this is probably one of the largest fallacies in the fitness world. while i wont dispute the physics of the natural law i do dispute that this should be the focus. purists would tell you that whether you get your calories from a big mac or a salad 1k calories is the same and as long as you stay in a caloric deficit you will lose weight. again that is technically true. and for some people this is an effecive mental model for losing or maintaning weight. I feel liek thats telling someone that if they get their recommended oil changes then their car will last longer than someone who doesnt. while technically true in real life that doesnt account for the driver in the seat of the car who might have an aggressive style that puts more stress on the brakes or the suspension. sure the engine might last longer but the car is a complete system with a driver at the helm and having regular oil changes doesnt stop the driver from wrapping the car around a pole or driving it over a cliff. until the driver has the control, training and processes in place to give them the best chance at success it doesnt matter if the car is getting regular oil changes.

to me thats why i wanted a different approach. i like the idea of a thousand small gains across the spectrum of health that are tailored to the driver, not the car. the brain in charge of my body has cravings, emotions, depression, injuries, stress and so much more. to treat a single component of a system as the entire system is foolish.

when yo lift you release chemicals to your brain that make you happy. when your happy you make better decisions about food.

when you have enough electrolytes, minerals and vitamins your brain is content, when its content you make better decisions about your food.

etc.

every step of the way its not about cutting things to zero its about improving your chances to make a better decision of your health at all of the thousand points in your day you might think about food. its improving percentages not a binary yes or no, flipping a switch.

eating lots of food with salt and sugar triggers chemicals nad hormones in your body that effect your brain chemistry and decision making, makign it harder to make good decisions about your food.

sitting for long periods of time lead to muscle atrophy reducign chemcials in your body that lead to makgin poor decisions about your food.

staying up late, not getting enough sleep shutds downt eh chemicals that let you burn fat and increase cortisol which makes you make poor decisions about your food and excercise habits.

then theres a bunch of things completely outside your control.