I would be curious to know what your experience with weight loss is. Not maintaining a fit weight, but significant loss. "Eat less, ride [exercise] more" is a familiar old saw, and a recipe for disaster if you're trying to lose a significant amount.

Sure, "just eat less and exercise more, quit worrying about it." But most people who have successfully lost weight will tell you it requires careful planning, because in a way you're going contrary to your instincts every step of the way. And truthfully, the mantra should be "eat more, make better and informed choices, take in fewer calories, get regular moderate exercise".