It’s tempting to believe that weight change is just simple maths: eat less, lose weight; eat more, gain weight. But the truth is far more complex. At Flush GBI, we recognise that metabolism, hormones, toxins, and lifestyle all interact in ways that go well beyond calorie counting. Understanding this helps explain why so many “eat less, move more” approaches fail in the long run.

What Is a Calorie?

A calorie is simply a unit of energy. In theory, if you consume fewer calories than you burn, you’ll lose weight. But even here, things get tricky: food labels can have up to a 20% margin of error in reported calorie values. That means the “calories in” you’re counting may not be accurate at all.

How Does the Body Actually Use Calories?

Our body’s total daily energy use—called total energy expenditure (TEE)—comes from three main areas:

1. Resting Energy Expenditure (60–70%)
   Also called basal metabolic rate, this is the energy your body needs just to keep you alive—breathing, pumping blood, regulating temperature, and supporting cellular function.

2. Thermic Effect of Food (≈10%)
   It actually costs energy to digest, absorb, and store nutrients. Protein, in particular, has a higher thermic effect, which is one reason it supports weight management.

3. Physical Activity (≈20%)
   The most variable category, including intentional exercise and everyday movements like walking, climbing stairs, or even typing.

Why “Calories In, Calories Out” Fails

Several factors can disrupt the neat equation:

1. Not Eating Enough

If you consistently eat below your basal metabolic needs, the body adapts by slowing metabolism—a protective mechanism against starvation. This means you burn fewer calories at rest and fat loss stalls, even on a very low-calorie diet.

2. Genetics

Each person’s biology is different. Some research suggests we have a set-point weight range that our body defends. Crash diets often backfire by pushing too hard against this natural baseline.

3. Hormones

Hormones such as thyroid, cortisol, leptin, and insulin all influence how calories are processed, how fat is stored, and how hungry you feel. Imbalances—often made worse by stress and poor diet—can override simple calorie math.

Other Factors That Influence Weight Beyond Calories

Your body isn’t a calculator—it’s a dynamic system. Weight changes can also be affected by:

• Medications & medical conditions (e.g., thyroid disorders, insulin resistance).

• Sleep quality (poor sleep alters hunger hormones).

• Stress (chronic stress increases cortisol, encouraging fat storage).

• Age (metabolism slows and muscle mass declines).

• Gut bacteria (imbalances can alter appetite and fat storage).

• Diet quality (nutrient-rich vs. processed foods impact hormones differently).

The Flush GBI Perspective

Detox and weight management cannot be reduced to calorie counting alone. Flush GBI works by addressing the underlying blocks to metabolic health:

• Removing toxins that slow cellular energy production.

• Supporting the gut microbiome for better nutrient absorption.

• Balancing hormones naturally through targeted nutrition and lifestyle resets.

Calories matter—but context matters more. When the body is cleansed, nourished, and supported holistically, energy balance begins to correct itself, and sustainable fat loss follows naturally.