Been at a desk for 20-years, now at physical labor. Recently figured out that I’m running a serious caloric deficit, and I’m already a skinny fucker. Also, I’m aiming to build a little muscle and a lot of endurance. How do I eat?!

Back when I was working hard, ate tons of fast food. Too expensive and time consuming, don’t want off the clock to go eat (hour round trip including eating). Took a 12-hour shift today and did OK sucking down granola bars, water and kratom, ate my wife’s kickass meal when I got home.

What can I cook or bring to work to power me? What’s simple and cheap and doesn’t require much on-site prep? (We have a microwave, toaster, all that, I just want calories and protein in my face with no fuss). Afraid I’m half-ass cannibalizing myself.

  • shalafi@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    21·
    4 days ago

    Of course not! But Google AI’s take dovetails with what I’ve been reading lately.

    According to recent research, the idea that we burn roughly the same amount of energy each day regardless of our activity level, often referred to as the “constrained total energy expenditure” theory, is gaining traction, suggesting that our bodies may compensate for increased physical activity by reducing energy expenditure in other areas, potentially limiting the overall calorie burn despite changes in activity levels; however, this is a complex topic with ongoing research and not universally accepted as definitive fact.

    The “Exercise Paradox”: This concept suggests that even when we exercise more, our body may make adjustments to maintain a relatively stable overall energy expenditure, potentially by reducing energy used in other daily activities like fidgeting or non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT).

    Researchers believe that hormonal changes and physiological adaptations could play a role in regulating energy expenditure to maintain a stable baseline.

    While the overall trend might be towards a constrained energy expenditure, the degree of compensation can vary significantly between individuals depending on factors like genetics, diet, and activity level.

    Not a justification for inactivity: Even if the body compensates to some degree, regular physical activity still offers numerous health benefits beyond just calorie burning, such as improved cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and mental well-being.

    Studies investigating this concept often have limitations, including challenges in accurately measuring total energy expenditure and individual variations in activity patterns.

    Sounds evolutionary sane. We automatically adjust our metabolism given available calories. Wildly simple take by me, but I get it.

    • RBWells@lemmy.world
      1·
      2 days ago

      Anecdotally I have found the exact opposite to be true for my body. I got a job that required a short walk and stairs to get to and even that made a difference in how much I had to eat. Started jazzercise after my last kid and was confused because I thought I’d lost like 5 lb but I was having to buy new clothes because mine didn’t fit - I had dropped 25lb, and gotten underweight just from doing aerobic dance while my kids were in swim class a few times a week.

      When I cannot work out, even if I control my diet I will gain, still inside a healthy weight but definitely gain.

      It’s always activity that makes the difference for me.

    • RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world
      1·
      4 days ago

      This sounds to me like maybe it applies to some people, which is why some find it more difficult to lose weight, but for most people, increased activity = burning more energy ie calories.