[itsybitsycoder]

As I've mentioned, I spent a few weeks counting my calories to see whether that was actually true or not. The fact is, I lose more weight with no exercise and a 1700-2100 calorie diet of a controlled composition, than I did running 3 days a week on a 1200-1400 calorie diet of uncontrolled composition. Nutritional science is not nearly as nailed down as you seem to think it is, and frankly the claim that our metabolic systems are magically inaffected by the types of food we choose to eat (unlike every other part of our body) comes off as more than a bit silly when you simultaneously admit that other substances can affect metabolism. I won't claim to have all the answers, but you sure as heck don't have them either.

[jacques_chester]

Calories in - calories out is often substituted for calories on food label - calories on treadmill display.

This is a categorical error that leads to people thinking that thermodynamics and the conservation of matter and energy are wrong.

The labels on food are estimates. The exercise databases are estimates. Therefore when you perform the equation with those inputs, it is approximate only.