I’m currently a lump of chocolate and cheese, but once the new year hits, I’m determined to make 2026 the year I finally get back to a healthy weight (I’ve lost about 20 pounds, with about 80-100 to go). I’m pretty good about exercising regularly, but, as they say, abs are made in the kitchen. Those who have successfully lost weight, is there anything you particularly recommend for maintaining a calorie deficit to lose the weight, and then avoiding gaining it back later on?
Obviously you cannot maintain a deficit over the long run. Eventually, you disappear.
But for any given caloric intake that can sustain you, you will eventually come to a steady state where your body doesn’t grow or shrink any longer, because the bigger your body is, the more calories are required to maintain it.
But also be aware that this isn’t a case of calories in/calories out. There are things that you can add to your diet, introducing new daily calories, and yet you will maintain a lower weight than if you had not added those calories. All calories are NOT equal (despite containing the same chemical energy).
I think a better phrasing would be that all calories are the same, but not all calories are equally accessible (I think this is what you’re getting at?). Eating calories that take more work to access inherently adds less stored energy at the end.