Blood Donation and Calorie Burn

On my lunch break, I donated a pint of blood. As the technician was hooking me up, she went over post-donation guidelines; drinks lots of fluids and no strenuous exercise for next 24 hours. Was kicking self mentally for sabotaging my after work out exercise plans of swimming laps and water aerobics. Was even wondering if maybe taking night off was my subliminal motivation for giving blood.  Anyway, I checked out C-C Activity tool for calorie burn of blood donation and didn't see anything. Went to Mayo clinic site and found that donating a pint of blood burns 650 calories! I didn't expend that much during an hour on the treadmill and stationary cycle last night. Good thing that you can only give blood every 8 weeks or people might let themselves get sucked dry in hopes of weight loss!

Annemariew, I didn't know that. I have just learned a new weight loss technique Ha Ha! Interesting post, I appreciate it.

I just saw where they are giving blood in my town. I think I might go up there!

I wonder if there are any calorie burning benefits to donating plasma? lol (As if getting paid for the plasma wasn't enough...)

One of my new year's resolutions was to become a blood donor and register to be a bone marrow donor.   I'll be like "just one pint?"  take two!  :-P

I know the appeal is there: This looks like an easy 650 calories, but if you think about it scientifically, chances are you will not lose weight, infact- you might gain!

Heres why:

When your body is in stress (ie. post hemmorrhage, which is essentially what blood donation is) your adrenal glands make cortisol. This is a stress hormone that is scientifically proven to lead to weight gain and fat retention.

Also, after donating, you are thirsty (due to fluid loss) and hungry (due to blood loss and stress). So you drink more and gain water weight (which you retain, due to dehydration) and eat more (which you can control, but only to a point - not eating or eating very little will cause you to become ill or pass out!). Also you will not be able to exercise for the day of, and for the next three days you wont be able to push yourself to your usual physical levels due to fatigue.

All of these things combined mean that you are likely to lose no weight, or even gain weight.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULDN'T DONATE! I am going in to donate blood tomorrow. In Canada we do not get paid for blood donation, but I know people need this blood more than I do.

PLEASE DONATE! You're literally saving lives!