The short answer is: No.
A poor diet consists of heavily processed foods, fast food, foods that come out of a box or a bag, or any food that is dense in calories but short on nutrients.
It is very easy to eat a large quantity of these foods. They taste really good! We don’t often stop with one small slice of pizza or one serving of chips or ice cream. If we measure these food choices out or weigh them, we would be surprised by just how small a “serving” really is.
Therefore if we eat 500 calories in ice cream or 1000 calories in pizza, we often will not burn enough calories during a workout to offset the calories eaten. Also, these low quality foods lead to other negative effects such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Our bodies store fat from foods that drive up insulin like a candy bar. Our endurance is hampered when we feel terrible from the foods we have eaten. And our sleep can be negatively affected when we eat high fat foods in the evening.
If a person is looking to change the composition of their body or to lose weight overall, the best approach is to make a small reduction in caloric intake each day, choose unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, and meats.
Good nutrition and regular exercise go hand-in-hand to create a healthier body.
Sources:
6 Major Reasons You Can’t (and Shouldn’t Try To) Out-Train a Bad Diet