Actually, the Human body is a PERFECT calculator. The most important thing is burning more calories than you eat. If you burn 500 more than you ate, you will burn fat, no matter how you you get those extra cals burned.

Unfortunately, it just doesn't always work that way. You don't burn 100% fat; you also burn excess sugars and some lean muscle. And some people, depending on their bodies, burn more or less fat than others. And even if you do burn fat, it's still possible for the scale to NOT go down ... or to go down sporadically.

I wish it were just as simple as calories in vs. calories out ... but long term, that's just a part of it.

:)

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the key burning excess fat is calories in vs calories out.

I'll agree that 'calories in v. calories out' is the key to weight loss, absolutely. However, my own personal experience shows that it isn't that always that simple. I tracked my calories in religiously every day, I also tracked my exercise calories burned every day. I had to estimate them at the time, but I always estimated low. According to my doctor, I burned 1700-2000 calories on a normal day. I only ate 1200-1300. I also exercised 5-6 days per week, burning between 300-500 calories per day. So, doing that math I should have had a calorie deficit (at the lowest estimation of exercise and basic calories burned, highest estimate of consumption) of (700) calories per day. 4900 calories per week, or 1.5 pounds per week. Some weeks I lost 3 pounds. Some weeks I lost no pounds. Some weeks I gained weight. I ended up at my goal with an average of 1.15 pounds lost per week.

The math works, but the body isn't as structured as a spreadsheet. So, while 'calories in v. calories out' is the basic guideline, saying that is all there is to weight loss can set people up for failure when the math doesn't come through every week.

I think it' absolutely true about calories in vs. calories out. It's just physics.

BUT ...

(1) On a practical basis, we don't know calories out. Our metabolism is actually variable. It goes up and down.

(2) On a practical basis, we weigh with a scale and use that to make conclusions about calories burned. But water weight is highly variable.

(3) Even calories in is an estimation. But I think (1) and (2) are bigger problems.

So on a practical level, you're setting yourself up for major frustration if you try to make the math work too precisely. And for many, the math doesn't even work very well imprecisely ;).

This works if you're dieting without "issues". I (along with many others on this board) have issues to deal with, such as insulin resistance, so even if I only ate 1400 calories a day, but 1200 of those calories came from refined carbs, I won't lose. Period.

Sometimes, there's a little more to the "calories in < calories expended = weight loss" equation than people realize.

Did the same thing! Now if only there was a calorie-free way to get drunk...:carrot:

Hahahahahaha SharkyLarky1 & beautiful aceSince I do not drink I need to be y'alls designated driver and dance with ya'll To burn some calories.(but hey I just remembered I Can not dance hahahaha But maybe if y'all are drunk you wouldn't notice My week & pathetic attemps & efforts of trying to hahahahahaha
Anyways~Y'all be careful on news years eve!!!!!!!!!!

Just putting my 2 cents in....

I never record calories burned by doing dishes or gardening or vacuuming or any of those chores because I figure I was doing all those things when I gained the weight so they must not do enough for me to even consider.

Maybe if you weren't doing them at all before they could be counted but other than that I think it's just a free pass to sneak in a few more cals. each day.

Like I said, just my opinion.

All those who need more exercise, I have just the place for you! C'mon over!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jay

thank you, that should be helpful!

your welcome tanyota~

It's been a long time since I started this thread Actually about 6 to 7 months ago. and 67.5 lbs of loss To my name in total so far !
So When I started this I had lost 13 and now 54 more! So it works. CHORES DEFINETLY BURN CALORIES ANY MOVEMENT DOES.SO CHECK OUT THE SITE EVERYONE IT IS SO HELPFUL~GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

To be considered exercise your heart rate has to be raised for a period of time. If you can do that washing dishes for a long time, more power to you. Otherwise, it isn't exercise, it's normal daily activity.

I just heard or read (?) today that the "average" person burns about 100 calories per hour just doing regular everyday stuff.
I'm assuming that's waking hours (not sleeping).

Is that true????? Who knows!!??


Oh and Lori---congrats on your weight loss-woohoo!!!!