Ego Boost - Give Blood, Lose Weight

So I gave blood yesterday and ended up losing 2.8 pounds overnight.  Waterweight and body fluid lost for the most part, but still a little sunshine in the morning when I stepped on the scale.  Anyone know how long it takes to regenerate lost blood volume, or how much blood weighs per volume?  Too...lazy....to...google.

I think the scale is a big lie in the first place. Losing 2.8 pounds because you gave blood is the same as taking a big pee or cutting off a limb. It doesn't reflect your real  overall body fat percentage. Also, people with more muscle-mass weigh more..but can still wear smaller clothes sizes than someone who might be lighter by the scale. I would buy a tape-measure instead..and kick the scale to the curb.

I think it takes about a week for almost all of the blood to come back.  I also know you can't give blood closer that three months apart so I don't know if it takes that long?

I've given blood plenty of times, and just by appearance and from them setting the bag on me, I'm guessing you give away about a pound of blood?  Just a guess though.

 

However, awesome post!  I'm a huge advocate for giving blood, so everyone go out there, lose some weight, get free snacks, and save a life!

Yes, giving blood IS a great thing.

Losing a few pounds of fluid via blood-loss however, will not help your jeans to fit better.

Just saying.

I know this was pure weight loss from zero effort monarch, and I fullly expect to gain that back as I replenish the ol fuel tank, but I hope my other efforts will pay off between now and then, and maybe I won't get the whole 2.8 back.  Besides, I kinda like fighting with my scale - kinda like the joker to my batman.  Evil joker.

Well, blood is mostly water so lets go with the simplifing assumption that it's the same density (within a couple of percent)

So if you give a pint of blood that would be a pound of mass.

Oh, and I totally have to agree with monarch, on every point. (I know you understand sharpey, but a lot of people really don't seem to, they treat the scale like an all-knowing, all-powerful diety (or devil) when it's not at all)

Original Post by sharpey00:

I know this was pure weight loss from zero effort monarch, and I fullly expect to gain that back as I replenish the ol fuel tank, but I hope my other efforts will pay off between now and then, and maybe I won't get the whole 2.8 back.  Besides, I kinda like fighting with my scale - kinda like the joker to my batman.  Evil joker.

 I DON'T like fighting with my scale. I think when I got my fittest, I never even weighed myself. It's depressing, hanging your self-esteem on a silly number. I think scales should be outlawed...and weighing yourself every day...ugh! I see people here who weigh themselves every day and fret over two or three pounds which might or might not be water. I am  an advocate of weighing yourself only once a week (if that) I know if my jeans are looser...I am making progress. I am afraid if I did not like the number on a scale, I might just lunge right for the pantry to make myself feel better. I know all of us wish there was a quick-fix and an easier way. If there was...everyone would be thin...or even better...in shape. They don't bottle that unfortunately...it takes dedication.

I think I have a different way of seeing my weight loss.  I like seeing the weight every day, and I'm pretty good about being objective about the results.  I'm a mathy science business results kinda guy, so I like to have as much data as I can so I can see trends and locate root causes (like blood loss, dehydration, that bundt cake etc.)  Besides I can't for the life of me figure out how to use the stupid tape measure - it's hard to bend and keeps snapping back into the little metal thingy.

Just proves that everyone finds a different way to be successful.

I use a fabric tape silly...not a carpenters tape measure!! But your post did motivate me to go to the gym this afternoon and do 40 minutes of cardio. It reminded me that I too have been hoping that the weight would go away if I did not do too much. It hasn't. I wonder how many calories googling expends anyhow...

I haven't really been hoping to lose weight by doing nothing.   Workouts and healthy eating are doing wonders for me, and it's the only way to do it right.  Hope you had a good workout, mine's in the morning :)

According to our local Red Cross, a blood donation is equivalent to 650 calories and a plasma donation is 470 calories. I assume that is spread out over a week or so, the calories your body will expend to replace the missing blood/plasma.

I dunno for sure if crgrier is right, but those numbers do seem reasonable to me

If that's right, I was super calorie deficient on tuesday.  I'll have to remember that for next time and replenish.  Thanks guys.

Don't replenish all in one day.  Remember that the calories are expended over several days, you don't make new blood and plasma that fast.

Giving blood to help people = good/caring thing

Giving blood to lose weight = dumbest idea ever

"OMG I GOT MY HAIR CUT TODAY AND I LOST 1 LB!  I'M GONNA GO CUT MY TOE NAILS SO I CAN LOSE MORE!"

Well, yeah, obviously, but you do need to take into account that you need to have a little bit more in the way of food for your body to replace the lost blood

Original Post by dcyounts:

Giving blood to help people = good/caring thing

Giving blood to lose weight = dumbest idea ever

"OMG I GOT MY HAIR CUT TODAY AND I LOST 1 LB!  I'M GONNA GO CUT MY TOE NAILS SO I CAN LOSE MORE!"

 

The whole point was to help people, the weight loss was just an unexpected surprise.  Not condoning doing this to lose weight at all.  Even if it does consume 650 calories over a week (which is nothing) to replenish, you can only do it once every 60 days or something like that anyway.    

Original Post by sharpey00:

The whole point was to help people, the weight loss was just an unexpected surprise.  Not condoning doing this to lose weight at all.  Even if it does consume 650 calories over a week (which is nothing) to replenish, you can only do it once every 60 days or something like that anyway.    

It wasn't meant to sound as condescending as it came out.  I wasn't making fun of you... it just sounded kinda silly to me.  Giving blood is wonderful though.  I admire you for it.

Hey, I did a search about calories lost by donating blood and I ended up right back on CC! lol

My question is not about the temporary weight loss but if it's a good idea to eat the cookies and drink the juice?  I used to get Nutter Butters but I guess I could do fig newtons??? Or, maybe just drink the juice only?  We have blood drives every 3 mths here at work so I'm a regular....

Should I just not worry about those calories that day?

sharpey00 -- CONGRATS on the weight loss.  Maybe it's because you were being good, that's all :)  And that's GOOD ENOUGH when you're struggling to control your weight.  Good news motivates, so all the good news we can get is a WONDERFUL thing!

Happy Friday everyone!!  Lets kick of the weekend right!!

Original Post by jenniferthepennifer:

Hey, I did a search about calories lost by donating blood and I ended up right back on CC! lol

My question is not about the temporary weight loss but if it's a good idea to eat the cookies and drink the juice?  I used to get Nutter Butters but I guess I could do fig newtons??? Or, maybe just drink the juice only?  We have blood drives every 3 mths here at work so I'm a regular....

Should I just not worry about those calories that day?

Yes, eat the cookies and drink the juice.  I figure the 650 calories used in donating more than makes up for a couple cookies and little bit of juice, then I just go back to eating normally the next day.  Think of the Nutter Butters as your reward for donating blood