re: It's the carbs bruh

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Ok, back to my example. Would one maintain/lose weight if eating 2k calories of twinkies a day? What about 2k calories of beef a day?

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Metabolic health and processes complicate the answer. You’re correct in that 2000 calories of beef would lead to better weight management than 2000 calories of Twinkies.

For one, the body uses more energy to burn protein than it does to burn carbohydrates. Something like 2-3 times as much. So you’re not technically using/storing 2000 calories of beef as you would 2000 calories of Twinkies.

Secondly, protein is essential for building or maintaining lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass increases your BMR, meaning your 2000 calories is burned at a faster rate. Twinkies have little to no protein meaning you lose lean muscle mass thus lowering your BMR. You would have to burn calories with more work to process and burn all of the 2000 calories of Twinkies.

BUT, before you jump for victory, keep in mind that people have different caloric needs based on body composition, different BMRs influenced by genetics and lean muscle mass, different NEATs, and different experiences with physical exercise. Claiming that 2000 calories of beef will always win doesn’t tell the whole story. If someone needs 1800 calories to maintain weight, then they will gain weight on that protocol.