Weight loss: is it basic math or is it more complex?

Julia-Henry · April 2012

What do you think? is it as simple as burn/don't eat 3500 calories = lose one pound, or is it much more complex?

If you think it's more complex, what do you think affects weight loss?

I'm inceasingly of the opinion that, once you figure out the amount of calories you need to eat, the rest is fairly straightforward. I'm not sure metabolism slows down dramatically or any of that. Whenever I've had trouble losing weight, it's vanished when I started properly tracking calories and measuring exercise intensity.

shorewife · April 2012

For the most part I agree with you that is basic math. I think there are some factors that can affect this like hormones, water retention, etc. and maybe 3500 calories does not equal exactly 1 pound for everyone, but I have had the same experience as you with proper tracking.

taratru · April 2012

I think these things from my personal experience:

Metabolism changes drastically depending on the amount of exercise I do. It has also changed dramatically with age.

Weight loss for me, unlike a lot of other people, is more about the exercise than the food. If I'm eating great but doing nothing, the number never moved. If I stopped running and working out but kept eating well, I would gain weight - not a lot, but gain, nonetheless.

I think it's a very personal thing, this weight loss. I think you have to find what works for you through trial and error.

NaturalBeauty · April 2012

Definitely basic math- calories in vs calories out

emmienjuicy · April 2012

For me it has never been just basic math it has always been the type of food I was eating. I think it is different for every person. I have found eating a "clean" diet and exercising works best for me. Also something more high protien is best. But that's just me.

gt7301b · April 2012

I used to be a member of team calories in vs. calories out, however, I have recently reduced the carbs that I am eating and I have lost 6 pounds in about a month. I was pretty stagnate with the weight loss the previous months, despite increasing my exercise. When I go back and look at the calories I am consuming now vs a month ago I show about 100 calories a day fewer calories consumed a day now (same activity level). So even though I have reduced my calories slightly, it isn't enough to support a 1 pound loss a week. (I thought I was eating the right amt to lose before)

CatGal · April 2012

I tend to agree that it's a bit more than calories in vs. calories out for me. Since the beginning of March I've cut my carb. weigh back. I am eating more, but different, other food. I've lost 14 lbs since the end of Feb. Maybe there are just some people who metabolize cabs differently? I dunno....

MrsLokiAngel · April 2012

I don't think you can use basic math (BMR/etc) to determine caloric needs to create a deficit, there are too many factors.

historychick79 · April 2012

Not sure if this will all make sense, but I don't think there is a one-size-fits all answer to that question. I need to focus on food to lose weight; exercise alone won't do much. So on a basic level, it is calories in vs. calories out, but there's ways to approach this to make weight loss more effective and work faster for me. I know I need to reduce simple sugar intake, drink enough water and have protein through out the day; then the pounds fly off instead of creep away. Exercise is also initially more about keeping my stress levels down, even though I know muscle uses calories more efficiently in the long run.

However DH can eat the same diet without changes, and just add running to his routine and see pounds come off; so obviously being male (hormones? % of muscle?) makes a difference.

rayofsunshine99 · April 2012

MrsLokiAngel:
I don't think you can use basic math (BMR/etc) to determine caloric needs to create a deficit, there are too many factors.

This. ITA.

nmlahaie · April 2012

I think that in a general sense, it is just calories in vs. calories out, but that there is a whole "system" affecting that.

For example, I don't really think that eating more protein or less carbs (or even the same amount of calories in vegetables and candy) makes a difference when you are just looking at straight numbers. But eating a balanced, varied diet gives your body the support (vitamins, minerals, etc) you need to feel your best, making you much more likely to have productive workouts, sleep better, and sustain a healthy lifestyle long-term.

Being able to eat more healthy food and less empty calories also makes me a much more fun person to be around - I am a total crankypants when I'm hungry.

robinsokj · April 2012

Not all calories are created equal and not all activity is created people. And humans? They've got all sorts of shiitt going on. But, in general I think people make it a lot more complicated than it needs to be

megan888 · April 2012

I think that for most people, it's much more than basic math. This is a really interesting book on the topic:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-Vintage/dp/0307474259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334004517&sr=8-1

I also really like this book:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Metabolic-Effect-Diet-Actually/dp/0061834890/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334004557&sr=1-1

MrsEvans2Be · April 2012

Yup-its way more than basic math for me.

If I am working out 5 days a week with lots of cardio/some weights, I lose weight even if I cheat sometimes.

If I don't work out, I start gaining after a week or two.

Alberto8100 · April 2012

According to recent research,green tea and water is the best way to lose your weight easily.I took 8 to 10 glasses of water gradually in a day and 2 to 3 times cup of tea.Now i feel much difference in my weight.

Weight loss: is it basic math or is it more complex?

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