Does this work out right?

GeordieGirl80s
GeordieGirl80s Posts: 120 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I have just worked out that this last week I burnt 6,562 calories more than I ate, I weighed in this morning and have lost 0.5lb................................... does that work out right? I always thought that 3,500 calories was = to 1lb so surely I should have lost just under 2lb?


I'm new-ish to this, any advice gratefully received.......................... Thank you.

Replies

  • PJPrimrose
    PJPrimrose Posts: 916 Member
    Weight loss is not exact. I had a REALLY hard sparing session with my top Martial Arts instructor. I lost 2 1/2 lbs in one day despite going over in calories and drinking a ton of water. It leveled out later in the week. It goes up, down and stays the same and can be all over the place rapidly, too.

    Meanwhile, losing over a week is a pretty sure sign you went down. .5 is a good weight loss for 1 week. Good job!
  • GeordieGirl80s
    GeordieGirl80s Posts: 120 Member
    Thank you PJ :-) I am delighted that I lost, just mildly confused.
  • MadTownD
    MadTownD Posts: 149 Member
    It's not an exact science, and a lot of sodium (which I have a problem with) will sometimes hang on to more water, and reflect on the scale. Also, exercise sometimes uses more muscles than you're used to, and they will want to hold onto more water to repair themselves.

    I try to look more at a monthly average than weekly, and it will sometimes level out that way. Just keep doing what you're doing, and you'll get there!

    :smile:
  • 33Freya
    33Freya Posts: 468 Member
    While calories in/out is very much valid, the game of weight loss is all approximate, especially when looking at the scale. I differ 2-3lbs per day from morning to evening. I gain and lose 3-5lbs each month during my period. If I eat a lot of sodium, I can gain a pound over night! But I know that being in the 150s to 160s would be more ideal than teetering between the 170s and 180s, so I know I need to continue to carefully keep track and work hard on my body composition. I also seem to retain weight for a week or two and then suddenly boom, it drops. Don't sweat the small stuff :)

    It sounds like you are ROCKING your workouts! Stay consistent, drink lots of water, get good sleep, and keep it up! You are making a difference, even if the scale doesn't show it yet.
  • melnorwich
    melnorwich Posts: 60 Member
    Hi
    If I've learnt one thing over the past 2 years about weight, it is that you cant calculate how much weight you will loose. There will be times when your body looses more and times when you feel like you've worked really hard and the scales dont reflect that. You just have to make sure that you dont lose heart and keep at it and ensure that you are getting good nutrition. I've found it necessary to hcange my eating habits when I've plateaued. Although this was frustrating as hell at the time, its been good in the long run as I now eat a healthy varied diet which is low in sugar. As long as you are heading towards a healthy weight, its not worth stressing over when it is lost. Also, if you get frustrated with your progress, the stress can impact on your cortisol levels which is bad for weight loss.

    That said, if you are trying to calculate how much exercise to do, its well worth making sure that you understand the difference between net and gross calories (http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/articles/net-versus-gross-calorie-burn.aspx). I only discovered this last week.

    Mel
  • GeordieGirl80s
    GeordieGirl80s Posts: 120 Member
    Thank you everyone :-) I'm wondering if maybe not weighing myself every week might help me. I tend to stress out over how much I can't do exercise wise at the moment due to total lack of stamina after last years major health issue (I was housebound for most of the year after blacking out in the street and being diagnosed with atrial flutter) rather than being proud of what I can do.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    A few things

    First - a good read regarding scales
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/350212--why-scales-lie

    Second, it is possible that you are overstimating your calories burned, depending on what you are loggin and how you are getting those numbers.

    Third, everything is an estimate. From your TDEE, to calories consumed to calories burned. Even the most diligent tracker will have degress of error.

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