A weight-loss paradox?

Question

OK. If you can burn 1,000 calories every hour walking up stairs, and you do this for about 3 and a half hours a day, you're losing 3500 calories per day. 3500 calories makes a pound. So, if you walk up the stairs for 3.5 hours every day, can you lose 30 pounds in a month by walking up stairs for 30 days?

Answer 1

It's not as easy as this. First you start with your basal metabolic rate. It's a bit different for everyone. It's the amount of calories your body burns just by being alive (heart beating, breathing, etc.)

Let's say its 2000.

Everything from there is subtraction and addition. If you could walk 3.5 hours a day at 1000 cal/hour - you would then be at minus 5500 calories for the day.

Then you have to add back what you eat. If you eat 2000, then your math is right. If you eat 1500, you lose a bit faster, but if you pig out at 2500, you lose a little slower.

Answer 2

1: You are changing your metabolism by eating less. It will slow down. Also you are less weight now so you need less calories. Your body wants to hold onto some fat so it will fight this. Also you will be losing some muscle if you are eating at a calorie deficit which slows your metabolism even further. 2: Sugars are released fast into your system. Your glucose levels will spike. If the glucose isn't burned off as energy your body will store it as fat. Complex carbs stay in your system longer and they also take more energy to digest. Fiber takes more energy to digest. Proteins will help you build muscle and raise your metabolism. Your body will just use the energy more efficiently. 3: How many calories you burn is not an exact science you are really taking estimates. Your metabolism is often raised hours after exercise. If your diet is right and you are exercising it's likely you will burn more than 1 lb per week. 4: You will likely lose some muscle. If you are eating at a deficit keep your protien intake high so your body doesn't look to catabolize. Your body doesn't take 100 pct fats for energy. Sometimes it burns muscle which can be up to 10/90 ratio muscle to fat.

Answer 3

if you stop eating.
1. 1000 calories an hour walking up stairs seems a little high to me. Are you running up the stairs?
2. lets say its 500 calories and you did it for 7 hours instead, you would still have to factor in your calories in and your base metabolic rate to figure out how many calories you are burning from your body. Not everyone burns at the same rate

Answer 4

theoretically yes