So, It Really Is All About The Math

Like the title says, I’m finding that the math plays an important role in weight loss.  I've never been one to consistently count points or calories.  My approach was more, shall we say, instinctual.  It worked for me, up to a point.  Keeping a food diary (Myfitnesspal) has changed the game for me.  The process has been much smoother and the results are becoming more apparent.

These are my calorie counts for September 1 – 7:

Day	Total Cal.	Exercise Cal.	Activities
Monday	2,129	233	Walking
Tuesday	2,012	362	Weights
Wednesday	2,021	1171	Zumba/Weights
Thursday	2,093	1280	Cardio Kickboxing/Weights
Friday	2,166	1248	Zumba/Weights
Saturday	2,002	1378	Zumba/Weights
Sunday	2,162	1378	Zumba/Weights

To lose 1 pound per week, I need to consume no more than 2200 calories per day or 15,400 calories per week.  I averaged 2,084 calories per day, for a total of 14,585 calories for the week.

I burned 7,050 calories through exercise.  Subtracting my exercise calories from my total consumed calories left me with 7,535 calories consumed for the week.

Since I came in under my calorie goal, I should have lost 1 pound, according to the plan.  Factoring in the underage and the exercise calories, I should have also lost an additional 2.2 pounds, bringing the total loss for the week to 3.2 lbs. 

Since weight loss isn't an exact science, let’s say that my numbers are off by twenty percent.  That would still mean a loss of 2.6 lbs. for the week.  Still nothing to sneeze at!

I won’t know any of this for certain until I weigh in at the end of the month.  But, I do know that I’m wearing clothes that I couldn't wear last month, I’m constantly pulling my workout pants up (these were the ones I bought to replace the last set.), and I continue to receive positive feedback.

One of the best things to come of this new plan of action is that while I’m controlling my intake, I’m never hungry or feeling weak.  As a matter of fact, I've increased the poundage and/or the number of sets in almost all of my resistance training exercises.

Deer near the walking trail

Though I’d like to be in the gym every day, I know that I have to give my muscles time to rest and repair.  I plan on working out five days and taking two consecutive days off from the weight training.  I’ll take a walk through the parks on those off days, as I see no reason to suspend the cardio. 

I did find a short term goal to work toward.  Halloween falls on a Friday this year, so I’m sure that there will be costume parties to attend.  Over the years, I've had a few costume ideas in mind that I’d wanted to wear, but my physique wasn't “right” for them.  This year may be different.  I’d like to make my costume choice by the weekend of October 18^th.  That’s the carrot that I’ll be shooting for.