How long do I have? When do cals catch up?

3foldchord

I am not sure how to phrase this question. It is concerning overall deficit and treat days, I guess.

So, about 400 extra calories a day or about ..( quickly tries to calculate 400x7)... 2800 extra calories a week = weight gain. I assume since MFP has us set at a deficit of about 400 for weight loss. Give or take.

So, if I eat a little extra for a few days (holiday or whatnot) how many days until it turn into weight or how many ads do I have to get back into deficit to not have those few extra gain pounds... Or does it not work like that at all.

I keep hearing "have an overall deficit", but does that mean at the end of the day? At the end of the week? What if if's at the end of the month that the deficit finally happens??

Did that question make any sense at all?

abetterjune

An over all deficit over the course of a week will most likely result in loss or at the very least maintenance. The "gain" you will see from a few high-calorie days is likely fluid and food weight. If you know you'll be over eating for a few days, I'd say wait at least 3-4 days after you're back on track with your deficit to weigh yourself.

cmriverside

Since you are so close to your goal, it is going to be slow going for you. It actually takes 3500 calories to equal one pound. Since you are so close to goal, the tool won't let you set your goals to lose one pound. The minimum calorie setting is 1200 for women.

That said, you won't see an exact day when it will catch up to you. You body is a dynamic machine that relies on many factors.

1. All this is an estimate. No calorie counting is an exact science, so you are probably making a couple hundred calories a day in errors - either too high or too low.

2. Too much sodium (salt) for instance, can cause water retention for a few days, making your scale weight inaccurate.

3. Hormones, not just the female ones, but all the different hormones in your body will fluctuate depending on frequency of feeding, sleep, stress, time of the month if you are female, and other endocrine disorders.

So you won't see a linear weight loss/gain.

Lynnmi07

I say try not to over complicate things. It doesn't really matter. However, to give you an actual answer I guess I would say go by a weekly overall deficit, since most of the time we are aiming for a lb or 2 a week.

One thing though lets say you have ate well for 3 days in a row and on the 4th and 5th day you eat a little extra because it is a holiday or something you would probably see a weight gain but water weight due to increased sodium and carbs in the foods you were eating. So its not even like its "fat" weight you would be seeing. Unless on those days you are over eating you were eating 3500 calories more than you should have been you wont see real weight gain.

3foldchord

I say try not to over complicate things. It doesn't really matter. However, to give you an actual answer I guess I would say go by a weekly overall deficit, since most of the time we are aiming for a lb or 2 a week.

Thanks, everyone. This s my main problem. I overcomplicate things and want an exact mathematical formula.... My brain exlodes when things are not "1+1=2 "

So, in general, the deficit should be in the course of a week? Now I am still wondering.. Scientifically how long does it take extra calories to become fat/weight. good thing I am not a cat. (curiosity and killing and all that)

And this really has litltle to do with my own weight loss. Just stupid curiosity and the need to plg things into a precise formula. I need to take an anatomy class, I guess. Nutritional anatomy.

cmriverside

I say try not to over complicate things. It doesn't really matter. However, to give you an actual answer I guess I would say go by a weekly overall deficit, since most of the time we are aiming for a lb or 2 a week.

Thanks, everyone. This s my main problem. I overcomplicate things and want an exact mathematical formula.... My brain exlodes when things are not "1+1=2 "

So, in general, the deficit should be in the course of a week? Now I am still wondering.. Scientifically how long does it take extra calories to become fat/weight. good thing I am not a cat. (curiosity and killing and all that)

And this really has litltle to do with my own weight loss. Just stupid curiosity and the need to plg things into a precise formula. I need to take an anatomy class, I guess. Nutritional anatomy.

:laugh: That's a good idea, that class.

Because you are asking for an absolute black or white answer, when the reality is gray.

We just don't automagically gain one pound at the precise moment we eat 3500 calories too many. If it were even possible to calculate exactly 3500 caloires outside of a laboratory setting.

Example: I over ate by 800 caloires a day for a couple weeks before I showed any weight gain. Then one day I just was up two pounds...now I shoud have been up earlier and more weight.

Do yourself a favor and don't go down the Analysis-Paralysis-Perfectionist route. It's miserable there.

3foldchord

Do yourself a favor and don't go down the Analysis-Paralysis-Perfectionist route. It's miserable there.

Ugh.... I know. I live there most days.it is a struggle I need to give up. Thanks.