Question about Calories

ellelit
ellelit Posts: 806 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So, if i'm 325 pounds and regularly eat in the 3500-4000 calorie per day range, i am pretty consistently gaining 2-3 pounds a week.

now, if i cut down to 3000 calories a day (just for argument sake) would that mean that i would lose 1 pound a week because i have a 500 calorie/day defict from what i NORMALLY eat?

also, if i am used to 3500 calories/day and cut down to the recommeded 1800/day, does that mean that because i am at a daily deficit of 1700 calories that i would lose 3.5 pounds a week?

so confused.

Replies

  • ellelit
    ellelit Posts: 806 Member
    So, if i'm 325 pounds and regularly eat in the 3500-4000 calorie per day range, i am pretty consistently gaining 2-3 pounds a week.

    now, if i cut down to 3000 calories a day (just for argument sake) would that mean that i would lose 1 pound a week because i have a 500 calorie/day defict from what i NORMALLY eat?

    also, if i am used to 3500 calories/day and cut down to the recommeded 1800/day, does that mean that because i am at a daily deficit of 1700 calories that i would lose 3.5 pounds a week?

    so confused.
  • looovely_x3
    looovely_x3 Posts: 37
    Possibly. Theres more to weight gain and loss than calories.

    Theres more to life than weight.


    x
  • kellch
    kellch Posts: 7,849 Member
    No....if you fill out your information properly on this site and enter your exercise it tells you exactly how many calories you can eat and if you check your goals it tells you how much you will lose per week. I mean if you're gaining 2-3 lbs a week........3500 calories = 1 lb that means you're going over by 7000-10500 calories per week. 500 calories less a day is 3500 calories a week so that means you would only gain 1-2 lbs a week instead of 2-3. The way it sounds to me you need to cut back 1000-1500 calories a day just to maintain. 1500-2000 calories a day to lose 1 lb per week.

    Just follow the guidelines MFP has set for you and you will lose weight. It's really not as complicated as some make it. Best of luck to you :flowerforyou:
  • gsschulte
    gsschulte Posts: 79 Member
    Well basically you need some calories just to make the blood move around you and to breathe and the like. So the basic formula is your weight times 11. so for 325 its 3575 to maintain your weight. so if you cut that down by 500(3500 calories for a pound of fat roughly) you can lose 1 pound per week.

    is it just that easy. no it isn't. but it the very basic start. MFP will help you keep a food diary so that you know exactly how many calories you are taking in. i surprised myself when i did my first food journal. but back then i was 302 so i had to at least maintain that weight so i was eating about 3500 calories a day. changing all the bad habits i had was the hardest part. watch out for fast food. its still a problem for me.
  • crystal_sapphire
    crystal_sapphire Posts: 1,205 Member
    no, you won't lose 1 lb a week by reducing the 500 calories to 3000 because that isn't necessarily where you're metabolism. if you've been steadily gaining weight eating that 3500, then you'd probably more likely maintain weight at 3000 and most likely need to dip more below to lose weight. i'd follow what mfp is recommending. if you're finding it too hard to stick to, in all honesty i'd eat around 2300 for a week and see how much you lost after that. adjust from there.
  • ellelit
    ellelit Posts: 806 Member
    thanks guys
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