Muscle mass requires less maintenance than cardio or diets. The moment you stop either of the last two, you're going to start gaining weight again. Muscle mass will gradually be reduced if you don't train, but that's still going to take some time.
That kind of behaviour should never be encouraged. It's toxic and unhealthy. If you encourage people to become less healthy, you're part of the problem.
If a person's goal is to be healthier, then I do encourage healthier habits, but if someone's goal is weight loss and not to get in shape or to be fit, then health isn't what they're worried about and they're likely to turn to unhealthy or dangerous methods when they see their weight increasing because of muscle mass. Taking naps isn't unhealthy either, it curbs hunger and stops idle snacking between meals (which is usually the problem) It isn't the healthiest choice by gym rat standards, but it prevents problem behaviors and helps eliminate those bad habits.
This very chapter actually points out the flaw of the argument that exercise is the best way to lose weight, it might be the best way to get in shape, but that jog where she burned
maybe 600 Calories (it was probably closer to 400) was
immediately followed by an intake of probably almost 1000 Calories. If she keeps up the running and takes up additional muscle-building training, she might eventually break even and start slimming down, but she'll also be flipping out because she's worried about her
weight, and she'll be packing on a few more kilos of muscle before her basal metabolic rate catches up to her calorie intake. If she can't fix her habit of constantly snacking or at least chose healthier snacks, she's be better off just sleeping so she isn't snacking; if she's not snacking then she isn't adding excess calories and her metabolism can start working on burning through the excess she has stored up.
