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[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by evenodds

I worked out with a trainer 2x per week (mentioned only because I had someone with me 2 hours a week pushing me hard not allowing me to slouch around the gym) and did cardio for 60-90 minutes 4 days/week with a hrm (also tracked by my trainer), and saw less progress than when I simply stopped eating carbs.

I do not recommend what worked for me for everyone, which is why I referred to it as subtle. I stopped eating carbs. I dropped my calories by maybe 100 a day when I could not exercise. Because I tracked everything, I know what worked for me and what did not. I am not guessing. I know. I know day by day my food and nutrient intake.

I lost weight and have successfully maintained it. Then I started working out again to tone, etc.

All I am saying to you is that cal in/cal out is a little more complicated than simple math.

Exactly. And cal in is different for different people. And the cal in measurements are often very wrong. Cal out varies considerably as you change weight, which is why training for a race is more likely to result in weight loss than steady going to the gym and working out the same amount every time you go. Each week you're building miles and running more than the week before. As you lose more weight and your body becomes more efficient (in part because of muscle build up, in part because you're not having to work as hard to move as much bulk around), you need to expend more energy to burn the same amount of calories.