# Let's Drob 15 Lbs. by Thanksgiving...Who's Up for It? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 22, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093 "2008-10-22T18:21:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/21 "2008-10-23T02:33:17Z")
I’m in. I’ve been depressed, and all I do when I’m depressed is eat. Maybe eating less will pull me out of my funk? My high school reunion is Thanksgiving weekend, too, so there’s extra incentive. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/22 "2008-10-23T02:46:58Z")
I think **Dripping** ’s post has been quoted enough, so I’ll just say, who the heck only burns 2,000 calories per day? For my age, sex, height, and weight, [this site](http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/calories-burned) says I’m burning 3,100 calories a day just to keep myself from collapsing into a heap on the floor. Hang out in the gym for an hour, and I can bump that up to 3,500. I see no reason why I can’t develop a 1,500 calorie deficit per day, by only eating a 2,000 calorie diet. Also, keep in mind that during the first week of weight loss, it’s acceptable to lose a maximum of 2% of your body weight, and to maintain 1% every week after that. So I could lose five pounds in the first and second week, and then two pounds in the subsequent weeks. It’s a lofty goal, but I started getting back into the gym recently, and started working on my food intake last week. I’m game. ETA: > [@Superfreaknduper](#): > > Wouldn’t that mean that if the average person burns only 2000 calories per day and the (I’ll call it “acceptable”) norm for a diet is 2,500 calorie per day diet everyone would be gaining weight at a rate of 500 calories a day? Feel free to blast me into next week with a laser for being wrong. . . Yes, it would mean that, but 2,000 a day is for a 150 pound woman. Most of us (especially most of us in this thread ;)) weigh more than that, so it takes more calories per day to sustain that weight. Check out the handy dandy calculator I posted if you want to calculate your personal cal/day load. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/23 "2008-10-23T03:06:56Z")
I agree that 3 lbs per week is too much. Only if you weigh more than 200 lbs should you try to lose 2 lbs per week. I started using The Daily Plate at [www.livestong.com](http://www.livestong.com) to monitor my daily intake on Oct 1. I’ve set my goal at 2 lbs per week and I’ve lost 7 lbs. So I’m right on track. I’d like to lose another 8 by Thanksgiving. Then another 8 by Christmas. I think that is realistic. The slower you take it off, the better chance you have of keeping it off. I’m at 240 right now, and my goal is 232 by Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/24 "2008-10-23T05:09:39Z")
_wrong account_ ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/25 "2008-10-23T05:10:31Z")
Ok, 5-10 pounds, then. Whatever seems reasonable for you. I’m just counting on the accountability factor to keep me motivated. Dripping: No, I don’t usually say elbees out loud, but, what if I did? This isn’t a punctuation/pronunciation/things that people say that irritate me thread. Let’s keep this what it’s about. Elbees, elbees, elbees…hmm, kinda catchy. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. And I do think I’m being realistic. See, here’s some of that motivation I was talkin’ 'bout! Sorry, I’m in a bad mood. Carry on… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/26 "2008-10-23T05:10:47Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > I think **Dripping** ’s post has been quoted enough, so I’ll just say, who the heck only burns 2,000 calories per day? For my age, sex, height, and weight, [this site](http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/calories-burned) says I’m burning 3,100 calories a day just to keep myself from collapsing into a heap on the floor. I think 2,000 calories a day is fairly typical for the average female, and 2,500 for the average male. When I was religiously calorie counting, I was keeping to an 1,800 calorie a day diet, excercising about 400-500 calories worth a day and losing about 2 pounds a week. That means I was keeping about a 1000 calorie deficit, in other words, 1,800 instead of 2,800 calories while either lifting weights strenuously for 45 minutes or running 5-6 miles a day. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/27 "2008-10-23T05:20:22Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > I think **Dripping** ’s post has been quoted enough, so I’ll just say, who the heck only burns 2,000 calories per day? For my age, sex, height, and weight, [this site](http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/calories-burned) says I’m burning 3,100 calories a day just to keep myself from collapsing into a heap on the floor. For shits and giggles I plugged in my height, weight, and activity level (somewhat active, plus 25 minutes of stationary bicycling.) My calorie total came out to 2190. Without the bicycling, which I don’t do every day, it came to 1702. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/28 "2008-10-23T05:41:12Z")
Sure, I guess I’m in, why not? As it stands I’ve only been losing about 1 pound/3 weeks, I should step it up. ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/29 "2008-10-23T06:34:42Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > I think **Dripping** ’s post has been quoted enough, so I’ll just say, who the heck only burns 2,000 calories per day? For my age, sex, height, and weight, [this site](http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/calories-burned) says I’m burning 3,100 calories a day just to keep myself from collapsing into a heap on the floor. I’m not sure about that calculator. I’m pretty sure I burn close to 2000 calories a day, but that website tells me I burn 2462 (using “sedentary lifestyle” as an option). I’ve tried a couple of others and they all seem to come closer to 2000. [This one](http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm) says 2026. [This one](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/calorie-calculator/NU00598) says 2050. [This one](http://www.hpathy.com/healthtools/calories-need.asp) and [this one](http://magnetic-diet.com/calc/daily_calorie_calculator.htm) say 2067. An exact science this is obviously not. But that first calculator seemed to be giving figures that look way too high. I’m pretty sure that if I was taking in close to 2500 calories a day and not getting any exercise, this beer belly I’m trying to lose would be going nowhere, and probably expanding fast. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/30 "2008-10-23T06:37:01Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > I think **Dripping** ’s post has been quoted enough, so I’ll just say, who the heck only burns 2,000 calories per day? The average person of my gender, age, height, and weight who is moderately active only burns ~1700. So, a 1500 cal/day deficit involves eating only 200 calories/day or going beyond the exercise they already do and burning off everything after those first 200 calories. That’s either a lot of exercise or very, very, very little food. I recently had my RMR tested and actually burn less than the average. I can try for 5lbs by Thanksgiving. I can’t make the math work for more than that. ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/31 "2008-10-23T12:12:14Z")
Ok, maybe this can motivate me again. I also want to be where I was last year at this time. That’s about 13 pounds away. Probably not doable by Thanksgiving, but definately by my birthday (Dec.18). Count me in! ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/32 "2008-10-23T16:16:57Z")
> [@Monkey\_Chews](#): > > I’m not sure about that calculator. I’m pretty sure I burn close to 2000 calories a day, but that website tells me I burn 2462 (using “sedentary lifestyle” as an option). > > I’ve tried a couple of others and they all seem to come closer to 2000. > [This one](http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm) says 2026. > [This one](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/calorie-calculator/NU00598) says 2050. > [This one](http://www.hpathy.com/healthtools/calories-need.asp) and [this one](http://magnetic-diet.com/calc/daily_calorie_calculator.htm) say 2067. > > An exact science this is obviously not. But that first calculator seemed to be giving figures that look way too high. I’m pretty sure that if I was taking in close to 2500 calories a day and not getting any exercise, this beer belly I’m trying to lose would be going nowhere, and probably expanding fast. Hmm, those are giving me closer to 2,500 with no exercise. Since you found three that are basically identical, I’m guessing they’re more accurate than the one I found. That does make my earlier statement look pretty absurd, although I still contend that I’ll be able to drop to 15 pounds by Thanksgiving (where I’ll gain it all back again, no doubt). > [@pulykamell](#): > > I think 2,000 calories a day is fairly typical for the average female, and 2,500 for the average male… When you say average, do you mean the actual average, or where the average “should” be. If it’s where the average “should” be, wouldn’t one who would like to lose weight probably be above those numbers? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/33 "2008-10-23T18:00:48Z")
I’m in. I still have a month to build the guillotine. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/34 "2008-10-23T18:50:02Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > Hmm, those are giving me closer to 2,500 with no exercise. Since you found three that are basically identical, I’m guessing they’re more accurate than the one I found. > > That does make my earlier statement look pretty absurd, although I still contend that I’ll be able to drop to 15 pounds by Thanksgiving (where I’ll gain it all back again, no doubt).When you say average, do you mean the actual average, or where the average “should” be. If it’s where the average “should” be, wouldn’t one who would like to lose weight probably be above those numbers? I actually think it’s where the average is, or pretty close to it. I gave you my numbers and what I found to be true for me. I was about 20 lbs overweight (according to BMI charts) and for me to lose 2 pounds a week required an 1800 calorie diet and about 400-500 calories worth of exercise a day. At 3,100 calories I would have been _gaining_ about 1/3 pound a week. If I didn’t exercise at all, we’re looking at 2,300-2,500 calories or so for a 20-pound overweight individual like me (at the time) to _maintain_ weight. Obviously, your body will vary. Bigger and/or more muscular individuals will require more calories. Now, as I said, you can _of course_ lose 15 pounds by Thanksgiving. I lost about 10 pounds of weight in the first two weeks of my diet and exercise, but that’s mostly water weight from what I understand. Also, given my numbers above and assuming they’re accurate, I could definitely go to a 1500 calorie diet and add an extra two miles to my workout and lose three pounds of real weight a week. I’m just saying, it’s generally advisable for _most_ individuals not to lose more than 1-2 pounds per week if they want to keep healthy and keep it off. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/35 "2008-10-24T15:22:40Z")
Like most people, I don’t foresee dropping 3 pounds every week and actually keeping it off. And if it’s not going to stay off, I don’t see the point in putting myself through the hell it would take to get it off that fast. But I’ll shoot for 10 by Turkey Day. Shit, if I can be 10 pounds lighter than I am now at the end of the year after running the Halloween candy/double Thanksgiving/holiday baking/Christmas/anniversary gauntlet, I’ll be tickled. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/36 "2008-10-24T15:44:09Z")
Ok, so I signed up for the food journal/calorie tracker at [Livestrong.com](http://Livestrong.com) and set myself up with a goal of losing 1.5 lbs per week starting Yesterday. So if I can up my exercize level a bit too (which shouldn’t be too hard, right now it is at nearly 0), I should be looking at losing 8 lbs by Thanksgiving. Frankly, if I can do that I will be thrilled. If I can keep it off and even lose another 5-10 lbs by the end of the year…I won’t really know what to do with myself. ---
**Author:** ![Superfreaknduper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Superfreaknduper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfreaknduper)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/37 "2008-10-24T15:47:23Z")
Well just to put it out there I’ve gone to the gym yesterday, and am on my way again today. Forgot to use the scale yesterday but I’ll get on that today. I haven’t started eating better yet… bbbuuuttt thats a long shot i loves me some food anddd beer lots of beer.:dubious::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/38 "2008-10-24T17:14:54Z")
Okay, count me in too. I will do my best and see how much I lose while eating healthy and getting regular exercise. See y’all next Thursday am. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/39 "2008-10-24T17:15:24Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Ok, so I signed up for the food journal/calorie tracker at [Livestrong.com](http://Livestrong.com) and set myself up with a goal of losing 1.5 lbs per week starting Yesterday. So if I can up my exercize level a bit too (which shouldn’t be too hard, right now it is at nearly 0), I should be looking at losing 8 lbs by Thanksgiving. > > Frankly, if I can do that I will be thrilled. If I can keep it off and even lose another 5-10 lbs by the end of the year…I won’t really know what to do with myself. I love The Daily Plate. I didn’t realize how important actually knowing what you are eating is. You can’t make changes until you know what you are doing wrong. Your Calorie Counter really makes you take stock of what you are putting in your body for fuel. I try to get the most out of my calories as possible. Simple changes such as not drinking calories makes a huge difference. And don’t be tempted to eat less than your Calorie Counter tells you to. You MUST eat in order to lose weight. Otherwise your body will go into starvation mode and hang on to everything you put in it. There is a forum over there as well…a good place to go if you have questions. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093/40 "2008-10-24T17:45:45Z")
> [@Hockey\_Monkey](#): > > I love The Daily Plate. I didn’t realize how important actually knowing what you are eating is. You can’t make changes until you know what you are doing wrong. Your Calorie Counter really makes you take stock of what you are putting in your body for fuel. I try to get the most out of my calories as possible. Simple changes such as not drinking calories makes a huge difference. And don’t be tempted to eat less than your Calorie Counter tells you to. You MUST eat in order to lose weight. Otherwise your body will go into starvation mode and hang on to everything you put in it. There is a forum over there as well…a good place to go if you have questions. Nice! I have been sort of casually making some changes to my diet to try to lose all this post college weight gain (I finally started making some money, and I gain 30 lbs :smack:). But I figure if I want to get back down to below 200 I need to get a bit more serious. Your link to livestrong is what made me think about the food journal. So if I fall off the wagon I am blaming you HM! 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-drob-15-lbs-by-thanksgiving-whos-up-for-it/469093.md?page=3)