I'm not sure, but I think when you determining the "lifestyle" part of the calories, the ones above the BMR, you usually have to tell them how much exercise you do. If you say you do the equivalent of say 30 mins a day, then you get a higher number of calories burned each day. However, I don't think you can go and then ADD the 30 mins a day of exercise you do on top of those numbers. I think they are built into the first set. Does that make any sense?

When I use these figures, I set my lifestyle choice as seated work or sedentary, something very low, and then add my actual exercise because it's not regular enough to just have it included in each days basic numbers.

I'm not sure that is right either, but it's how it made sense to me.

Valerie

On fitday I set my lifestyle to "seated work, some movement" and then it adds the other exercise that I do on top of that. I'm guessing that this is at least the right way to use the fitday calculations... for work, I sit at a computer most of the day, but I have to walk to and from different offices several times a day also (which would be the "some movement"). I just don't know what applies to the other calculations and if fitday is more accurate or the others are.

I think it's really hard to know whether calories burned is accurate. About the only way to find out is to just keep tracking what you are doing in fitday and then after a period of time (1-3 months) go back and see if the weight loss (or gain) matches up to the calories burned. Since it takes 3500 calories to lose 1 lb, over time you should be able to see how accurate it really is.

I'm sorry to say I've dropped out of the Experiment.

With Lynda's help, I've looked at my health problems in a new way and how they may be affecting my metabolic rate. I don't think there is any use in tracking theoretical calories burned since I think I'm currently all over the map.

I have a new plan of action. I'm going to work on keeping my internal furnace burning hot and steady - that might help weight loss in the long run.

I'm with you in spirit and wishing you all good calorie deficits and corresponding weight loss to match!

Good Luck!

Monika, thanks for participating. I'm glad you've found something to try! I think it was very helpful having you involved to show that the calories in/out theory may not work for everyone. There may be other factors at work that prevents it from being effective. Good luck!

Start weight:263
End weight:265

Average calories in:1549
Average calories out:2896
average deficit:1437
average weekly deficit: 10059
Projected weight loss:2.8
Actual weight loss: gained 2.0

however, i dropped into startvation mode (under 80% basal) 3 days, and didn't eat my normal meals. Had rough week, so will try again see how I do.

My week:
July 5 weight 225
July 11 weight 222
average carbs: 30
average calories burned: 2969
average calories: 1491
average deficit: 1478
1478*7=10346/3500=2.9 lbs expected loss
actual weight loss: 3 lbs

Hey Diane I will jump aboard this full throttle when I return from Vegas next week. Everyone seems to be doing so well

Well, I fell off the wagon... not the lc wagon, the deficit wagon. I am not hitting a target deficit right now. In the interest of science ( ) I'll post some results for what I did.

the last 7 days:

July 9 weight 228.4
July 16 weight 228.4
average net carbs: 68
average calories: 1778
average calories burned: 2447
average deficit: 669
weight loss: 0 lbs
7 days x 669 per day deficit = 4683 total deficit
4683 / 3500 = 1.33 lbs
average sodium = 3630 mg

I've started lifting higher weights and really pushing myself a bit harder this week on strength training (check out my gym log!). In looking at my %BF reading, I'm down 1/2 pound of fat since July 7th. My scale weight stayed the same, so that means I gained either a 1/2 pound of muscle or water. When you are building muscle by lifting, you retain water while the muscle is repairing. There is no way for me to measure that and really know how it impacts this. So while I should have lost 1.33 lbs this last week on the scale, it's not showing up because of the water retention.

I think I'm going to have to look at this on a monthly basis, rather than weekly. The monthly numbers do seem to show it's working for me. It's still a bit off, but I think that's because I am not sure on the calories spent for lifting. It's close enough, though, that I am confident that my weight loss is a direct result of calorie deficit.

Here is the last 30 days:

June 15 weight 236.2
July 16 weight 228.4
average net carbs: 46
average calories: 1697
average calories burned: 2518
average deficit: 821
weight loss: 7.8 lbs
30 days x 821 per day deficit = 24630 total deficit
24630 / 3500 = 7.04 lbs
average sodium = 3146 mg

Hello, Diemde!

I would really like to try this out! I'll start tomorrow and keep track of everything in my fitday account. I'll check back in a week and post all the particulars. I think I may be a person who will really benefit from this!

Thanks for the Thread!

Kristal
musicwoman