Here is the secret to dieting and weight loss: There are approximately 3,500 calories in a pound of refined fat.
If, over a period of time, you consume 3,500 fewer calories than you expend, you will lose a pound in body weight. That's it. That's all you need to know.

Exercise if you like, but only really if you want to be a bit fitter than otherwise you would be - but exercise purely for weight-loss is a losing game, simply because the body is so incredibly efficient at retaining and using energy.

Hope that helps.
(BrianHequator was stretching owls, on, or around, Mon 5 Sep 2011, 11:37, 1 reply, 14 years ago)

You're wrong
if your body was a simple machine you might have a point but it isn't. Every change you make will cause your body to react - changing metabolism, fat storage, energy reserves. That has to be taken into account if you're actually going to lose weight.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 5 Sep 2011, 12:06, Reply)

Fair point - but if you're at a steady state, neither losing nor gaining weight, then less energy going in means reserves will start to deplete, right?
If you can knock a significant chunk off energy intake (let's say 300 cals per day which ought to lose about 1kg over a month - hardly rapid but doable), you're going to start to lose weight.

I mean, it won't be pleasant and you'll feel hungry, but you'll have to lose weight - your body's got few other options available. Of course this is not sexy and doesn't need pricey dieting products to achieve, so I guess it's not going to be very popular ...
(BrianHequator was stretching owls, on, or around, Mon 5 Sep 2011, 12:16, Reply)