I keep circling around to time and pace to estimate calories. According to mfp, if I walk 3 miles in an hour, I burn 241 calories; if I walk 3.5, I burn 277. When I drill down into my daily activity, most of it is in one or two long walks somewhere in that speed range and generally somewhere in the range of an hour to hour and a half and only rarely do I get a full 6 miles. At about 2200 steps per mile and every 3 miles burning close to 250, I get about 26 steps per calorie and if I work the other way, it comes to almost 40 calories per 1000 steps. I think I am going to try using that ballpark figure and see what happens. I really need to get a regular regimen, though. Since I am not really sure what my true maintenance is without exercise, I am adding two estimates together.

The reality for both of us is you just have to go with the numbers you have and see what happens at the scale. The problem is knowing which number needs adjustment if you are having trouble stabilizing the weight. Losing weight is not easier, but you could have bad numbers and still be successful; just taking it off at a different rate than planned.

I am watching the clock tick by this morning; maybe 3 or so I will be back home and able to eat again. There is some Entenmann's chocolate fudge cake in the fridge...