Calories math 3500 cal =1lb?

TrueEgyptian

Hey everyone,

So I am really confused and was wondering if someone has the same issue?
I've been counting calories for a long time (even before myfitnesspal) however, I am finding it hard to believe that 3500 cal =1lb of weight. I lost 17lbs and my goal is 20lbs, yet my weight fluctuates 3-4 lbs back and forth... The problem is those days when I am stressed in college, and unfortunately, food comforts me! Even though I screw up a lot, I go over my cal intake (which is 1200 cal/day) by only 200-250/ day. That should be enough calorie to maintain my current weight, and not to make me gain weight, but according to my scale, something is off. Why would I gain those 3-4 lbs if I didn't have that 3500*3/week? Does that make sense? I am so frustrated because, honestly, the only way I get back on track is by starving my self for a whole day. I usually have a bowl of oatmeal so I won't have headaches or faint!! I've been doing that for a long time, and I am really sick of it. Can I just live normally without obsessing, and without gaining weight at the same time!

brianpperkins

One pound of fat contains approximately 3500 calories ... however, the body doesn't just fluctuate fat weight. Water, glycogen, muscle, food in your digestive tract, waste ... all vary and cause movement on the scale.

Your starving yourself is unhealthy. Do some homework, learn how the body works, apply that information.

Without basics such as height, weight, age, what you set MFP at for your weekly loss goal, etc ... there really isn't much detailed help anyone can give you.

missiontofitness

Weight naturally fluctuates each day due to water retention, waste inside you, ect.
1,200 is too low, and you should not be starving yourself to get "back on track", or being obsessive over weight loss and calories. I also doubt you are short enough to maintain on 1,200 calories.

If you are experiencing any thoughts of disordered eating or weight loss habits, please make sure you are getting help.

RodaRose

1 If you eat too much one day, the next day you are supposed to start over again. Eat your normal calories for that day and the days after.
2 Your goals are too high. Change them to .5 pound a week and try those calories for three weeks. Then look over your logging and reassess.

ndj1979

glycogen/water weigth/bloat/daily fluctuations..

end thread/

SergeantSausage

Weigh your food.

Weigh yourself.

Weigh yourself + your food.

Whadaya get?

Scenario: (1) you weigh, say, 160 pounds. (2) The pizza guy shows up with a pizza that weighs 3-and-a-half pounds. (3) Place the pizza in my hands and step on the scale. What does it say? 163.5 right? (4) Step off the scale, eat the pizza. Step back on the scale. No pizza in my hands. Its gone. I ate it. What does it say? 163.5. (5)Step off the scale, drink half a a 32 oz glass of water. (6) Step back on the scale. What does it say? HINT: 165.5 (7) Step off the scale. (8) Take a poop. Now what does the scale say?

Get it yet?

TrueEgyptian

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Weigh your food.

Weigh yourself.

Weigh yourself + your food.

Whadaya get?

Scenario: (1) you weigh, say, 160 pounds. (2) The pizza guy shows up with a pizza that weighs 3-and-a-half pounds. (3) Place the pizza in my hands and step on the scale. What does it say? 163.5 right? (4) Step off the scale, eat the pizza. Step back on the scale. No pizza in my hands. Its gone. I ate it. What does it say? 163.5. (5)Step off the scale, drink half a a 32 oz glass of water. (6) Step back on the scale. What does it say? HINT: 165.5 (7) Step off the scale. (8) Take a poop. Now what does the scale say?

Get it yet?

lol, thanks for your feed. I am really not that stupid, and I understand that water, food, and poop can make you seem fatter on the scale. But, when your body start looking fat, face, neck, wrest (and I am not just taking about bloating), then that is actual weight gained. Ex: when your pants are tighter...get it? That's what I don't understand

missiontofitness

TrueEgyptian wrote: »

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Weigh your food.

Weigh yourself.

Weigh yourself + your food.

Whadaya get?

Scenario: (1) you weigh, say, 160 pounds. (2) The pizza guy shows up with a pizza that weighs 3-and-a-half pounds. (3) Place the pizza in my hands and step on the scale. What does it say? 163.5 right? (4) Step off the scale, eat the pizza. Step back on the scale. No pizza in my hands. Its gone. I ate it. What does it say? 163.5. (5)Step off the scale, drink half a a 32 oz glass of water. (6) Step back on the scale. What does it say? HINT: 165.5 (7) Step off the scale. (8) Take a poop. Now what does the scale say?

Get it yet?

lol, thanks for your feed. I am really not that stupid, and I understand that water, food, and poop can make you seem fatter on the scale. But, when your body start looking fat, face, neck, wrest (and I am not just taking about bloating), then that is actual weight gained. Ex: when your pants are tighter...get it? That's what I don't understand

You didn't gain 3-4lbs of fat during that time period, nor would it be reflecting in your face, body, neck, or wrist.

ogmomma2012

Bloating is usually water retention. This month was the first I actually saw TOM bloat in my legs. O.O Crazy how bloaty I was.

kyta32

I hate this comment, but I'm making it anyways. If you are having a hard time losing at 1200 calories, the chances are that you are eating more than you think. Do you weigh your food to be sure of the calories? Even packaged food may not be the weight it says it is.

Use the correct MFP entries. Anything with a star * next to it has been entered by a user, and may be off. Click on the nutritional breakdown and double-check it against another source before trusting it.

If starving yourself for a day is the way you "get yourself back on track", keep in mind that the immediate weight loss from starving is mostly glycogen depletion in your muscles, and losing the water that you used to store the carbs, not fat loss. You aren't "back on track", you are just temporarily low on energy storage and water, which is weight you will put back on immediately as soon as you have some carbs - and that is why you do not have to eat 3500 calories to gain one pound of weight. Your body can store about 600 grams of glycogen. When your muscles and liver are full, that is 1 pound glycogen plus 1.8 to 2.4 kg of water - so, about 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) gained per 800 - 1000 calories eaten that goes into glycogen storage.

Water can be retained for different reasons, such as sodium intake, stress/cortisol levels, or hormones. Retained water can make you feel bloated, even if you haven't gained any fat. Some people react to food differently. I've heard of people getting bloated from bread or rice (i.e. big tummy, not from fat gain, temporary).

Are you checking your inches as well as the scale? Sometimes my inches drop when my weight stays the same. I really don't get how that works...

Get enough sleep. Try to manage your stress as best you can. Talk or journal your way through your problems. If you can't eat within your calorie budget, many people have found it helpful to add exercise to earn calories. Intesive exercise can help lower your hunger, at least temporarily, while allowing you to eat more. In two hours of karate, I earn over 1600 calories, more than enough for a bowl of oatmeal. Have you looked into resistance training? When close to goal weight, some find recomposition gets their body closer to what they want than just straight fat loss.

If hunger is making it difficult for you, make sure to get enough protein (.8 g per kg or 1 g per lb of lean body mass), water, and fiber. Have enough fat to help with satisfaction. I personally find avoiding added sugars helps me avoid cravings.

The last few pounds are the hardest (and the slowest). You will see far more water weight fluctuations than actual fat loss. Keep track of the trends, and be patient. You will get there.

shadow2soul

TrueEgyptian wrote: »

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Weigh your food.

Weigh yourself.

Weigh yourself + your food.

Whadaya get?

Scenario: (1) you weigh, say, 160 pounds. (2) The pizza guy shows up with a pizza that weighs 3-and-a-half pounds. (3) Place the pizza in my hands and step on the scale. What does it say? 163.5 right? (4) Step off the scale, eat the pizza. Step back on the scale. No pizza in my hands. Its gone. I ate it. What does it say? 163.5. (5)Step off the scale, drink half a a 32 oz glass of water. (6) Step back on the scale. What does it say? HINT: 165.5 (7) Step off the scale. (8) Take a poop. Now what does the scale say?

Get it yet?

lol, thanks for your feed. I am really not that stupid, and I understand that water, food, and poop can make you seem fatter on the scale. But, when your body start looking fat, face, neck, wrest (and I am not just taking about bloating), then that is actual weight gained. Ex: when your pants are tighter...get it? That's what I don't understand

Bloating/water retention can cause that without you actually gaining fat.

If your retaining enough water you will see it in your hands, feet, and face as well. Generally though by this point it is called edema. Women often experience it during late pregnancy, but there are other reasons it can come about as well.

So you are misinformed if you think water retention can't make your pants tighter. It can and especially if your retaining a lot in your lower abdomen.

Oh and 3500 calories per 1lb of fat. Not 1lb of weight. That number doesn't account for water weight, lean body mass loss, and other things that cause the number on the scale to fluctuate.

Camo_xxx

^ she just touched on it but it should be highlighted again

Please learn the diffrence in weight vrs fat.

Weight fluctuates a few pounds a day in humans for all the reason listed above, Fat is fat and requires a 3500 calorie deficit to burn off 1 pound.