I don’t usually count calories, but the other day i was curious, so I added up a rough estimate of what I had taken in for the past three days and what I had expended. I was surprised that when I compared the calories that i had taken in with what I had expended plus an estimate of basal expenditure (1200 cal for a 5’6" female) my expenditure, on average was about 300 or so calories higher than intake. However, I have been maintaining weight and not losing. Assuming that intake/expenditure trend is normal, why wouldn’t I be losing weight? I am not trying to lose weight, if anything I’d like to gain a few pounds, but just am curious from a scientific perspective how this is possible.
It will likely just be mathematical. Some possibilities:
1-How did you calculate your ‘expended’ calories- was it just through exercise? Other things (cooking, sitting in a chair reading, standing in line) all expend calories above basal too.
2-You may be underestimating how many calories are in your food.
3- It might be a result of just having a short-term study. You may very well have lost fat weight, but are holding on to water. Also, a 300-calorie calorie deficit is only 900 calories, which is around a 1/4 pound. If your scale isn’t that accurate it’s not going to tell you anything. (Unless you were just taking average days and using three of them)
I highly recommend nutritiondata.com!
Get a MetaCheck biannually so you can find out what your requirements are to maintain, gain, or lose weight.
Thet test gives takes about 12 minutes and gives you your specific RMR resting metabolic rate. You’re still going to end up estimating your intake and expenditures but at least you will know what your own body needs.