3500 calories = 1lb

bump

Just a calorie deficit. You can reach it by eating less or burning more - it doesn't really matter. Basically if your calories burned minus calories consumed equals a deficit of 3500 calories, you should lose one pound.

both...

Werd....but I feel like this is a trick question.

It's the same either way. Either eat less or burn more that equals 3500 calories deficit for a week and lose a pound.

That is from your deficit and workout. Or if you dont workout, then from your deficit only. If you work out, it helps a lot in getting to that number faster

Just a calorie deficit. You can reach it by eating less or burning more - it doesn't really matter. Basically if your calories burned minus calories consumed equals a deficit of 3500 calories, you should lose one pound.

That

Both. If you burn let's say 300 calories a day 7 days a week that totals 2100 calories lost. If you combine that with a 300 calorie deficit every day that's 4200 calories you would lose in a week. And that's over 1 pound you have lost.

Unless you ate a box of salt or sugar on last Sunday...IJS there are other factors that come into play, but the basic concept is the same. 3500 cal deficit equals a pound loss, but it may not show on the scale as such. Sometimes it may even show as a gain.

eat less...... move more.

Job done

Both. If you burn let's say 300 calories a day 7 days a week that totals 2100 calories lost. If you combine that with a 300 calorie deficit every day that's 4200 calories you would lose in a week. And that's over 1 pound you have lost.

Oh how I wish this were true!

As far as I can find, it IS true, with a couple (BIG) caveats.
- Temporary weight gain/loss from things like water retention/elimination. For example, if you don't drink enough water, or if you consume too much sugar or sodium (or it is that time of the month for the ladies), your body will hold on to more water to balance the concentrations of various ions, etc. in the body. You will still lose the weight, but you won't see it until you get the water retention issue resolved.

- You need to know EXACTLY how much energy you are burning daily The estimates here are rough estimates. The percentages of fat to bone to muscle has a huge impact on how much energy you burn just laying there. If you can find a lab with the equipment, they can get a much more accurate BMR for you than the rough estimate here. This also means that what you burn can vary tremendously from day to day depending on your activities and activity level - and it will also change as you lose weight and/or put on muscle.

Even if you get your BMR correct, you need to be precise with measuring any additional calories you burn. An HRM seems to be the most accurate, unless you can do everything in a lab with the VO2 meters, etc. but it is still usually off some (a number of factors can impact its measurements).

- You need to know exactly how many calories you are consuming. Food scales are basically a necessity for this. Not only do volume measures vary more from country to country, but they can also vary person to person. My packed cup of flour could be lighter or heavier than yours based on how tightly I pack it. You also need to make sure you are measuring correctly for cooked vs. uncooked weights - pastas generally weigh more and take up more volume after cooking while meats weigh less and take up less volume.

There is also some debate about how many calories are actually absorbed and used by the body from various foods, compared to the total number of calories contained in it. The first example of this that comes to mind is the debate over "net carbs" since nonsoluble fiber, specifically, passes straight through your system. It varies from person to person if and how much of the caloric content of different foods is absorbed. Various illnesses and things like thyroid disorders can greatly impact how much or how little your body takes in from what you eat.

Sorry for the novel...just trying to pull together everything I have been able to find. I'm sure there are discrepancies, and I haven't gone through all the potential complications, so take what I say with a grain of salt (unless you are worried about the sodium :laugh: )

I guess it really comes down to this: if it works for you, go for it, and the 3500 calories per pound is a good general rule of thumb...just remember our bodies are so complicated nothing is ever that straightforward. What works for me may not work for you.

Good luck!