There are only two modes: "weight gain" and "weight loss"

To understand how to lose weight or maintain weight, we have to understand that there are only two modes we can be in with respect to eating behaviours. Everyone has a BMR which tells you how many calories you body needs in order to just exist. If you exercise you add calories to your BMR. The numbers you come up with are at best an estimate. For example, it isn't really possible to know exactly how many calories you burn a day just being you. You have to estimate, and then if you try to eat that amount, you will probably either be just under that number or just over that number. If you eat over that number then your body will store the extra energy either as glycogen or body fat, for future use when you eat just under the amount of calories your body needs. When you eat just over the amount you are in the "weight gain" mode and when you eat just less you are in the "weight loss" mode. If you are always eating just a bit over or just a bit under, or fluctuating on a daily basis between these two modes, you most likely will maintain your weight. Unless you are trying to obtain muscle mass, which will change things slightly. But for the average person, this will be the result. Staying permanently in the "weight gain" mode will cause you to slowly gain weight over time. Or being in the "weight gain" mode more often than the "weight loss" mode will have the same result, only the weight gain over time might be slower. Right now, I am doing the reverse of this, meaning that I am staying in the "weight loss" mode more often than the "weight gain" mode. What I am noticing is a very slight weight loss over time. I have been told that this strategy may not work, if I plan on losing weight, but in my case I am trying to actually find on the perfect weight maintenance diet. I am hoping that I will stumble upon it accidently by following this approach. Since my goals is to still lose a couple of pounds, it will probably be the discussion of a future post.