Weight loss query

[maximo]

Hello! Something has been bugging me for some time now: we know that, to lose weight, you basically need to burn more calories than you take in. If someone normally eats a lot, then cuts down, but the amount eaten is still more than the amount burnt, would the person lose weight ?? Or is the fact you are reducing your calorie intake enough to make you lose weight ? thank you in advance.

[steviep165]

damn thats a good one. so if you eat less and more wisely u'l understandably lose weight. but what happens if you sit on the couch all day and only get up to go to the fridge. even if u've cut down on the calories, would you still put on weight.
by no means an expert by i would imagine that the body has a point at rest where the natural metabolism can olnly burn of so many calories in x amount of time. crossing this calorie threshold would lead to weight gain. i think.
i suppose thats why the basic mantra has always been eat better and exercise more.

[maggie01]

I think you would just maintain the weight they you are.

[steviep165]

i feel an experiment coming on. on my next hols i will be couch bound!

[Amara]

Weight loss is not about calories necessarily, the trick to it is to eat a diet that keeps your blood sugar even, not to overeat and to exercise more. Grazing rather than gorging ie eat more frequent small meals and snack on fruit. A lot of people suffer with food allergies which can cause bloating too, mainly wheat/gluten and dairy.

[FoxLee]

I think there is a simple equation here. Consume X amount of calories, burn X amount of calories, weight will remain constant. Consume less than X calories, you will lose weight. Consume more than X calories, you will put on weight.
If you cut down but still eat more than you need, I think you will still put on weight, albeit more slowly than before. So if you find it difficult to cut down on food intake, then the answer is to be more active so that your body needs those extra calories. If doesn't mean going to a gym six days a week but using those oft quoted tricks. Getting off the bus a stop or two earlier and walking, parking a long way away from the supermarket entrance, taking the stairs instead of the lift, don't wait until you have several things to take upstairs at home, run up the stairs with a single item. All these small steps which you can incorporate into your daily life will add up to a big difference.

[Amara]

I repeat calories are not the major factor in weight loss

[puzzled54]

Amara, I think you'll find that they are. As you say "not too overeat and to exercise more" - that is controlling calorie intake/output

[Amara]

The average calorie intake in Britain (2,000 Kcal) has consistently dropped over the past 15yrs,but obesity has increased. whereas people in China (where obesity is rare) eat substantially more calories (2,630 kcals a day) than UK and USA. The big difference is the quality of food consumed. It isn't even the fat content, as the amount of fat intake has decreased with calorie content, it is too much sugar and refined carbohydrates in our diets that is the major problem. The missing link in the calorie equation is metabolism - ie how the body turns food into fat, the key to this is maintaining an even blood sugar level. There is obviously a lot more to it than this, but I won't bore the pants off you.