arrgh…Charizard, I read a great article a while back that explained why the eating at night=weight gain thing was a myth, and now I can’t remember where I read it! Now this is gonna drive me nuts.
I guess there are a lot of different opions. I have sources from the web (quick searches on google) most quote one pound is 2000 calories.
1lb a day may not be unreasonable if they person is 400 pounds to begin with.
The thing about only losing 2 to 3 pounds a week, is that usually people that lose more than this will not keep it off. This leads to the yo yo effect.
It may or may not be healthy to lose that much that fast. It depends on the physical condition.
I take my metabolism as an example. I used to left some serious weights for 10 years straight I had a 48" chest and a 32" waist. After I got a new job and had to quit working out (for tw years) immediately my weight stayed the same at 240 but my weight shifted to a 45" chest and a 36 waist.
Now I am just starting the 8th week of my exercise and diet program where I was told to do 1200 calories by my doctor and do cardio for 45-60 minutes a day 6 days a week. Results after 8 weeks are I still weigh the same and I haven’t changed 45" chest and 36" waist.
My doctor told me that since prior to working out I tried NOT eating more than 1000 caloires a day my metabolism shifted and it could take months to correct. Still I eat no more than 1200 and (according to the steppers, treadmills whatever I am on that day) I am burining over 1000 calories. But not losing.
So that is another thing to consider.
Basic answer (and common sense and obvious): Only the number of calories counts without regard to how or when they were taken.
Slight modification: I did read a well informed doctor explain why calories consumed just before you go to bed have a higher tendency to become fat in your body. I remember understanding the explanation at the time and it made sense but I cannot remember it now. In any case I do not think the difference would be huge. This is like adding the theory of relativity to newtonian physics. It is true but of no great consequence in practical life.