@7Wannabe5
Metabolic rate absent obvious exercise/exertion would be...perhaps slightly reduced (I am very active) but there is some interesting research by Herman Pontzer to show it kind of doesn't matter. Aka the exercise paradox. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_paradox . I read his book a few years ago. If I am very active on any given day, I'll very likely and unconsciously make up for it by being more lethargic, less bouncy, and generally use slower movements. Aging is causative towards reduced metabolic rate. Menopause in women reduces metabolic rate further. I'm not sure if the same is for men (T-levels begin to drop at 35ish and there is a steeper decline beginning in the 60s) but I've to imagine reduced T-levels over-time might reduce metabolic rate as well. I'm 33 so still quite young so don't think these are a factor at all.
I hope to never adopt the eating habits of my family (a lot of people in my family are extreme obese 300+ lbs). If anything, I have orthorexic tendencies. That probably played a role in my attempt to bulk - you've to be mentally accepting of fat gain when you put on muscle (it comes with the territory). Something in bodybuilding called a p-ratio. In other words, for every pound of weight you put on, what percentage is muscle and what is fat? Adequate training stimulus and the right amount of surplus can push the ratio in your favor (maybe you get 70% muscle gain and 30% fat gain) but also genetics play a role as well (crap genetics mean even if you're doing everything right, muscle gain might be 30% while fat gain is 70%). Hardgainer for instance will have trouble putting on weight...and when they do its mostly fat. And they'll lose it just as quickly.
But the main issue I think was that excess eating day in and day out simply became a chore. Cutting in the bodybuilding sense actually is kind of easier...less cooking & cleaning. And other then feelings of hunger, its mostly defined by inaction if your caloric deficit is large enough.
