Donating blood burns 600-650 calories!

I've never done it. There's always some reason I can't: fever, low iron, travel.

I will though. I'd really like to. And I really have no idea what my blood type is so pure curiosity (maybe that's unusual).

Donating blood is great and very important. But it is not exercise. You still need to move your body for 60 minutes today.

I wish I could donate, but my veins are too small and roll too much to deal with the cannula.

My wife is a phlebotomist, and a damn good one at that. I bet she could stick you, and you wouldn't even know it.

I wish I could donate, but my veins are too small and roll too much to deal with the cannula.

My wife is a phlebotomist, and a damn good one at that. I bet she could stick you, and you wouldn't even know it.

Yeah, I wasn't the original one to post this, but do you have any idea how many times I have heard that? I usually have to walk out with cotton balls and band aids on both elbows PLUS my hand.

I wish I could donate, but my veins are too small and roll too much to deal with the cannula.

My wife is a phlebotomist, and a damn good one at that. I bet she could stick you, and you wouldn't even know it.

Yeah, I wasn't the original one to post this, but do you have any idea how many times I have heard that? I usually have to walk out with cotton balls and band aids on both elbows PLUS my hand.

My wife is the one they call to stick babies, cancer patients, morbidly obese people, dying people with virtually no blood pressure, and people that no-one else has been able to stick. There are regular patients in all the locations she works that refuse to be stuck by anyone but her. If she can't stick you, I'm pretty confident in saying that no one can :laugh:

I wish I could donate, but my veins are too small and roll too much to deal with the cannula.

My wife is a phlebotomist, and a damn good one at that. I bet she could stick you, and you wouldn't even know it.

Yeah, I wasn't the original one to post this, but do you have any idea how many times I have heard that? I usually have to walk out with cotton balls and band aids on both elbows PLUS my hand.

My wife is the one they call to stick babies, cancer patients, morbidly obese people, dying people with virtually no blood pressure, and people that no-one else has been able to stick. There are regular patients in all the locations she works that refuse to be stuck by anyone but her. If she can't stick you, I'm pretty confident in saying that no one can :laugh:

Can you have her in my doctors office next month?

I was in the hospital as a child and got to listen to two phlebs: we will have to take it out of her hand! Her hand, you can't do that, it will hurt! 30 some years later, I can tell you the hand hurts less than the digging!

Donating blood is great and very important. But it is not exercise. You still need to move your body for 60 minutes today.

Please, stop it, you're killing me.

Does anyone believe, for one second, that anyone - no matter how misguided or even outright moronic - would need to be told that giving blood can not take the place of exercise?

I don't think anyone might truly believe it. But many people are looking for a quick fix and an easy excuse not to exercise. So I burned 600 calories giving blood today. That means I can eat an extra 600 calories without lifting a finger right? Let's not kid...lots of people will think this way.

Frankly, I would say that you should not have any calorie deficit at all on a day that you give blood. Since it seems most people on MFP run a 1000 Calorie deficit (we're an impatient bunch), an extra 600 Calories is not unreasonable.

Donating blood is great and very important. But it is not exercise. You still need to move your body for 60 minutes today.

Please, stop it, you're killing me.

Does anyone believe, for one second, that anyone - no matter how misguided or even outright moronic - would need to be told that giving blood can not take the place of exercise?

I don't think anyone might truly believe it. But many people are looking for a quick fix and an easy excuse not to exercise. So I burned 600 calories giving blood today. That means I can eat an extra 600 calories without lifting a finger right? Let's not kid...lots of people will think this way.

Frankly, I would say that you should not have any calorie deficit at all on a day that you give blood. Since it seems most people on MFP run a 1000 Calorie deficit (we're an impatient bunch), an extra 600 Calories is not unreasonable.

I think a 1,000 calorie deficit is rather unhealthy. It might lead to weight loss but seriously how sustainable is that? This is just my opinion. You are absolutely correct in noting that many people consistently post that kind of calorie deficit. And I don't judge. (Out loud anyway.) I simply worry about unsustainable behaviors. And I don't do it myself.

In Canada they won't accept blood from Homosexual donors. Not high-risk homosexual donors-ALL homosexual donors.

Therefore they don't get my calories.

it's the same way here in the U.S.
it's a shame really there are so many people out there willing to give blood and help others, and they turn you down due to your sexual preferences.

they also dont take it from people that had a tattoo in the last year or if you are sick or HIV positive or a drug user...there are plenty of reasons and they are ALL GOOD REASONS

I donated blood today, and have been feeling a little discouraged because I've been extra hungry and not able to do any strenuous exercise. I am over my calories for the day already, but I still feel like eating. :grumble:
So. anyway, out of curiosity, (and to hopefully make myself feel better) I looked it up to see if it does burn calories. And YES! it does - 600-650 calories! Now I feel better, it doesn't look any better on my food diary :ohwell: but at least I know it's better.

... okay, so I'm tired and probably shouldn't be in the forums. My sarcasm-o-meter is on the fritz. I'm assuming this was a serious post. While donating blood is FABULOUS and unselfish and wonderful on all accounts... it's a little bit of a misconception to say it burns 600 calories. The fluid volume removed DOES cause an instant dip in the scale, and it does indeed burn calories to manufacture more... but more context needs to be given.

Part of this is based on the number of calories you burn just by breathing. The rest is math. Blood contains proteins totaling 33-38 grams per pint. At about four calories per gram, this translates to 132-152 calories, plus a small number expended by the liver to generate plasma components. Beyond the roughly 150 calories of glucose, triglycerides, amino acids and proteins, whole blood contains red and white blood cells and platelets, all generated within bone marrow. Based on a review of the scientific literature, one can safely conclude to replace a pint of donated whole blood, you will use approximately 350-400 calories... and that's over the time it takes to produce more, not instantly.

As for the discussion on homosexuality and blood donation (blatantly plagiarized from the Washington Times in 2012), The federal government has one study in a planning stage and three studies under way that could eventually provide evidence to end the ban on blood donations from all gay men.The key question is, “Can blood safety be maintained or improved under a revised blood-donation screening criteria that would permit donations by lower-risk MSM [men who have sex with men] donors?” Currently, men who have had sex with men even once since 1977 are indefinitely deferred from donating blood because of the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B in such populations. The ban does not cover lesbians.

In Canada they won't accept blood from Homosexual donors. Not high-risk homosexual donors-ALL homosexual donors.

Therefore they don't get my calories.

it's the same way here in the U.S.
it's a shame really there are so many people out there willing to give blood and help others, and they turn you down due to your sexual preferences.

they also dont take it from people that had a tattoo in the last year or if you are sick or HIV positive or a drug user...there are plenty of reasons and they are ALL GOOD REASONS

No: HIV positive is not the same as potentially HIV positive, based on an out of date stereotype.

Wow this is ridiculous. I had no idea they didn't take blood from homosexuals. That's bullcrap.

In Canada they won't accept blood from Homosexual donors. Not high-risk homosexual donors-ALL homosexual donors.

Therefore they don't get my calories.

it's the same way here in the U.S.
it's a shame really there are so many people out there willing to give blood and help others, and they turn you down due to your sexual preferences.

In the states too? really? I've never heard of this and my sister (who happens to be a lesbian) donates blood quiet often. this is very interesting.

In Canada they won't accept blood from Homosexual donors. Not high-risk homosexual donors-ALL homosexual donors.

Therefore they don't get my calories.

it's the same way here in the U.S.
it's a shame really there are so many people out there willing to give blood and help others, and they turn you down due to your sexual preferences.

they also dont take it from people that had a tattoo in the last year or if you are sick or HIV positive or a drug user...there are plenty of reasons and they are ALL GOOD REASONS

No: HIV positive is not the same as potentially HIV positive, based on an out of date stereotype.

Wow this is ridiculous. I had no idea they didn't take blood from homosexuals. That's bullcrap.

It's based on statistics. I have nothing against gay people but statistically they have a much higher rate of contracting HIV. Google it.

When I was young and foolish, it occurred to me that a pint of blood equals half a pound, so I decided to give blood. But the weight loss was barely noticable.

I donated blood today, and have been feeling a little discouraged because I've been extra hungry and not able to do any strenuous exercise. I am over my calories for the day already, but I still feel like eating. :grumble:
So. anyway, out of curiosity, (and to hopefully make myself feel better) I looked it up to see if it does burn calories. And YES! it does - 600-650 calories! Now I feel better, it doesn't look any better on my food diary :ohwell: but at least I know it's better.

Part of this is based on the number of calories you burn just by breathing. The rest is math. Blood contains proteins totaling 33-38 grams per pint. At about four calories per gram, this translates to 132-152 calories, plus a small number expended by the liver to generate plasma components. Beyond the roughly 150 calories of glucose, triglycerides, amino acids and proteins, whole blood contains red and white blood cells and platelets, all generated within bone marrow. Based on a review of the scientific literature, one can safely conclude to replace a pint of donated whole blood, you will use approximately 350-400 calories... and that's over the time it takes to produce more, not instantly.

Well it's a good thing I have a milligram scale, so I can weigh the ticks I pull off of myself once it warms up! It'll be a bit of work because I will need to weigh them, then squish out any blood they had already sucked, and then re-weigh to get the difference. I mean, if I were to count the whole weight of the tick plus the blood that would just be ridiculous and totally cheating.

Hmm, then I also need to estimate the number of them that I missed, and also all those mosquitoes too. This summer is going to be a lot more work!