Everyone is entitled to their opinions; you have yours and I disagree with it (which, of course, is my own opinion) - specifically, burning three to four thousand calories aggregate between a preload shift and muscle/tissue repair? I must be misunderstanding you, because that sounds outrageously high.
For most of the year, I am very active (chainsawing, other outdoor activites) and I cycle about 25 or more miles per day, depending on how much time I have away from working; I can easily put on weight if I eat like crap.
I would perhaps chalk up the difference between myself and you/ORLY!?! as different body chemistries and, perhaps, age.
Also, you classify yourself as a bodybuilder - that implies an extremely strict regimen which most people do not follow; that could be the source of the discrepancies, as well.
edit: To be a little more succinct, I would say that personally, I can always out eat the exercise I perform.