How does this effect body fat and weight?

[baydude]

What's the difference between these two scenarios and how does it effect your body fat % and physique?

Eating 800 calories over maintenance level and burning that extra 800 calories to be back at your maintenance level by the end of the day.

vs

Eating 400 calories over maintenance level and burning that extra 400 calories to be back at your maintenance level by the end of the day.



Does it matter how much you eat as long as you burn the calories you eat? I would assume burning 800 calories vs 400 calories would put you in better shape even if you're consuming enough just to maintain your current weight?

 

[Auric]

Presumably... potentially gain muscle while maintaining fat and thus slowly reduce percentage and increase definition. The balance of aerobic versus anaerobic exercise would affect cardiovascular fitness and endurance versus strength and appearance, while the energy quantity would affect the degree of change (ability to do work without using fat stores). Though any excessive visceral fat could continue to affect overall fitness and health. I cannot even speculate if that might be reduced/redistributed by exercise without energy deficit.

 

[devenchis]

It depends on what you're trying to do. Burning 800 calories vs 400 calories requires more work. Which in turn leads to bigger muscle tear, bigger loss in fluids in your body... etc. Your question is too vague.

 

[jaedaliu]

Depends on your definition of "better shape" and if your exercises support the goal.

However, what and how much you eat can matter if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high ldl, or cardiovascular disease. If your physical with your doctor is sparkling, then it won't matter.

 

[Koing]

The person burning 800cal *may be in better shape* than the person only burning 400cal even if the net affect of both if zero cal gain.

For most people they don't even track calories properly let alone track so that they eat 800 over maintenance, and then continue to burn 800cal that specific day or over the course of the week.

Try both out for yourself and see how you get on.

For me I'd rather eat 400cal less and not have to burn that additional 400cal EVERY single day.

I'm okay with 2400cal a day.

Koing