but also remember, that everything you do counts.... even while you are sleeping you are using energy and hence, burning calories... don't stress out too much or think that you need to workout enough for 3,500 cals to be burned in a workout... things like brushing your teeth and washing dishes all count. for example... in a 24 hour period, if i did nothing but sit, i would burn 1,633 calories based on my height and weight. I think this is called the resting metabolic rate.

if you go to this website http://www.caloriesperhour.com/ or http://www.fitday.com you will see how much particular things are. What I would do is enter in what you think a typical day for yourself is... and watch the calories you have burnt sore!!! I think that if you are working out and burning 500 cals in exercise.. you are doing good.

Think of it this way. If I eat only 1300 cals a day... then i already have all of those burned off, plus the 300 extra... if I did nothing else, i would burn off 2100 cals a week - which is about 2/3 of a pound... add in your 500 cal workouts every once and a while, plus the rigors of daily living, and you are fine...