just as it’s not as simple as calories in calories out, it;s not this simple either.
Of course not – thread title is facetious of course.
Seems to me that there are two approaches – eat less move more to give a calorie deficit. However, it might also be the case that eating more allows you to do more exercise, and encourages more muscle growth afterwards which then increases metabolic rate. Also it might enable more higher intensity which could stimulate other beneficial effects.
At the moment I’m doing more longer rides in the evenings whilst away (one or two 3-5 hr), and a few at weekends; also some KBs and the odd run. Because I’m eating more* I feel fantastic when riding and I’m hammering around all over the place. And loving it too, far more enjoyable than struggling through fatigue. I recover much better when I eat more.
Previously I wasn’t doing many long rides (1x3hr per week), but was trying to do short high intensity workouts and keeping the carb intake down. I found that I couldn’t do high enough intensity to get a benefit whilst trying calorie/carb restriction.
Losing weight slowly, apparently losing waist inches much more quickly, getting faster quite quickly.
* taking on carbs during the ride, and afterwards; snacking (not very healthily) during the day occasionally, having soup and brown bread for lunch; trying to keep GI down (no sugary soft drinks, no sweets, no white bread and little starch); protein rich breakfast.