I often see confusion in the fitness community surrounding how to "look" fit

if you lift weights
- in a surplus, you'll get swole
- in a deficit, you'll get ripped/shredded

if you don't lift
- in a surplus, you'll get fat
- in a deficit, you'll get skinny

the denominator is that if you don't lift, you won't look fit

i'm using the word "lift" loosely here to refer to muscular development
obviously if you participate in running, cycling, swimming, things that are considered "cardio", you'll still develop muscles because your muscles have to work to move your body.
if you don't exercise, no amount of dieting, even if you get skinny, will affect your physique positively

cue the gray area maximalists who want to point out the nuances in my argument even though it's true