[dhimes]

I exercise quite a bit, and have struggled with my weight when I exercise. It's kind of a paradox: I could lose weight or exercise, but not both.

Recently I accepted a $500 challenge to get down to a certain weight by a certain date, so I started taking the calorie in- calorie out bit seriously. I won the challenge of losing 30+ pounds and in so doing became very suspicious of the low-carb mentality I had adopted 25 years ago or so when the problem really surfaced.

To get through cardio I need carbs, and suspect that I would increase my overall calorie intake to get them as I was keeping my carb percentage low. Stop the exercise and I could take the weight off.

So I'm definitely back to the opinion that calorie balance is the real key (short of some metabolic disease). I'm 61 years old.

[gadders]

Agreed. You need to match your calorie make-up to your activity. I.e if you're strong and lifting but trying to lose weight prioritise protein.