Fat Woman With A Band

We were just talking about how some things appear to change slowly and some things appear to change fast. Say you’re away from your usual neighbourhood for a little while. When you return you may notice a new store, or a new sign but the neighbourhood is still there. Things may move quickly when it comes to electronics or computer-related stuff – it seems as if there’s a new device or new software daily.

And this is how weight loss seems. I feel like the weight is coming off so slowly. I know that it is dropping as medically recommended at a little over a pound a week, but it feels like it’s going to take FOREVER to get to my goal. And then I realize that it’s been 12 weeks since surgery, and it feels like the time flew by.

Two things I want to share in this post. The first is this: have you ever worked out how many calories you need per day? It’s a very interesting number to see, because from that you can figure out how much you have to “play” with to lose weight. The caloric needs number shows how many calories you use to just to be alive.

If you’re interested in losing weight, and again not taking into account any physical activity, one pound equals 3500 calories. So, this is how it works for me currently.

I use approximately 1800 calories to be alive.  I’ve been trying to eat roughly 1400 calories per day. Each week then I’ve been losing about .8 lbs (3500/(7 x (1800-1400))) just by moderating my food intake. Then if I do any activities that will use up more calories I drop a bit more weight.

The more one weighs, the more calories are needed per day just to maintain that weight. As I lose weight, I need fewer and fewer calories per day to keep my body going – this also is one of the reasons weight loss becomes slower. The only way to boost the weight loss is to exercise more – and perhaps eat a bit less, maybe even drop to 1200 calories per day.

And, what is your happy weight? That’s right – not your correct weight, your happy weight. Self magazine has a handy little table. If you check this number against BMI charts or insurance charts you’ll find it’s within the range. I’m definitely trying to get to my happy weight.

I’m going down slowly to get happy fast.

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