how many calories in a pound?

addaline22
addaline22 Posts: 114
in Food and Nutrition
on average, how many calories do you need to burn to loose a pound? I'm still in the fat shedding stage, muscle building to start seriously nov. 1st.

Replies

  • lilmisfit
    lilmisfit Posts: 860 Member
    3500
  • addaline22
    addaline22 Posts: 114
    Damn. thats alot of calories. how do we get to that number?
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    Persistence
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    Easy, eat at 500 calories below your TDEE per day. 500x7= 3500 for a pound a week.

    Edit to add- Go here http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • Werner1950
    Werner1950 Posts: 38 Member
    Yet here is the odd thing. I can go only 500 calories over in one day, and I will gain a pound the next day. Why is that?
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    Damn. thats alot of calories. how do we get to that number?

    eat less.
    excercise more.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    Yet here is the odd thing. I can go only 500 calories over in one day, and I will gain a pound the next day. Why is that?

    water
  • KALMdown
    KALMdown Posts: 211 Member
    Yet here is the odd thing. I can go only 500 calories over in one day, and I will gain a pound the next day. Why is that?

    water

    ^yup. I find the days I go extremely over, I not only go over in calories but sodium too.
  • addaline22
    addaline22 Posts: 114
    I'm eating about 1500 or less for the most part every day and burnning about 600 a day. it is a a good ratio for me, Once I did the math it just amazed me. I am at 228 lbs right now and working on eating right for a life change, and really training with my cardio. I am just so impatient right now. I hit a bit of a wall, or at least told myself that. It was just me being lazy. Train big, get big results, right? :)
  • akjmart2002
    akjmart2002 Posts: 263 Member
    I'm eating about 1500 or less for the most part every day and burnning about 600 a day. it is a a good ratio for me, Once I did the math it just amazed me. I am at 228 lbs right now and working on eating right for a life change, and really training with my cardio. I am just so impatient right now. I hit a bit of a wall, or at least told myself that. It was just me being lazy. Train big, get big results, right? :)

    You didn't put it on overnight, nor will you take it off overnight. Slow, steady, and healthy wins the race.
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
    akjmart2002
    You didn't put it on overnight, nor will you take it off overnight. Slow, steady, and healthy wins the race.

    Exactly! Getting fat is the sum of decisions over a long period of time; one big greasy cheeseburger won't make you fat. One salad won't make you thin. Decisions over time....
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    I'm eating about 1500 or less for the most part every day and burnning about 600 a day. it is a a good ratio for me, Once I did the math it just amazed me. I am at 228 lbs right now and working on eating right for a life change, and really training with my cardio. I am just so impatient right now. I hit a bit of a wall, or at least told myself that. It was just me being lazy. Train big, get big results, right? :)

    Are you eating back your 600 exercise calories for a daily intake of 2100, or are you netting 900? A net of 900 is way too low and will likely cause a plateau. You should be aiming to net at least your BMR most days.

    Get some strength training in there too. Too much cardio will do you no favors.

    Read the link I posted previously. I'm 131 pounds and have my calorie goal set to 1550. I eat back 2/3rds of my exercise for an average daily intake of 1800 most workout days. Under eating will get you nowhere in the long run.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Yet here is the odd thing. I can go only 500 calories over in one day, and I will gain a pound the next day. Why is that?

    Because your scale is weighing more things than just your body. There's undigested food and unexpelled water in there, so your weight will change depending on whether you've just done your bathroom duties and/or how long it's been since you've eaten. Eat too much sodium, and your body needs to metabolize that, and in order to do that it retains water (which weighs a lot) until it works through the sodium. So your weight varies by several pounds during the course of an ordinary day.

    Your weigh-ins, even if done during the exact same time of day under what you think are the same circumstances, are random samples that include variables you cannot easily account for. The variance is easily over a pound even if you are pretty scientific in your weigh-ins.

    So if that 500 calories was a half-bag of chips, the actual calories are not really the problem - if you're at a 500 calorie deficit you simply stalled your weight loss for one day - no big deal. The pound or two you gained is the water your body is retaining to try and metabolize and get rid of the sodium that was on the chips.
  • addaline22
    addaline22 Posts: 114


    Are you eating back your 600 exercise calories for a daily intake of 2100, or are you netting 900? A net of 900 is way too low and will likely cause a plateau. You should be aiming to net at least your BMR most days.

    Get some strength training in there too. Too much cardio will do you no favors.

    Read the link I posted previously. I'm 131 pounds and have my calorie goal set to 1550. I eat back 2/3rds of my exercise for an average daily intake of 1800 most workout days. Under eating will get you nowhere in the long run.
    I understand the calories I need so I am not eating under what i need to function. I am doing the cardio as conditioning as a starting point and necessity, walking and light jogging are my starting point. I also have to walk a round trip 6 miles a day because I walk my son to school and back. my strength training right now is basic, push ups, light resistance, yoga. I know this isnt an over night event, I know it will take time.
  • Werner1950
    Werner1950 Posts: 38 Member
    Yet here is the odd thing. I can go only 500 calories over in one day, and I will gain a pound the next day. Why is that?

    .......

    So if that 500 calories was a half-bag of chips, the actual calories are not really the problem - if you're at a 500 calorie deficit you simply stalled your weight loss for one day - no big deal. The pound or two you gained is the water your body is retaining to try and metabolize and get rid of the sodium that was on the chips.

    That was educational. Thanks!
  • garyb1245
    garyb1245 Posts: 1
    In order to lose pounds it's important to understand how many calories you'll need to burn. To burn extra calories you can either eat less, exercise more, or do a combination of the two. Depending on your weight loss goal and your eating and exercise habits, the length of time it will take you reach your goal weight will vary. Below are some tips on how to lose 5, 10, 20 or 50 pounds.

    1. Choose a Goal Weight

    There are many ways to choose your goal weight, such as calculating your BMI, using the Hamwi method, or choosing your lowest adult weight. A good rule of thumb when choosing your goal weight is to pick a weight that will yield a BMI that is in the normal weight range category. Your initial weight loss goal should not exceed 10 percent of your initial weight; maintain your new weight for at least 6 months before attempting another weight loss.

    2. How to Lose Weight Safely

    A safe rate of weight loss is ½ -1 pound per week. You'll need to burn an extra 250 calories per day to lose ½ pound per week and 500 calories per day to lose 1 pound per week. A 140-pound person can burn approximately 330 calories by walking for 60 minutes at a pace of 4 miles per hour. Heavier people will burn more calories (performing the same activities) due to the increased effort it takes to move a heavier body. When trying to lose weight eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber and healthy (unsaturated) fats; also reduce your overall calorie and sugar intake.

    3. How to Lose 5 Pounds

    To lose 5 pounds you will have to burn 17,500 calories. At a weight loss rate of ½ - 1 pound per week it should take you approximately 5 - 10 weeks to lose 5 pounds. Since losing those last 5 pounds always seems to be difficult, try changing up your workout routine (cross train) and reduce your sugar intake.

    4. How to Lose 10 Pounds

    To lose 10 pounds you'll need to burn an extra 35,000 calories. A 10-pound weight loss should take you about 10 -20 weeks. Continue to incorporate regular physical activity and healthy eating into your weight loss program.

    5. How to Lose 20 Pounds

    You'll need to burn an extra 70,000 calories to lose 20 pounds; depending on your starting weight it may take you 20 weeks or more to lose the weight. Set short-term goals and keep food and weight diaries to help you track your progress.

    6. How to Lose 50 Pounds

    A 50-pound weight loss requires you to burn an extra 175,000 calories and will likely take you 50 weeks or longer. This may seem challenging; start with short-term goals (weekly or monthly goals), track your progress, and reward your successes along the way. Remember after you lose up to 10 percent of your initial body weight, maintain the new weight for at least 6 months before attempting another weight loss.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    Just to add: To lose a lb of muscle it only takes 600 calories, not 3500 and why it's important to try and maintain lean mass when dieting to ensure most weight loss is body fat and not muscle.

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