departure.’

A kind gesture by the guy who’s departing for sure. He sounds like a swell guy.

I also happen to know my sister is currently participating in a ‘biggest loser’ type competition at her work, where dropping body fat is the name of the game.

Now, I’m by no means a nutrition expert, but I can confidently say that over the years as a coach and trainer, I’ve learned that ingesting excess sugar is without a doubt the easiest way to pack on the fluff and cause detriment to your overall health. To be more specific, it’s excess table sugar that’s the worst… aka the kind found in lots of processed foods, cakes, cookies, and candy.

So, since my sister essentially asked me to ‘coach’ her through this competition, I left a comment on her post.

“Better not eat that.”

All is well with the world, right? She doesn’t eat the sugar laden candy, and now she’s that much closer to winning the competition! Hooray!!

via GIPHY

Well, apparently I’m wrong, as this comment was left by another individual.

Now, I don’t think this comment was written with any sort of malicious tone attached to it, probably more of one in which this gentleman thinks I am blissfully unaware that all calories are indeed created equal.

My immediate reaction upon reading this was ‘shut the f*ck up you uneducated fish twat “Kind sir, I respect your opinion on the matter. No doubt you arrived at this conclusion through years of seemingly successful self-experimentation. However, I most respectfully and kindly disagree.”

Like I said, arguing on the internet is a waste of time, so I never replied. But that comment continued to bug me throughout the day because, well, I couldn’t disagree more with this guy. (To his credit, the guy looks like he knows his way around a weight room and has the aesthetics to seemingly back up his nutrition advice, however questionable it may be).

At first glance, yes, the simple solution for fat loss is to burn more calories than you eat in a given day, and repeat that over and over and over. I won’t argue this. When it comes to fat loss, total calories matter most.

HOWEVER…

Calories are certainly NOT created equally.

Let’s examine this claim that a calorie is a calorie no matter the source. I’ll compare 130 calories of Life Savers Big Ring Gummy to 130 calories of raspberries and let you be the judge.

First up, Life Savers Big Ring Gummies.

Ingredients: sugar, corn syrup, water, modified corn starch, gelatin, less than 2% of citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, color (red 40, yellow 5, blue 1).

Ok, so you’ve got 130 calories, all of which come from carbohydrates (104 calories coming directly from added sugar). No vitamins, no minerals, no fiber, no protein… you’re essentially pouring table sugar directly into your mouth. Plus, look at those ingredients! Sugar and chemicals! This is amazing… if your goal is to eventually cut your foot off from diabetes.

Let’s take a look at 130 calories worth raspberries now.

Ingredients: raspberries.

Ok, same amount of calories and almost identical amount of carbs… but only 10 grams of sugar, almost 16 grams of fiber, more potassium, more vitamins, AND more protein.