[_JoRo]

;TLDR: Anecdotally, I've found it easier to lose weight / harder to sustain weight after a few months of consistent exercise.

Mostly unrelated to this article and perhaps naive, but I found it very difficult to gain weight (and even sustain my weight) about 2 months after starting a 5/6 day cardio routine.

I started the routine walking at ~20 minute mile pace (3 mph) and just incrementing the speed by 0.1 mph each session. At the 2 month mark I was ~8 minute mile (so about 7-8 miles a day).

At this point I was probably burning an additional 750-1k calories a day from the running alone.

Combined with a slightly less calorie dense diet and I was basically force feeding myself to try and maintain my weight.

Background: Late 20s 5'11" Male ~180 lbs (obviously a more ideal situation)

[Auracle]

I burn about the same amount of calories walking at my desk every day. Just like you say, I’m able to eat what I want and not gain weight - or even lose it.