Calories Burned/Eating for weight loss

mnec2010

Hi everyone..

Just a quick question. If for example you are on a 1200 Cal diet, and you are looking to burn 3500 cals a week to lose 1lb per week, do you need to burn the calories or can you cut some out from food. For example, if I burn 300 calories, can I cut the other 200 from my diet in order to have a total 500 which is the daily goal to make up 3500 a week. Rather then burn 500 from exercise?

wilmnoca

You should burn those calories. Dropping your intake below 1200 causes your metabolism to plummet, thus stopping you from losing any weight, much less a pound a week. Stick with the 1200 calories diet to fuel your workouts and keep your metabolism furnace burning throughout the day.

TeaBea

If your goal is to lose 1 pound a week - you need a calorie deficit for the week of 3,500 TOTAL. This 3,500 can be either/OR diet or exercise.

Lets say your maintainence calories (no weight loss) are 1700 per day. If you diet and take in 1200 calories - your are at a deficit of 3,500 for the week ( 1 pound) . 1700 - 1200 = 500 x 7 = 3,500

If you burn additional calories thru exercise - these are BONUS calories. You could eat 200 calories more IF you burn 200 calories thru exercise. Some people eat only a portion of their calories back. This is because calorie burn is not an exact science - unless you are in the lab.

As you get closer to your goal - you cannot EXPECT to lose 1 pound each week. 1/2 pound per week is more like it. You should not go below 1,200 - this is taxing to your body.