the laws of thermodynamics

Noun

the laws of thermodynamics pl (plural only)

1. (plural, plural-only, slang) The dieting maxim that one needs a calorie deficit to lose body-fat and surplus calories to gain muscle.
   • Although no clear experimental error has been demonstrated, critics continue to maintain that something must be wrong because the laws of thermodynamics would be violated [5], that “a calorie is a calorie” [6].2004 December 8, Eugene J Fine, Richard D Feinman, “Thermodynamics of weight loss diets”, in Nutrition & Metabolism, volume 1, number 15, →DOI
   • Most people go wrong by misinterpreting the laws of thermodynamics.
     The Law of Thermodynamics proves that:
     To build muscle, you must store energy or increase muscle protein.
     To lose fat, you must burn energy or reduce stored body fat.
     The mistake? To assume that:
     You must be in an energy surplus to...2021 September 6, Tom MacCormick, “The Body Recomposition Handbook”, in T-Nation