Confused by earned calories...
hlo9603
Posts: 104 Member
Okay I totally get how you earn calories becuz you've burned some exercising but why does the diary get affected by that? Like say you've reached your calorie goal for the day... Why does it say that u still have so many calories left to use becuz of the calories you've earned. Shouldn't u just stop there and not continue eating more calories just becuz you've earned them? I mean doesn't that throw off your day and your calorie allowance if you are then eating more calories then you're allowed in your day just becuz you've worked out? Sorry if this is a dumb question but it's just been bothering me. I had about 800 cals left for dinner and then I did Zumba before dinner and it said I had 1400 cals left for today. But really I don't becuz I only had 800 left and burned 600 at Zumba. So I'm just confused.
0
Replies
-
-
Exercise generally is for fitness of the heart, lungs, muscles etc not weight loss.
Weight loss is done by a deficit that is built into your daily calorie goal. So in theory you should be only eating at deficit of 500 calories per day if you have selected to lose a pound a week. Although some choose to lose faster with a larger deficit which might make it harder for one to sustain the weight loss. So you would be eating your calories back that you burned. Some people choose to eat less back as MFP setting for exercise is usually too high of an estimate.0 -
When you set your goals as sedentary or light active etc. MFP gives you your goal calories.
Now instead of laying on the coach the whole day ( lol kidding) you are going to train and instead of really sedentary ( when you chose that one) you burn "extra calories that MFP didn't account for.
So when you give in here that you did that exercise/training MFP says instead of your goal calories you had you can eat now a bit more ( it adds your burned calories to the total).
Now knowing that there is a lot of over estimation in burned calories i only eat 1/4 back of what i log as exercise. Some people 1/2 and others 3/4
That is a personal choice. I log what my HRM gives me and also calculate that my food weighing can have some errors. So i play it save with my 1/4. And at this moment i also dont need more.
My opinion and my body works better this way, is that i eat some ( 1/4) back because it needs it fuel to function.
0 -
MFP bases your goal on lifestyle before exercise.
Lets say your BMR is 1500 and you have a lightly active lifestyle. MFP estimates your lifestyle + BMR will burn 1800 per day. You say you want to lose 1 pound per week, so MFP says 1800-500 =1300. Eat 1300 per day.
Then you exercise and burn an extra 500 in an hour. Beyond the daily, so instead of 1800 you're at 2300 burned. Your goal is still to lose 1 per week, so 2300-500 = 1800. You've earned more calories.
Now most around here will say to be cautious of your exercise calories, as the value generated by MFP and many machines is higher than reality. So maybe instead of 500, assume you burned 250-300 extra and eat that in addition to your standard 1300.
~~~~~~
With that said, in my (non-expert) opinion if you have a moderate goal of .5-1 pounds per week, I think its not a major concern to eat back your exercise calories. You're just creating a larger deficit. As long as you feel ok & have no energy issues or such. If you have a very aggressive goal (2 pounds per week) then its perhaps best not to be even more aggressive.0 -
Because if you set your activity level as per the MFP method (just your day to day hum drum) then that exercise activity is unaccounted for and has to be accounted for somewhere.
Your calorie goal is a deficit from your theoretical maintenance WITHOUT exercise...meaning if you don't exercise and just eat your goal, you lose weight. It's also helpful to learn how to properly fuel your fitness. Also, the stickies pretty much explain all of this...kind of like the instructions on how to use this tool and stuff.0 -
MFP gives you the base and you earn the rest through exercise.0
-
...Why does it say that u still have so many calories left to use becuz of the calories you've earned.
Because that's the way MFP works. It calculates your deficit without exercise. MFP has you eat back the exercise calories to maintain that deficit. For example assume you can eat 2000 to maintain and want to lose 1 lbs a week, MFP will give you 1500 calories (2000-500=1500). Now you exercise and burn 500 calories, if you don't eat them back your deficit now is 1000 calories (the 500 MFP deficit + 500 calories burned by exercise).
If you prefer you can manually switch to TDEE and zero out your calories earned.
0 -
I guess I understand. I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.0
-
I guess I understand. I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.
Except you should, because this isn't just about weight loss. This is about creating sustainable life choices, maintaining your health, and fueling your body for fitness endeavours. Exercise is for fitness, and if you significantly under-eat you will negatively impact your fitness goals.
I'm also going to guess that, like most newbies on MFP, your goal is currently 1200 calories net. This is already an excessively low goal, and you should not be eating below this. When you omit your exercise calories, you wind up eating below 1200. E.g. you logged 1200 cals of foodm, then log 200 calories from exercise. If you don't eat 200 calories, you've effectively netted 1000 calories.0 -
I guess I understand. I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.
lol i lost 62 pounds in only 4 months so i think i do quite well.
I agree to a certain point.
When you eat in a small deficit and dont burn a lot yes i agree
But i am on 1200+ calories a day. My training is around 600 calories a day. 1200 calories wouldn't provide enough nutrition's to keep this body going..in a healthy way.
So i eat my 1200 calories plus about 1/4 of my training's calories.
And i slowly upping it at the moment till i will end at maintenance level.0 -
-
I guess I understand. I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.
Except you should, because this isn't just about weight loss. This is about creating sustainable life choices, maintaining your health, and fueling your body for fitness endeavours. Exercise is for fitness, and if you significantly under-eat you will negatively impact your fitness goals.
I'm also going to guess that, like most newbies on MFP, your goal is currently 1200 calories net. This is already an excessively low goal, and you should not be eating below this. When you omit your exercise calories, you wind up eating below 1200. E.g. you logged 1200 cals of foodm, then log 200 calories from exercise. If you don't eat 200 calories, you've effectively netted 1000 calories.
so indeed this is the unhealthy way in my humble opinion.
I would end up way under the 1000 calories when i dont eat back. Like i said i think burned calories is highly over estimated, just like logging your food will never be 100% right. But still taking in account that half of my burned calories is right. That would even make me go under the 1000.
So i eat that 1/4 back for now. And i am doing good with it so i listen to my body.
I am not hungry, have no gravings, i feel so much better and energetic
But even better i worked my blood sugar to a normal level, and my blood pressure is normal again.
No more heart racing or out of breath. And i eat very balanced.
0 -
SMART MAN ^^^ LISTEN TO HIM.cwolfman13 wrote: »
0 -
I guess I understand. I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.
So you think when you eat 1200 calories
And you exercise for 600 calories that your body gets enough nutrition? And i dont mean one time i mean week after week after week.
When you burn more calories in a day ( like exercising) your body needs more nutrition. Not even calories, it needs more macro's and with a low calorie diet it is harder to get them.
You know you can lose weight fast ( for some people) and use your brains with what your doing. Or you can crash your self and burn out.
0 -
I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.
In that case switch to TDEE. At least then you'll be getting the needed nutrients.
And this ...Except you should, because this isn't just about weight loss. This is about creating sustainable life choices, maintaining your health, and fueling your body for fitness endeavors. Exercise is for fitness, and if you significantly under-eat you will negatively impact your fitness goals.
0 -
I guess I understand. I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.
Except you should, because this isn't just about weight loss. This is about creating sustainable life choices, maintaining your health, and fueling your body for fitness endeavours. Exercise is for fitness, and if you significantly under-eat you will negatively impact your fitness goals.
I'm also going to guess that, like most newbies on MFP, your goal is currently 1200 calories net. This is already an excessively low goal, and you should not be eating below this. When you omit your exercise calories, you wind up eating below 1200. E.g. you logged 1200 cals of foodm, then log 200 calories from exercise. If you don't eat 200 calories, you've effectively netted 1000 calories.
This!
In case you missed in previous explanations - you daily goal has you at a deficit BEFORE exercise - so do zero exercise, eat to goal and you lose weight. Burning off more cals through exercise leaves you with a HUGE deficit, you don't eat any of the cals back, thinking you're ahead of the game and will lose faster - yeah, maybe for a short time you'll lose, and you'll be losing lean muscle right along with any fat, and set yourself up for also losing hair, energy, a good attitude, the will to exercise, etc etc. Worst case scenario maybe, but many of us have seen this happen over and over with people here at MFP!
Stick with the reasonable calorie deficit, fuel your body, lose the fat, keep the muscle! Eating too little for too long maybe shed some pounds, but in my own experience when I was eating bare minimum, I was left with a slimmer, yet still soft and squishy version of my former self - not the firm, fit body I was hoping for! Eating at a smaller calorie deficit was much better - more satisfying in many ways, but most importantly - a firmer body and smaller jeans!
0 -
Wow.... 13,999 posts makes some people grumpy. Everyone is DIFFERENT and so are their bodies and so are their goals. I have seen MFP pals losing weight, and when I look at their diary, it's all processed food and nothing natural and double the allowance of sodium, and no exercise... very bizarre to me. Some calories burned in certain exercises do not make sense (even if you factor in for your particular weight). I suggest (and I am not professing myself to be a grumpy expert who can comment on your intelligence... I wouldn't.... I think that's rude), that you should listen to your own body. Our bodies are pretty intelligent and miraculous beings. If your energy is up, you are feeling healthy, eating well, sleeping well, and losing a reasonable amount of weight for yourself (someone once told me it was "impossible" for me to gain 6 pounds of water for a period and then lose it.... however it's been happening to me for 25 years, but what do I know), then carry on. Sometimes we just might not feel hungry. It's about what you're choosing to eat and that you're up and moving. Always check in with a doctor (which I certainly hope would not be so blunt as to tell you that you "don't actually understand anything"). Good luck with your goals, and there are intelligent, positive people here.0
-
My calories for the day are 1600. The reason for my post was to understand it better. Otherwise if I didn't care or want to understand the I wouldn't "use my brains" and bother asking.TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »I guess I understand. I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.
So you think when you eat 1200 calories
And you exercise for 600 calories that your body gets enough nutrition? And i dont mean one time i mean week after week after week.
When you burn more calories in a day ( like exercising) your body needs more nutrition. Not even calories, it needs more macro's and with a low calorie diet it is harder to get them.
You know you can lose weight fast ( for some people) and use your brains with what your doing. Or you can crash your self and burn out.
0 -
Ummmm how bout NO! Don't be a jerk. If u don't have a response then don't answer!Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
SMART MAN ^^^ LISTEN TO HIM.cwolfman13 wrote: »
0 -
TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »I guess I understand. I just don't think u should eat back calories u burned. That would help with weight loss if you didn't. I only do if I feel hungry which isn't often.
lol i lost 62 pounds in only 4 months so i think i do quite well.
I agree to a certain point.
When you eat in a small deficit and dont burn a lot yes i agree
But i am on 1200+ calories a day. My training is around 600 calories a day. 1200 calories wouldn't provide enough nutrition's to keep this body going..in a healthy way.
So i eat my 1200 calories plus about 1/4 of my training's calories.
And i slowly upping it at the moment till i will end at maintenance level.
Thanks! I understand that! I will eat some of the calories back so I'm not having a major deficit.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »
Thanks for the jerk response, much appreciated0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »
Thanks for the jerk response, much appreciated
I gave you two responses, the first one pretty much explained everything...then you preceded to say you understood...but didn't really understand given what you posted...I was merely pointing that out...good luck on your journey..0 -
CanadianCountryGirl1973 wrote: »Wow.... 13,999 posts makes some people grumpy. Everyone is DIFFERENT and so are their bodies and so are their goals. I have seen MFP pals losing weight, and when I look at their diary, it's all processed food and nothing natural and double the allowance of sodium, and no exercise... very bizarre to me. Some calories burned in certain exercises do not make sense (even if you factor in for your particular weight). I suggest (and I am not professing myself to be a grumpy expert who can comment on your intelligence... I wouldn't.... I think that's rude), that you should listen to your own body. Our bodies are pretty intelligent and miraculous beings. If your energy is up, you are feeling healthy, eating well, sleeping well, and losing a reasonable amount of weight for yourself (someone once told me it was "impossible" for me to gain 6 pounds of water for a period and then lose it.... however it's been happening to me for 25 years, but what do I know), then carry on. Sometimes we just might not feel hungry. It's about what you're choosing to eat and that you're up and moving. Always check in with a doctor (which I certainly hope would not be so blunt as to tell you that you "don't actually understand anything"). Good luck with your goals, and there are intelligent, positive people here.
Actually, this (MFP) is a tool...as with any tool, it is designed to be used in a certain way...it really doesn't matter if you're a special snow flake or not...it doesn't change the inherent design of the tool. Most people with issues either have no idea how to use this tool or they're underestimating intake and/or overestimating calorie burn from exercise..that's not the tools fault, that's user error.
Some people actually know things around here and stuff....0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »Because if you set your activity level as per the MFP method (just your day to day hum drum) then that exercise activity is unaccounted for and has to be accounted for somewhere.
Your calorie goal is a deficit from your theoretical maintenance WITHOUT exercise...meaning if you don't exercise and just eat your goal, you lose weight. It's also helpful to learn how to properly fuel your fitness. Also, the stickies pretty much explain all of this...kind of like the instructions on how to use this tool and stuff.
There have been a lot of replies. I apologize. Just irritates me when someone sounds like they are being a smart *kitten* instead of helping but I do appreciate your response0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »Because if you set your activity level as per the MFP method (just your day to day hum drum) then that exercise activity is unaccounted for and has to be accounted for somewhere.
Your calorie goal is a deficit from your theoretical maintenance WITHOUT exercise...meaning if you don't exercise and just eat your goal, you lose weight. It's also helpful to learn how to properly fuel your fitness. Also, the stickies pretty much explain all of this...kind of like the instructions on how to use this tool and stuff.
There have been a lot of replies. I apologize. Just irritates me when someone sounds like they are being a smart *kitten* instead of helping but I do appreciate your response
Apologies aren't necessary...I just want you and others to understand...there's more to this than just watching the number on the scale. Part of being healthy is properly feeding your body and striking a balance between your weight control goals and properly fueling your activities.
Exercise is very good for you...but it can also be a big time stresser and the more intense your training is, the greater strain on the body it is. To repair itself, the body needs energy (calories) and nutrients.
It is also beneficial to wrap your head around this because eventually you will move to a maintenance phase and the question always comes up, "what kind of exercise to maintain?"...because so many people don't understand that your exercise doesn't change or have to change at all...your energy consumption does. When you don't' understand the relationship in general between your consumption and activity, it makes it very difficult to achieve your weight control goals, regardless of what they are.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Because if you set your activity level as per the MFP method (just your day to day hum drum) then that exercise activity is unaccounted for and has to be accounted for somewhere.
Your calorie goal is a deficit from your theoretical maintenance WITHOUT exercise...meaning if you don't exercise and just eat your goal, you lose weight. It's also helpful to learn how to properly fuel your fitness. Also, the stickies pretty much explain all of this...kind of like the instructions on how to use this tool and stuff.
There have been a lot of replies. I apologize. Just irritates me when someone sounds like they are being a smart *kitten* instead of helping but I do appreciate your response
Apologies aren't necessary...I just want you and others to understand...there's more to this than just watching the number on the scale. Part of being healthy is properly feeding your body and striking a balance between your weight control goals and properly fueling your activities.
Exercise is very good for you...but it can also be a big time stresser and the more intense your training is, the greater strain on the body it is. To repair itself, the body needs energy (calories) and nutrients.
It is also beneficial to wrap your head around this because eventually you will move to a maintenance phase and the question always comes up, "what kind of exercise to maintain?"...because so many people don't understand that your exercise doesn't change or have to change at all...your energy consumption does. When you don't' understand the relationship in general between your consumption and activity, it makes it very difficult to achieve your weight control goals, regardless of what they are.
Very true! Thank u.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.1K Introduce Yourself
- 43.9K Getting Started
- 260.4K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 435 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.9K MyFitnessPal Information
- 15 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions