Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

physiqonomics.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 501 posts

Re: You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

#21

Post by at_a_remove »

BenjiWiebe wrote: post #6
elmerfud wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not wrong because it's about calorie deficit of which exercise can help you achieve. Also since the way fat gets "burned" for weight loss is by exhaling carbon atoms, aerobic exercise can assist with this process. As always do not add more mass than you expel.

I don't eat particularly healthy, and I don't exercise much, yet I'm perpetually borderline underweight. Why does the math not matter for me, while the next person watches every calorie, goes on long walks, and yet struggles to lose any weight?

Let's go with the standard 3,500 calories to gain a pound of weight. Let us suppose that an individual's ability to accurately gauge daily caloric consumption is off by a mere fifty calories. Now, for a 2,000 calorie per diemm budget, that is a mere 2.5% error rate. Rather trivial, sounds like. But over a year, that adds up to a little over five pounds.

Not even half a can of soda off and you gain five pounds a year, or fifty in a decade. The math matters, but does does the calibration and the ability to accurately estimate consumption. Even a tiny error amount means long-term weight gain. It's pretty easy to be glib about it.

A fidgeter, someone who wiggles, bounces their feet, etc., can burn perhaps three hundred extra calories per day. You can also see how that adds up.

The tiny increments matter little against time.

Re: You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

#22

Post by DeWilde »

BenjiWiebe wrote: post #6
elmerfud wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not wrong because it's about calorie deficit of which exercise can help you achieve. Also since the way fat gets "burned" for weight loss is by exhaling carbon atoms, aerobic exercise can assist with this process. As always do not add more mass than you expel.

I don't eat particularly healthy, and I don't exercise much, yet I'm perpetually borderline underweight. Why does the math not matter for me, while the next person watches every calorie, goes on long walks, and yet struggles to lose any weight?

Metabolic rate isn't the same for everyone. I also can eat in large amounts and not get fat.

Also don't think that because you are not getting fat that your body is in a healthy state. You can be really skinny yet get insulin resistance, as I did.

Re: You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

#24

Post by briga »

BenjiWiebe wrote: post #6
elmerfud wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not wrong because it's about calorie deficit of which exercise can help you achieve. Also since the way fat gets "burned" for weight loss is by exhaling carbon atoms, aerobic exercise can assist with this process. As always do not add more mass than you expel.

I don't eat particularly healthy, and I don't exercise much, yet I'm perpetually borderline underweight. Why does the math not matter for me, while the next person watches every calorie, goes on long walks, and yet struggles to lose any weight?

Because you're not eating enough? You can eat only McDonalds and still lose weight if you're eating below your daily resting calories. Your body composition will probably change for the worse though.

Likewise the person who struggles to lose weight with diet and exercise is very likely eating more than they think they're eating (or opting for healthy options that aren't actually healthy, like salad covered in 600 calories of ranch dressing)

Re: You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

#26

Post by Etheryte »

elmerfud wrote: post #3
Vladimof wrote: post #2

yeah, exercise is not for losing fat... it's just for staying in good health

You're not wrong because it's about calorie deficit of which exercise can help you achieve. Also since the way fat gets "burned" for weight loss is by exhaling carbon atoms, aerobic exercise can assist with this process. As always do not add more mass than you expel.

Saying exercise can help you reach your calorie deficit is fairly misleading. Yes, exercise burns calories, but even a hard workout is a small part of your daily calories spent at best.

Re: You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

#27

Post by jotm »

BenjiWiebe wrote: post #6
elmerfud wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not wrong because it's about calorie deficit of which exercise can help you achieve. Also since the way fat gets "burned" for weight loss is by exhaling carbon atoms, aerobic exercise can assist with this process. As always do not add more mass than you expel.

I don't eat particularly healthy, and I don't exercise much, yet I'm perpetually borderline underweight. Why does the math not matter for me, while the next person watches every calorie, goes on long walks, and yet struggles to lose any weight?

That was me before 25ish. Good metabolism. If you're under 30, you may still be in for a rude awakening :D

Re: You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

#28

Post by dubswithus »

MisterSandman wrote: post #9
BenjiWiebe wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't eat particularly healthy, and I don't exercise much, yet I'm perpetually borderline underweight. Why does the math not matter for me, while the next person watches every calorie, goes on long walks, and yet struggles to lose any weight?

I think you know the answer to that question, but are trying to make a point, which is IMO very valid. I don't care if you call it genetics or luck or just who you are, but people have different bodies and tend to default to different sizes. This idea of "one diet fits all" does not work. You need to do what is and feels right to your body.

I think people shouldn't trust their instincts on this particular issue. They should consult a nutritionist and weigh all their food.

Re: You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

#29

Post by jimmaswell »

wswope wrote: post #20

Gonna throw out an plug for Nutritionix and their calorie tracker iOS app for anyone inspired to go that route by the article - I tried a lot of options out back when I used to do serious powerlifting and it’s by far the best UX I found for recording macros. They’ve got a barcode scanner, a great DB of common fast food options, and you can even freetext stuff like “200 grams of chicken thigh” and record stuff that wa…

Sounds the same as the app I've had success with, Lose It. Also highly recommended.

Re: You're Not Losing Fat Because You're Eating Too Damn Much (2016)

#30

Post by projectazorian »

Sparkle-san wrote: post #4

This seems like a good primer on how to look at food differently. The problem with diets is that people relapse due to the fact that dieting is done through force of will and willpower is limited. For long lasting change, you need to reshape your relationship with food and be content with what and how you eat. Understanding some of the things in this article can be a good place to start.

That’s why it’s important to make exercise a lifelong habit. Diet to lose the weight, exercise to keep it off.

To some extent you always need to manage your caloric intake of course - but if you exercise regularly, the occasional indulgence isn’t a big deal.

Post reply on HN