Formulaic

I know that theoretically, weight loss should follow two formulas:
1. Calories burned > calories consumed = weight decrease
2. 3500 calories burned = 1 pound lost

Theoretically, these are true.

However, reality can be much less friendly than formulas would have you think. Especially when a system as complex as the human body is concerned. When I really think about the food I consume turning into fuel for propelling me throughout the day -- the proteins building into muscle, the surplus fats storing in case of emergency, the carbs burning for every day energy -- the whole thing just blows my mind. Then throw in other wrenches like stress, hormones, etc, and there's no way that we can pretend to fit our bodies' reactions into these simple formulas.

However, I think I'm starting to figure out a formula that works for me, including but not limited to these principles:
- Consume no more than 1600 net calories a day
- In order to not be starving, work out 5-6 days a week
- Generally that means 5 days of cardio and 3 days of weight training (often they overlap)

... that "formula" of sorts should lose me about a pound a week, by my new fangled calculations.
And it's been working - this morning I weighed in at 197.8! :) Woohoo!

... now let's see if my body can keep it up ...