Calories in vs Calories out

ChristinaLConway
ChristinaLConway Posts: 115 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I understand the calories in vs calories out. My question is if I have my burn (from a fitbit) and my intake (weighed) correctly. Should I be losing exactly my deficit every week? Example. This week my deficit was calculated at 8468calories. But yet I only lost 1 pound. Does that mean Im miss calculating? Or are some weeks just like that?

SW:161 (10/4/14)
CW: 152.5
GW: 130

height 5'4

TIA

Replies

  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    edited November 2014
    Weight loss is not linear. There are other factors that can "mask" progress like food volume, water, etc.
  • KylaDenay
    KylaDenay Posts: 1,585 Member
    LolBroScience wrote: »
    Weight loss is not linear. There are other factors that can "mask" progress like food volume, water, etc.
    This.

    Its only been a week, so just stick with it.
  • ChristinaLConway
    ChristinaLConway Posts: 115 Member
    Thank you both :) Thats the answer I expected but wanted to be sure. There is so much talking about in vs out working I wanted to double check.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    I would keep a trend over the long term and average the weight loss over time. I would also suggest progress pictures, and measurements for comparison sake. Don't put all emphasis on the feedback of the scale.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    Two things. First of all, this is all estimates. I believe my Fitbit is about 90-95% accurate on what I burn. Based on my weight loss rate. Second of all, other things are going on beside just fat/weight loss. Your water weight changes from day to day/week to week based on sodium, stress, hormones, sleep, etc. So maybe the scale showed a 1 pound loss but it could be that you're heavier on water.

    What to do? Trust the science and keep going if you're making progress. But don't compare weighin to weighin. Look at your weight now and compare to a month ago. Our hormonal cycles tend to be monthly (roughly) so looking at 30 days ago means you're comparing apples to apples, for that part of the fluctuation at least.

    As long as your trend is moving downward you're doing well. If you seem to stall for 4-8 weeks, reassess your food logging/goals/etc.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Awesome job on the loss, a pound a week is great!
  • tracymayo1
    tracymayo1 Posts: 445 Member
    ChristinaLConway wrote: »
    Thank you both :) Thats the answer I expected but wanted to be sure. There is so much talking about in vs out working I wanted to double check.

    Check your MFP "reports" section on weight to see your overall trend. Granted you have to have logged a few weights to see anything... I weigh everyday and log everyday - so I saw the trend quickly, but weighing every week is what is most recommended and you should see your overall progress with the ups and downs after a few weeks logging.

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