Complete Noob - CONFUSED!

Tonkatiel

Just wondering if someone could give me a hand with understanding how all this works... Pretty much what I'm look for is for someone to explain this to me as if I'm a 5 year old - because the more I read the more I'm getting confused at the moment lol...

MFP is saying I should have 1700 calories a day - I only started tracking yesterday, and yesterday I 'ate' 1424 calories, which included 2 Dare Iced Coffees (444 cals each)... This was an average day for me (other than the iced coffee) - and I'm confused about whether I am supposed to make myself eat more, or be happy with the lower calories...
(I used to have an addiction to the Iced Coffee, have mostly given it up but I had a bad day yesterday - so if I remove those 888 calories, I'm guessing that isn't enough? I do drink instant coffee with milk on days I don't have IC - and I have no idea if I'm calculating that right but MFP is saying each cup is 100 cals, and generally its about 5 cups a day if that helps at all)

I'm also using a FitBit, and I don't understand how that adds up with what MFP is saying
Again, only started using the FitBit yesterday and I'm not an overly active person, but yesterday the FB is saying I burnt 2318 calories - MFP deducted 52cals for 'exercise'... How is that calculated?

Not sure if you need to know more details - but just in case you do, I weigh 85 kilos, and BMI is 30...
I don't eat much, generally because I'm rarely hungry... The weight was put on when I had a huge IC addiction (4+ bottles a day)... I don't eat overly healthy, but I don't eat complete junk either... Breakfast never happens, lunch is occasional - dinner is the only guaranteed meal...

Thanks in advance for any help - it'll be much appreciated!!

shadow2soul

Some things that it will help:

- Your stats (age, weight, gender, height)


If you just started using Fitbit:
- turn off calorie estimation
- give it a week to adjust to your activity (calorie burns tend to be inflated the first week)

MFP and Fitbit Adjustment:



This is from my goals Page.
As you can see, MFP estimates my daily calorie burn without exercise is 1900. And my deficit is 490 calories.
Fitbit adjustments will work to keep me at the 490 calorie deficit. Until midnight the adjustment can increase/decrease depending on my activity. My current adjustment is 359 and is based off my last fitbit sync at 6:07pm.

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As for your coffee, how are you logging it?

Do you search for your coffee, log it, search for your milk, and log it? Or do you just do a search for coffee with milk? If your doing the latter, than chances are the calorie count is wrong.

shadow2soul

I'm also going to throw in these threads for you to read:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

This one is really important: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1


http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10589/for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/987513/lifting-is-the-most-horrible-thing-to-a-woman-since-twiggy/p1

Tonkatiel

Thanks that makes a bit more sense

I weigh 85kilos, I'm 168cm tall, I'm female and I'm 24 years old

Yes I was just searching for coffee and milk - did what you said and that drops it to 13 calories per cup - just a slight difference!!

Thanks for the links, will go and check them out

shadow2soul

Hey you're just a bit taller than me.
To make you feel better about the calories:

My average total daily intake from 9/11 - 10/11 was 1920.
MFP has my goal around 1430 + fitbit adjustments for 1lb per week loss.
I lost 4.4lbs during that time frame (181-176.6).
So for me, fitbit is pretty accurate with the total calories burned. Fitbit has my average burn for the last 30 days at 2446 calories. However, I do weigh my food (at home only) and I wouldn't recommend upping your intake if your guessing at portion sizes (even pre-packaged single servings can be off...example: I had a pack of 100 cal almonds supposed to be 17g....weighed 22g)

I'm 5'4.5" (163.8cm), 24 yrs old, and 171.8lbs (78.09kg if my conversion is correct).