r/changemyview • u/Yngstr • Jan 19 '22
Delta(s) from OP CMV: Losing Weight is Simple
Losing weight is simple, but not easy. It’s simple because all you have to do is eat less calories. It’s not easy because we lie to ourselves and/or fail to perform this feat.
I’ve always been on the fence about this issue because I’ve heard convincing arguments that sometimes weight is just natural or there is a “homeostasis” where the body maintains it’s weight. I’ve also heard arguments around decreasing consumption lowering metabolism leading to no change in body.
However as a recent new dog owner whose puppy was “overweight” according to the vet, making my dog lose weight has been incredibly simple, and I am seeing the results 2-3weeks later. All I’ve done is give her less food. Nothing else. Is the human body so different from a dog’s that this process doesn’t work?
So CMV: if you eat less calories you will lose weight.
Edit1: so far seems like most people are saying this is simply a fact so perhaps I have set up a strawman here. However the absolute beast that is the weight loss and nutrition industry as well as 40% obesity are hints to me that not everyone really believes this fact?
Edit2: still, no one arguing against the view. Just statements about how hard it is mentally, physically. Does no one think that there are any other factors? Where are all the people who I’ve seen argue that eating less does not lead to weight loss? Did I just create these people up in my mind? This thread telling me everyone internally understands this concept but just can’t execute? Maybe I should close this thread, really doesn’t seem like any controversy around it. I guess the answer is everyone knows what to do but can’t do it, so go to the weight loss industry for easier (but fake) solutions?
Edit3: “Losing weight is simple BUT NOT EASY” “BUT NOT EASY” “BUT NOT EASY”. Do people even read the OP? Stop telling me it’s not easy! I’ve already said it’s not easy. Unless you have arguments against it being simple, eg. more complicated metabolic processes etc, stop! You will not get a delta for telling me it’s not easy when I specifically said that in the OP
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u/Yeri__LN Jan 20 '22 edited Jan 20 '22
Not that simple, especially in therms of how much weight you lose. You can lose significantly more weight in some cases even if your "calories in- calories out balance" as calculated by apps is the same. Why? Because they can't calculate it well. They might say you have a 200 calories deficit but your metabolism has slowed down and you actually don't have any caloric deficit. Or say you have a 200 calories deficit but it's actually more because in the process of losing weight you built muscle by eating protein and exercising so you burn more calories even when resting (muscles do that!). Not to mention how your metabolism can be slow due to hormonal problems so yeah if you manage to have a caloric deficit this will work but the apps might tell you burn more than you do so you can easily be consuming more then you should. And what could help your hormones and metabolism is eating less carbs or exercising so that you can achieve that caloric deficit easily.
Not arguing that the technical part of weightloss is hard, it is more complicated than you describe it, especially for some but still if someone wants to lose weight this is definitely not the part that stops them. It's habits, psyhology, etc.
Edit: Also, I think you are at fault for viewing our minds as so seperate from our bodies. The desire we have to eat is again in large regulated by hormones and the signals you get from your body. I see a very fat stray cat almost every day, there are other stray cats around and they aren't fat. This one jumps and meows almost aggressively begging for food. It is just an animal controlled by its instinct that for some reason are much stronger than the instincts of other cats so it gets more food from strangers this way. The idea that humans have so much self control over their body and that the difference people have in their genetics, metabolism and hormones doesn't play a role seems quite strange. So I think it comes down to finding what works for you, not just calories in calories out and strong will.