Hey Rob, help me out here. Let's assume you're 100% correct and I'm 100% wrong.

Wouldn't it then be impossible to do what I did?

slightly over 200 lbs, 5'10" tall, in 3 months, get to slightly over 170 lbs (still 5'10" tall). This was in 2003. Never made any effort to keep from regaining any of the weight, and haven't in the past 19 years. I DID lose about 5 pounds without even being aware I was losing weight, when in 2018 I started 3 mornings of aerobics a week - with NO change in diet.

*****

How I did it (all wrong, I assume)

1. Simply chose 1500 calories with zero attention to macronutrients.

2. On most days of the week, had at least one hearty high carb, sugary dessert (ice cream, brownies, chocolate chocolate chip cookies, etc

3. All kinds of fruit, including high sugar fruits like pineapple and watermelon.

4. White carbs like basmati rice, plenty of other carbs like rice pasta, whole wheat bread, etc

5. Lots of starchy vegetables like squash, potatoes.

6. Lots of legumes - chick peas (lots of hummus), black beans, tofu, etc

7. minimal animal food - 1 or 2 eggs once or twice a week; fish once a week; occasional yogurt, cottage cheese, (both low-fat).

So obviously, the above is impossible, is that correct?

(Note I'm only asking about weight here - the numbers are great, by the way)