Guest guest Posted December 19, 2003 Report Share Posted December 19, 2003 > Subject: Can I Predict Weight Loss? Why Does Weight Loss Slow > > > > I thought this was interesting and would share. > > Gena > > > > > > > Weight loss may reflect decreases in body fat, body water, or > muscle > > > mass, all of which represent different caloric values. For > example, 1 > > > pound of body fat equals 3500 calories while an equivalent weight > in > > > water contains no calories. > > > > > > Because of this, it's difficult to predict how much body weight one > > > will lose on any given diet, however, an approximate value of the > > > time it will take to lose excess fat may be obtained. The key point > > > in fat loss is calorie deficit, so the number of days it takes you > to > > > reach a deficit of 3500 calories is the time it will take to lose > one > > > pound of fat. > > > > > > However, weight lost too quickly will include muscle weight. Losing > > > muscle weight lowers your metabolism and defeats the purpose in the > > > long run--your body composition is not changing if you lose both > fat > > > and muscle. 500 calories a day will effectively lower body fat > while > > > keeping muscle intact and providing you with a satisfying food > intake. > > > > > > > > > Why is it harder to lose weight after several weeks? Weight loss is > > > rapid during the first few days primarily because of water loss. > > > Muscle is 70% water, fat is 25% water. Because water contains no > > > calories, our caloric loss does not need to total 3500 in order to > > > lose 1 pound. > > > > > > We may lose one pound of body weight on 1200 cals because 70% of > the > > > weight loss is water. By the end of the second week, water loss may > > > account for only 20% of weight loss; one pound of weight loss will > > > now cost us approximately 2800 cals. At the end of week 3 water > > > losses are minimal--to lose one pound now takes a deficit of 3500 > > > cals. > > > > > > Another factor that causes weight loss to slow is that you need > fewer > > > calories to maintain a lower weight. For example, an average man > who > > > weighs 200 pounds needs 2200 cals to maintain his weight. But if > his > > > weight drops to 180, he now only needs 1950 cals to maintain his > > > weight. Plateaus let us know that our current calorie intake is > where > > > we stay at " X " amount of calories. And again, weight loss may slow > if > > > you lose muscle mass because of a lowered metablism. Resistance > > > training is very important when trying to reduce body fat. > > > > > > ~Stacie > > > > > > > > > > ---------- > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2004 Report Share Posted January 2, 2004 > Can I Predict Weight Loss? Why Does Weight Loss Slow > > > > > > > Weight loss may reflect decreases in body fat, body water, or > muscle > > > mass, all of which represent different caloric values. For > example, 1 > > > pound of body fat equals 3500 calories while an equivalent weight > in > > > water contains no calories. > > > > > > Because of this, it's difficult to predict how much body weight one > > > will lose on any given diet, however, an approximate value of the > > > time it will take to lose excess fat may be obtained. The key point > > > in fat loss is calorie deficit, so the number of days it takes you > to > > > reach a deficit of 3500 calories is the time it will take to lose > one > > > pound of fat. > > > > > > However, weight lost too quickly will include muscle weight. Losing > > > muscle weight lowers your metabolism and defeats the purpose in the > > > long run--your body composition is not changing if you lose both > fat > > > and muscle. 500 calories a day will effectively lower body fat > while > > > keeping muscle intact and providing you with a satisfying food > intake. > > > > > > > > > Why is it harder to lose weight after several weeks? Weight loss is > > > rapid during the first few days primarily because of water loss. > > > Muscle is 70% water, fat is 25% water. Because water contains no > > > calories, our caloric loss does not need to total 3500 in order to > > > lose 1 pound. > > > > > > We may lose one pound of body weight on 1200 cals because 70% of > the > > > weight loss is water. By the end of the second week, water loss may > > > account for only 20% of weight loss; one pound of weight loss will > > > now cost us approximately 2800 cals. At the end of week 3 water > > > losses are minimal--to lose one pound now takes a deficit of 3500 > > > cals. > > > > > > Another factor that causes weight loss to slow is that you need > fewer > > > calories to maintain a lower weight. For example, an average man > who > > > weighs 200 pounds needs 2200 cals to maintain his weight. But if > his > > > weight drops to 180, he now only needs 1950 cals to maintain his > > > weight. Plateaus let us know that our current calorie intake is > where > > > we stay at " X " amount of calories. And again, weight loss may slow > if > > > you lose muscle mass because of a lowered metablism. Resistance > > > training is very important when trying to reduce body fat. > > > > > > ~Stacie > > > > > > > > > > ---------- > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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