I have been exercising 200-400 cals a day to lose weight, down 10 lbs in two weeks, negative caloric balance typically -1500 cals or so a day. But I notice when I exercise I also eat more cals for the day. I recently read both via google and in a Paleo Diet book I have that exercise is not really beneficial for weight loss, especially for long term weight loss, that calorie restriction is best, and maybe just mild exercise; on that note I think of paleo people, they burned cals surely, but mostly from walking, some sprint running to escape the fanged beasts or run down some prey. (I can't sprint until I lose weight). I have been doing brisk walking and an indoor exercycle and some wii fitness. But considering what I read about NOT doing much exercising in order to lose weight (because it makes one hungry), am I good just doing the 200-400 cals a day exercise, no more?
 ~Beowulf

Actually the right kind of exercise can help you lose weight (or lose body fat if you are relatively fit). From what I've learned here from others the process is:

- Do some HIIT (High-intensity interval training, such as Tabata protocol). These exercises require little time investments (about 8 minutes for a Tabata session) but will have the added effect of increasing your resting metabolism. Your body will naturally consume more calories outside of exercising time.

- Accompany the above with a paleo diet.

Overall diet is much more important than exercise if you are overweight, but if you want to speed things up consider the above.

I didn't know I locked that thread, I thought a moderator locked it. I have never been on a forum where the members, especially noobs could lock threads down. Maybe I accidentally locked my own thread?  I thought it odd that it got locked down, I thought someone else locked it. [EDIT] -- Just checked, I think a moderator unlocked my thread that was locked.

I think there are several people in this forum that will disagree with Cordain on the issue of fat.  His research is one thing.  But actual practice today shows high fat low carb being the most beneficial.

If you are afraid that eating cooked fat is bad, then try seared fat like seared or rare steak.

High fat low carb paleo diet is the bomb!

from the Homo Optimus Diet:

The ideal proportion between the main food components of  protein, fat and carbohydrates should be in the range of :
1 : 2.5 - 3.5 : 0.5

http://homodiet.netfirms.com/

"High fat paleo diet"?     I have been reading The Paleo Diet by Lorne Cordain, and the author emphasizes eating lean meat, not fatty meat Or by "high fat paleo diet" do you mean higher fat compared to other other diets but still with lean meat but higher fat percentage including higher good fats (not saturated fats)?

My take on the Cordain recommendation is that grain-fed saturated fats are less beneficial than grass-fed meats.  Lean in that grass fed has, by nature, less overall fat rather than saturated fat being a problem.

I'm not sure about the 'higher good fats' question.  I know I don't worry too much about my 'micro nutrients' and the minutia of my diet.  "Eat real food*" and you should do fine.

TWS

*Pollan

Overweight issues are resolved through diet.  Eating a human appropriate diet like high fat paleo diet and your body automatically resizes you back to human form.

Exercise is just there because you like certain activities for fun and your new body makes it fun to get into activities. 

I agree with Goodsamaritan, 100%!

Howdy Beowolf, I started with The Paleo Diet as my base but have sense increased my saturated fat and eat far more fatty meats than before. It's working!

Exercise- The best way to lose fat is first by eating the correct foods as you have read above.

Until you can sprint you can do Tabata Protocol. Doing 1 Tabata session, first thing in the morning, 3-4X per week, will do more for fat loss for you than hours and hours of steady state cardio. Like my signature says "Walking isn't exercise, it's locomotion!"

The absolute best exercise for fat loss is resistance training doing full body workouts with compound exercises. Only muscle uses fat for energy. The more muscle you carry the more fat you can burn. As far as the theory of "get fit first and then gain muscle..." That dead horse has been FUBAR'd!

Agree 100% on all accounts.

I eat plenty of saturated fat and feel full longer.  Fat makes you full.  Sugar makes you fat

Do several types of strength training... maximum strength, explosive strength and muscle endurance.  Throw some sprints in for conditioning and you got yourself a well rounded program.

The days for running on a treadmill for an hour at a time are long gone. 

I lost 70+ lbs running on a treadmill for 30 mins everyday and eating nonpaleo. I believe from experience in the calories in/out theory

If you were 70 pounds overweight... I assume you weren't working out... you could have done just about anything excersise related and lost weight.

That doesn't mean it's the most efficent way to lose it.