Weight loss, from a conceptual viewpoint is actually quite simple, but there are so many nuances that make it quite difficult to achieve and maintain an ideal weight. Your body is designed by evolution, with vestiges from long-past times. Your body will do all it can to not allow you to diet down and die because you ran out of energy. To understand how this mechanism works will help you reduce down to a healthy weight.
There is an ongoing debate as to how to lose weight. The calorie restriction method says to eat less. The Hormone theory says this is too simplistic and advocates fasting, or time restricted eating. Which is correct?
Calorie Theory
Fat = calories in – calories out
This equation is critical to the calorie Theory
The calorie theory says that to reduce fat you need to reduce calories in (what you eat) to less than calories out (what you burn). People are encouraged to eat less in order to lose weight. For example if you eat 100 units and burn 200 units, your body will then use 100 units of fat to make up for the shortfall, and you will lose weight.
The standard practice is to eat breakfast every day. The saying “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” has been drilled into my tiny brain since birth. For me it just was not so important. Over the years I have deviated from this breakfast practice on many occasions, mostly without issue. I say mostly because I often inadvertently delay until well past lunch. This is the 16/8 fast, don’t eat for 16 hrs a day, but eat for only 8. It is not as radical as you might think, as most of the time you are asleep.
