Hence: Why diets exist. That is the structure. There are good ones and bad ones.
Keto, for example, can work for weight loss not because there's anything particularly interesting about the way your body absorbs carbs versus protein and fat (there are differences, but its not the biggest reason why it can work). It can work for some people because typical protein and fat food sources are less calorically dense (by volume and weight) than carb sources. You may feel full faster; so you may naturally eat fewer calories.
Similarly: IF can work for some people because most people cannot physically eat enough to consume massive calorie counts if they time-restrict the hours they're allowed to eat. It also seems to come with some well-studied metabolic effects.
You don't have to accurately track inflows and outflows, but vibe-structuring your consumption and exertion habits based on outcomes is a privilege that, sure, some people have, but is not a panacea for every body and mind. Broadly, the people who need to make change who do this will not see the change they wanted.
Of course we do!
You’re thinking of this the wrong way. The goal isn’t “eat less” as you said, it’s “consume less calories (energy)”
On any given month if you gain weight or maintain when you want to lose, then you need to consume less energy next month. For 99% of people, that means reduce sofa, reduce sugar, reduce fat (all the energy dense stuff)
Feeling hungry? Drink massive glasses of water and eat literally all the vegetables you physically can get in. I have whole carrots for snacks most days. Cauliflower too. Cucumber is great. Frozen peas on a hot day. All of it, as much as you can eat.
For instance this is something every single person who's into body building does, because you want to be in a slight caloric surplus when bulking, and then you want to get back into a slight calorific deficit when cutting.
If you had a car with a broken gas gauge you would just pump until it overflowed… same idea here.
Over a month or so if your weight is stable then you are putting in as many calories as you burn. If you’re gaining weight, you’re consuming more, and if you’re losing weight, you’re consuming less.
Adjust accordingly.