Is 3600 pounds really 1 pound?

Ok, my doc got on my case to lose some weight fast. So I did the customary
googling before designing a diet.

I learnt that for someone my size (5'11", 240lbs) and sedentary lifestyle,
around 3000 calories was needed on average. I started a 1000 calorie spinach
based diet, with small doses of rice, potato fries and beans. I take this
spinach and vegetable dish once a day. I also take 2 cups of fat free milk,
a half cup of yogurt, and several oranges and 1 or 2 bananas a day. So, This
is 2000 less than the 3000 I'm supposed to need.
I also burn off 2400 cals on my elliptical each day by running uphill twice
for an hour each time. So, 2000+2400= 4400 Cals, negative balance each day.

If 3600 Cals is a pound, I should lose more than a pound a day. But, I find
that I lose a pound only once in 2-3 days. Does anyone know why?

I intended to go on a crash diet for 60 days, get down to 175, and then
rehabilitate myself back at the lower weight. In 1.5 months I have only gone
from 240 to 225. Something seems wrong here and I don't want to damage my
health given my other complications.

Thanks for any info!

Well, for starters, its unlikely you need 3000 calories a day as your
basic maintenance intake. I'm female, 5' 6" and in theory, for my age I
need something like 1900 - but in practice, if I eat that much I gain
weight. Its not one size fits all - fitness level, individual
metabolism, age, all kinds of stuff enters into it. If you are over 25,
its likely more like 2500 for you.

I also doubt you are burning off as many calories as you think you are.
The treadmill is probably the best piece of indoor fitness equipment,
for calorie-burning. In a special trial, at 'reasonably hard'
resistance levels, treadmill walking/jogging expended 700 calories per
hour, while stair stepping averaged 627, rowing 606, skiing 595,
dual-action cycling 509, and regular biking 498 calories.

So....I'm thinking best case, you are probably burning off 1500 max
extra due to exercise, and more likely south of that figure. All of a
sudden...there you go, a pound every two or three days makes perfect
sense, given the numbers you are running at a deficit - somewhere in
the 1500-2000 range, best case. This is actually a very good weight
loss rate. Your desire to get this over fast as a crash thing says to
me you haven't yet "got" that taking it off and keeping it off are two
different things. Anyone can lose weight - few can keep it off. You
need to make long term lifestyle changes - this is a big picture life
change, not a 60 day project.

Start writing down every single thing you eat every day, you may also
be eating more than you think. Most people do. A food diary can be
revealing.

M

Calends wrote:

Ok, my doc got on my case to lose some weight fast. So I did the customary
googling before designing a diet.

I learnt that for someone my size (5'11", 240lbs) and sedentary lifestyle,
around 3000 calories was needed on average. I started a 1000 calorie spinach
based diet, with small doses of rice, potato fries and beans. I take this
spinach and vegetable dish once a day. I also take 2 cups of fat free milk,
a half cup of yogurt, and several oranges and 1 or 2 bananas a day. So, This
is 2000 less than the 3000 I'm supposed to need.
I also burn off 2400 cals on my elliptical each day by running uphill twice
for an hour each time. So, 2000+2400= 4400 Cals, negative balance each day.

If 3600 Cals is a pound, I should lose more than a pound a day. But, I find
that I lose a pound only once in 2-3 days. Does anyone know why?

I intended to go on a crash diet for 60 days, get down to 175, and then
rehabilitate myself back at the lower weight. In 1.5 months I have only gone
from 240 to 225. Something seems wrong here and I don't want to damage my
health given my other complications.

"Something" is wrong here? *Everything* is wrong here. I don't even
know where to start.

Mary,

Thanks for your response.

I do have a detailed diet diary. I got the 3000 calorie daily requirement
from rules of thumb posted on a website. Let's go with your number of 2500
also. As for the excercise on my elliptical, it is really 1200 calories to
an hour. I have a pretty sophisticated machine, that is unlikely to give me
wrong readings. Second, I have it set at the max resistance level it offers.
Most of my friends can barely get a minute or two on it.It is very hard, and
I stepped it up to 1 hour twice daily, very gradually. I was "getting ready"
over 3 months for a 60 day crash diet, so to speak. I have no doubts about
the 2400 calorie exercise burn.

As for food, I never touch anything I don't know the calorie value of, or
havent factored into my 1000Cal intake for the day. No cakes, chocolates,
donuts, bagels, ice cream, chips, cookies or any such thing. Just my
specially prepared spinach dish and fruits and milk. I never ever eat out
these days.

So, even with your 2500 calorie requirements, I am still at negative 3900.
Should lose a pound daily...
Is 3600 Cal not a pound then??? That is what I would like to know...

I already have my post-diet rehabilitation diet planned out, and my new
non-running weight training fitness regimen planned out, so I'm hopeful of
keeping the weight off

Ciao!



wrote in message
ups.com...
Well, for starters, its unlikely you need 3000 calories a day as your
basic maintenance intake. I'm female, 5' 6" and in theory, for my age I
need something like 1900 - but in practice, if I eat that much I gain
weight. Its not one size fits all - fitness level, individual
metabolism, age, all kinds of stuff enters into it. If you are over 25,
its likely more like 2500 for you.

I also doubt you are burning off as many calories as you think you are.
The treadmill is probably the best piece of indoor fitness equipment,
for calorie-burning. In a special trial, at 'reasonably hard'
resistance levels, treadmill walking/jogging expended 700 calories per
hour, while stair stepping averaged 627, rowing 606, skiing 595,
dual-action cycling 509, and regular biking 498 calories.

So....I'm thinking best case, you are probably burning off 1500 max
extra due to exercise, and more likely south of that figure. All of a
sudden...there you go, a pound every two or three days makes perfect
sense, given the numbers you are running at a deficit - somewhere in
the 1500-2000 range, best case. This is actually a very good weight
loss rate. Your desire to get this over fast as a crash thing says to
me you haven't yet "got" that taking it off and keeping it off are two
different things. Anyone can lose weight - few can keep it off. You
need to make long term lifestyle changes - this is a big picture life
change, not a 60 day project.

Start writing down every single thing you eat every day, you may also
be eating more than you think. Most people do. A food diary can be
revealing.

M

Been on it 45 days. Only 18-19 pounds down.

As for the excercise on my elliptical, it is really 1200 calories to
an hour. I have a pretty sophisticated machine, that is unlikely to give me
wrong readings. Second, I have it set at the max resistance level it offers.
Most of my friends can barely get a minute or two on it. It is very hard,
and
I stepped it up to 1 hour twice daily, very gradually. I was "getting ready"
over 3 months for a 60 day crash diet, so to speak. I have no doubts about
the 2400 calorie exercise burn.But, if we wanted to check it, how do we do?

More info: It says I get 1.45 miles an hour, all uphill, at about 36 r.p.m
average, for 15.4" inch flywheel. It

Any ideas of measuring the calories burned any other way???



"Ignoramus9951" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 15:27:37 -0500, Calends
wrote:
Ok, my doc got on my case to lose some weight fast. So I did the
customary
googling before designing a diet.

I learnt that for someone my size (5'11", 240lbs) and sedentary
lifestyle,
around 3000 calories was needed on average. I started a 1000 calorie
spinach
based diet, with small doses of rice, potato fries and beans. I take this
spinach and vegetable dish once a day. I also take 2 cups of fat free
milk,
a half cup of yogurt, and several oranges and 1 or 2 bananas a day. So,
This
is 2000 less than the 3000 I'm supposed to need.
I also burn off 2400 cals on my elliptical each day by running uphill
twice
for an hour each time. So, 2000+2400= 4400 Cals, negative balance each
day.

If 3600 Cals is a pound, I should lose more than a pound a day. But, I
find
that I lose a pound only once in 2-3 days. Does anyone know why?

If you are able to burn 1,200 calories per hour, you are in physical
shape no worse, or superior to that of Navy SEALs.

It is highly unlikely that you are burning 2,400 calories on your
elliptical. That's most likely a bogus number supplied by a too
optimistic treadmill.

Also, the 3,000 calories per day number does include "some" amount of
exercise.

I intended to go on a crash diet for 60 days, get down to 175, and then
rehabilitate myself back at the lower weight. In 1.5 months I have only
gone
from 240 to 225. Something seems wrong here and I don't want to damage my
health given my other complications.

How long have you been on this regimen?

i

As I mentioned all 1.45 miles is uphilll at the toughest setting it offers.
I did less than an hour BEFORe the 45 day period, in which I have been on
1000 Cal diet. I am not counting the days prior to this. I was 245 right on
the day I started this thing, 45 days ago.


"Ignoramus9951" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 16:47:57 -0500, Calends
wrote:
Been on it 45 days. Only 18-19 pounds down.

As for the excercise on my elliptical, it is really 1200 calories to
an hour. I have a pretty sophisticated machine, that is unlikely to give
me
wrong readings. Second, I have it set at the max resistance level it
offers.
Most of my friends can barely get a minute or two on it. It is very hard,
and
I stepped it up to 1 hour twice daily, very gradually. I was "getting
ready"
over 3 months for a 60 day crash diet, so to speak. I have no doubts
about
the 2400 calorie exercise burn.But, if we wanted to check it, how do we
do?

More info: It says I get 1.45 miles an hour, all uphill, at about 36
r.p.m
average, for 15.4" inch flywheel. It

Any ideas of measuring the calories burned any other way???

Check out www.caloriesperhour.com, you may have some luck there. 1.45
miles per hour is very slow speed, twice less than regular slow paced
walking. Or are you talking about a 1.45 mile rise? (which would be
highly unlikely).

Also, you say you stepped it up, which means to me that you were
exercising less intensely before.

i



"Ignoramus9951" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 15:27:37 -0500, Calends
wrote:
Ok, my doc got on my case to lose some weight fast. So I did the
customary
googling before designing a diet.

I learnt that for someone my size (5'11", 240lbs) and sedentary
lifestyle,
around 3000 calories was needed on average. I started a 1000 calorie
spinach
based diet, with small doses of rice, potato fries and beans. I take
this
spinach and vegetable dish once a day. I also take 2 cups of fat free
milk,
a half cup of yogurt, and several oranges and 1 or 2 bananas a day. So,
This
is 2000 less than the 3000 I'm supposed to need.
I also burn off 2400 cals on my elliptical each day by running uphill
twice
for an hour each time. So, 2000+2400= 4400 Cals, negative balance each
day.

If 3600 Cals is a pound, I should lose more than a pound a day. But, I
find
that I lose a pound only once in 2-3 days. Does anyone know why?

If you are able to burn 1,200 calories per hour, you are in physical
shape no worse, or superior to that of Navy SEALs.

It is highly unlikely that you are burning 2,400 calories on your
elliptical. That's most likely a bogus number supplied by a too
optimistic treadmill.

Also, the 3,000 calories per day number does include "some" amount of
exercise.

I intended to go on a crash diet for 60 days, get down to 175, and then
rehabilitate myself back at the lower weight. In 1.5 months I have only
gone
from 240 to 225. Something seems wrong here and I don't want to damage
my
health given my other complications.

How long have you been on this regimen?

i





--
223/174.0/180

"Calends" wrote in message
...
Been on it 45 days. Only 18-19 pounds down.

As for the excercise on my elliptical, it is really 1200 calories to
an hour. I have a pretty sophisticated machine, that is unlikely to give
me
wrong readings. Second, I have it set at the max resistance level it
offers.
Most of my friends can barely get a minute or two on it. It is very hard,
and
I stepped it up to 1 hour twice daily, very gradually. I was "getting
ready"
over 3 months for a 60 day crash diet, so to speak. I have no doubts about
the 2400 calorie exercise burn.But, if we wanted to check it, how do we
do?

More info: It says I get 1.45 miles an hour, all uphill, at about 36 r.p.m
average, for 15.4" inch flywheel. It

Any ideas of measuring the calories burned any other way???

There are newer devices on the market that give a reasonable estimation of
calories burned. Even some heart rate monitors include this feature now.
None will ever be very precise though since it's a complex series of events.
--
the volleyballchick

Well I tried the pedometers from the market. My heart rate from one of those
matched the reading on this elliptical machine. Does that make its 1200 cal
reading correct??


"Nunya B." wrote in message
...

"Calends" wrote in message
...
Been on it 45 days. Only 18-19 pounds down.

As for the excercise on my elliptical, it is really 1200 calories to
an hour. I have a pretty sophisticated machine, that is unlikely to give
me
wrong readings. Second, I have it set at the max resistance level it
offers.
Most of my friends can barely get a minute or two on it. It is very hard,
and
I stepped it up to 1 hour twice daily, very gradually. I was "getting
ready"
over 3 months for a 60 day crash diet, so to speak. I have no doubts
about
the 2400 calorie exercise burn.But, if we wanted to check it, how do we
do?

More info: It says I get 1.45 miles an hour, all uphill, at about 36
r.p.m average, for 15.4" inch flywheel. It

Any ideas of measuring the calories burned any other way???

There are newer devices on the market that give a reasonable estimation of
calories burned. Even some heart rate monitors include this feature now.
None will ever be very precise though since it's a complex series of
events.
--
the volleyballchick

Also, something like a pedometer will not catch the actual calories burned
as you are in the same spot. It relies on motion, swinging of your hands...


"Calends" wrote in message
...
Well I tried the pedometers from the market. My heart rate from one of
those matched the reading on this elliptical machine. Does that make its
1200 cal reading correct??


"Nunya B." wrote in message
...

"Calends" wrote in message
...
Been on it 45 days. Only 18-19 pounds down.

As for the excercise on my elliptical, it is really 1200 calories to
an hour. I have a pretty sophisticated machine, that is unlikely to give
me
wrong readings. Second, I have it set at the max resistance level it
offers.
Most of my friends can barely get a minute or two on it. It is very
hard, and
I stepped it up to 1 hour twice daily, very gradually. I was "getting
ready"
over 3 months for a 60 day crash diet, so to speak. I have no doubts
about
the 2400 calorie exercise burn.But, if we wanted to check it, how do we
do?

More info: It says I get 1.45 miles an hour, all uphill, at about 36
r.p.m average, for 15.4" inch flywheel. It

Any ideas of measuring the calories burned any other way???

There are newer devices on the market that give a reasonable estimation
of calories burned. Even some heart rate monitors include this feature
now. None will ever be very precise though since it's a complex series of
events.
--
the volleyballchick

wrote:
Well, for starters, its unlikely you need 3000 calories a day as your
basic maintenance intake. I'm female, 5' 6" and in theory, for my age
I need something like 1900 - but in practice, if I eat that much I
gain weight. Its not one size fits all - fitness level, individual
metabolism, age, all kinds of stuff enters into it. If you are over
25, its likely more like 2500 for you.


Only 700 cals for you!