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> I usually notice severe metabolism slowdown when sitting for prolonged periods of time. I can eat 800-1200 kcal and not lose any weight (and I’m 200lbs). I'm
by EMM_386 5y ago
> I usually notice severe metabolism slowdown when sitting for prolonged periods of time. I can eat 800-1200 kcal and not lose any weight (and I’m 200lbs).
I'm also a software engineer and I too sit for absurdly long periods of time.
Your body will use the minimum necessary. If you sit for a long time, most of that energy will be directed towards your brain.
At the end of the day, you simply have to reduce energy intake below baseline requirements. Then you will lose weight.
Note this is an absurdly unhealthy way to lose weight, as you will be neglecting cardiovascular health, muscle mass, bone strength, etc. In my experience, this can lead to "brain fog" and other issues programmers don't want, so that also has to be carefully balanced.
But you will lose weight, if that is the goal.
- nradov 5y agoIt's there any scientific evidence that extra energy is directed towards your brain rather than stored as fat?
- grogers 5y agoI don't know about specifically to your brain (that seems implausible), but there is NEAT: non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Your body adjusts energy expenditure by hundreds of calories up or down by subconsciously making you fidget more or less.
- EMM_386 5y agoIt's not "directed". It simply goes to whatever has the highest energy requirements. If you are sitting still at your desk all day, not moving a muscle, your brain has a large energy requirement. So your muscles will waste, your bones will likely become brittle, but the energy coming in will go where it needs to.
- nradov 5y agoSitting still doesn't increase your brain's energy requirements. Excess energy is mostly used to build fat (and repair other tissue).