3500 Calories = 1lb of fat? Really?

SaqibH91
SaqibH91 Posts: 19
edited October 3 in Fitness and Exercise
Surely a bit of mathematics could lead you to the conclusion that in order to burn 1lb of fat it would require 3500 calories, but I don't understand how mankind has taken a big leap in logic to assume that all calories burnt while exercising are ALL fat? Correct me if I'm wrong, I just see people going out of there way trying to reach this "3500" calorie goal thinking they are burning 1lb of fat when they've probably burnt much less since an average individual with a regular diet would generally be burning carbs first as well? Then again, calories are calories, and the more you burn, the better, but if anyone has more knowledge on this topic then do put me out of my misery LOL.

Replies

  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    double post xD
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    uhhhh xD

    when most people say they are burning 3500 calories they mean through exercise AND diet and not all one time

    and yes you burn carbs, but carb = calories
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    There are 3500 calories in 1lb of fat...but when you burn calories through exercise, you're not buring 100% fat calories all the time.

    There is an inverse proportion between exercise intensity and %age of fat calories burned.

    Eg. at 25% Intensity you'll burn 75% of your calories coming from Fat.
    While at 75% Intensity, you'll burn about 25% of your calories coming from fat.

    This is where many people tend to think that they'll burn more fat at lower intensity workouts, but that doesn't work that way.

    Let's assume you ride a bike for 20 mins at 25% intensity and burn 50 Calories.. 75% of that would be fat so you'll have burned 32.5 Fat Calories in that workout. However, you won't have done anything to elevate your heart rate for any kind of cardiovascular benefits...and doing the same would require for you to do 100 workouts to lose your 1 lb.

    Now, in the same token, you can do a 20 min workout at 75% intensity with all the Cardio benefits as well, and burn 300 calories. ONly 25% of that is fat, but 25% of 300 is 75. So you burn more fat at the higher intensity than the lower intensity.

    Bottom line, you'll achieve faster results and benefits by working harder.
  • SaqibH91
    SaqibH91 Posts: 19
    Egger29 that's exactly what I was thinking but you've explained it a whole lot better! Just needed that clarification, thank you! And thanks Sunshine_88, much appreciated!
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    There are 3500 calories in 1lb of fat...but when you burn calories through exercise, you're not buring 100% fat calories all the time.

    There is an inverse proportion between exercise intensity and %age of fat calories burned.

    Eg. at 25% Intensity you'll burn 75% of your calories coming from Fat.
    While at 75% Intensity, you'll burn about 25% of your calories coming from fat.

    This is where many people tend to think that they'll burn more fat at lower intensity workouts, but that doesn't work that way.

    Let's assume you ride a bike for 20 mins at 25% intensity and burn 50 Calories.. 75% of that would be fat so you'll have burned 32.5 Fat Calories in that workout. However, you won't have done anything to elevate your heart rate for any kind of cardiovascular benefits...and doing the same would require for you to do 100 workouts to lose your 1 lb.

    Now, in the same token, you can do a 20 min workout at 75% intensity with all the Cardio benefits as well, and burn 300 calories. ONly 25% of that is fat, but 25% of 300 is 75. So you burn more fat at the higher intensity than the lower intensity.

    Bottom line, you'll achieve faster results and benefits by working harder.

    Like
  • yvonnej1
    yvonnej1 Posts: 904 Member
    You've already had a really good answer above but I thought I'd post this link for you as I read this a couple of days ago and is on a similar line http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14882832
  • bonogul
    bonogul Posts: 96 Member
    well human body only stores a limited amount of carbs. First the muscles will use the stored carbs and then they will be supplemented by carbs(glucose) from the liver and that will also diminish and than the body will increase its fat utilization..
    I believe a human body has enough carbs to run about a km, and then once you start exercising over 1 hour the body will oxidizing fatty acids mostly.
    so in order to supply tissues like muscles and brain the liver oxidizes fatty acids to acetyl-coa, than that gets converted into ketones, which acts like a glucose to supply the brain.

    long story short, muscles use the glycogen(carbs), which runs out really quick, than it get glucose from the liver, which runs out fast, but not as fast. than the liver turns fatty acids into usable substrate for the muscles to use.
  • Caz2678
    Caz2678 Posts: 49
    There are 3500 calories in 1lb of fat...but when you burn calories through exercise, you're not buring 100% fat calories all the time.

    There is an inverse proportion between exercise intensity and %age of fat calories burned.

    Eg. at 25% Intensity you'll burn 75% of your calories coming from Fat.
    While at 75% Intensity, you'll burn about 25% of your calories coming from fat.

    This is where many people tend to think that they'll burn more fat at lower intensity workouts, but that doesn't work that way.

    Let's assume you ride a bike for 20 mins at 25% intensity and burn 50 Calories.. 75% of that would be fat so you'll have burned 32.5 Fat Calories in that workout. However, you won't have done anything to elevate your heart rate for any kind of cardiovascular benefits...and doing the same would require for you to do 100 workouts to lose your 1 lb.

    Now, in the same token, you can do a 20 min workout at 75% intensity with all the Cardio benefits as well, and burn 300 calories. ONly 25% of that is fat, but 25% of 300 is 75. So you burn more fat at the higher intensity than the lower intensity.

    Bottom line, you'll achieve faster results and benefits by working harder.

    What he said....

    BUT... 1lb of subcutaneous fat also contains water and other tissues. So 1lb of pure triglycerides is actually 4227kcal.

    So you do need to work harder and gain a larger defecit :)
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