It's not true. Especially in the beginning you won't be able to burn a significant amount of calories because you're not fit enough. Check out /r/loseit . Calorie counting is simple but tough at the same time. Get a food scale, it's less than 10$. Install myfitnesspal, it's free. Don't eat food you haven't logged. Don't eat food you can not log. Avoid excuses like home cooked meals, make it your priority. Calculate your daily caloric allowance with a TDEE calculator, choose sedentary and go for a 500kcal deficit of that number. Correct that daily caloric intake if you don't see the progress you want to see. Weigh yourself at the same hour so water and food intake don't skew that number. You can do this.