Ep. 124: Forget About CICO: A Smarter Approach to Fat Loss

In this episode we discuss: An alternative framework to CICO for conceptualizing fat loss Why eating less and exercising more is not the best solution for fat loss Why excess energy does not cause fat gain and instead leads to fat loss How you can get stuck in a cycle of weight gain, undereating, and constant hunger, and how to get out of that cycle   Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide   Free Energy Balance Mini-Course: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/   Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/     Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-124-forget-about-cico-a-smarter-approach-to-fat-loss/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 1:06 – recapping the problems with CICO 5:02 – the Energy Balance approach as an alternative to CICO for fat loss 12:12 – why calories do not equal energy and considering the possible fates of the food we consume 17:39 – efficient mitochondrial function as a central piece that determines whether substrate will be stored as body fat 19:39 – the amount of food you eat does matter 21:46 – conceptualizing Energy Balance with numerical units 24:00 – fat gain as a consequence of impaired mitochondrial function 29:01 – how you can lose fat while eating more 33:12 – the effects of energy availability on hunger and stress hormones 36:41 – how stress hormones, along with energy deficits, cause the body to break down muscle, bone, and skin for energy 43:16 – the benefits of having an energy surplus: improved sleep, immune function, digestion, cognitive function, and more 46:20 – comparing the Energy Balance approach with CICO and the major cost of the advice to “eat less and exercise more