theory question about calories and weigh loss

jjs22

I've never been a dieter and I'm just learning about calories and weight loss. I have a theory question I just wanted to check with the "experts".

At age 17, I weighted 175 pounds. Before starting to diet, at age 47 I weighed just about 235. The increase was slow and steady. And it works out to about 2 pounds per year.

In order to gain 1 pound of fat, I believe you just need to consume 3500 calories more than your base metabolic rate plus exercise calories, right ?

So is it correct to say that all of my weight gain can be attributed to an excess of 7000 calories per year ? That's roughly 580 calories a month.

Is that anywhere close to correct ? Somehow it's hard to fathom that all my weight gain could have been avoided by skipping 580 calories each month. Now that I've started counting calories, that sounds like nothing.

BuceesNana

I'd like to hear the responses on this one.

erickirb

I've never been a dieter and I'm just learning about calories and weight loss. I have a theory question I just wanted to check with the "experts".

At age 17, I weighted 175 pounds. Before starting to diet, at age 47 I weighed just about 235. The increase was slow and steady. And it works out to about 2 pounds per year.

In order to gain 1 pound of fat, I believe you just need to consume 3500 calories more than your base metabolic rate plus exercise calories, right ?

So is it correct to say that all of my weight gain can be attributed to an excess of 7000 calories per year ? That's roughly 580 calories a month.

Is that anywhere close to correct ? Somehow it's hard to fathom that all my weight gain could have been avoided by skipping 580 calories each month. Now that I've started counting calories, that sounds like nothing.

The body may be affected due to other things, but yeah you pretty much have it. An extra 580/month will lead to a 2lb gain/year. You could have eaten 580 less, exercised to burn 580 more, or a combination of both to net 580 less cals/month.

lawtechie

You got it! And to put it on an even smaller scale.

365 days/yr * 10 extra calories per day (that's nothing, right?) is 3,650 calories/year = more than 1 lb gained.

ONLY on 10 extra calories a day!

Double or triple that and over the long term it adds up. The small stuff CAN be big

JessieEstes84

Yes that sounds about right. It's very easy to gain weight slow and steady like that. Every little calorie makes a difference. It's easier to diet when you keep track of everything you eat.

jjs22

Wow.

I wouldn't say its depressing, exactly, but it sure is a shock.

"If I'd a known then...."

ninerbuff

I've never been a dieter and I'm just learning about calories and weight loss. I have a theory question I just wanted to check with the "experts".

At age 17, I weighted 175 pounds. Before starting to diet, at age 47 I weighed just about 235. The increase was slow and steady. And it works out to about 2 pounds per year.

In order to gain 1 pound of fat, I believe you just need to consume 3500 calories more than your base metabolic rate plus exercise calories, right ?

So is it correct to say that all of my weight gain can be attributed to an excess of 7000 calories per year ? That's roughly 580 calories a month.

Is that anywhere close to correct ? Somehow it's hard to fathom that all my weight gain could have been avoided by skipping 580 calories each month. Now that I've started counting calories, that sounds like nothing.

You should figure in your TDEE. You're not considering calories burnt from everyday activity.

jjs22

You should figure in your TDEE. You're not considering calories burnt from everyday activity.

But isn't that the same in both cases ? The food I ate had just the right amount of calories to satisfy all my needs plus 580 calories a month extra. If I didn't eat those 580 calories a month, I would have maintained my weight, right ?

erickirb

You should figure in your TDEE. You're not considering calories burnt from everyday activity.

But isn't that the same in both cases ? The food I ate had just the right amount of calories to satisfy all my needs plus 580 calories a month extra. If I didn't eat those 580 calories a month, I would have maintained my weight, right ?

Yes