question about calorie deficit

mamaDaisyJ
mamaDaisyJ Posts: 395
edited September 21 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, so my calories with no exercise are 1200, got it.
When I exercise, I earn more calories, got it.
I see alot of talk about going deficit and not eating exercise calories. I think that means If I am up to 1700 goal calories, eating only 1500 puts me in deficit of 200.
I guess my question is, do you have the most success when you eat all your exercise calories or when you are in deficit. Or does deficit mean you ate more calories than allotted? If my math and logic are right, I think I want to eat like half my exercise calories. Where in this range have ya'll had the most success?

Replies

  • Rhonnie
    Rhonnie Posts: 506 Member
    When you put into MFP how much weight you wanted to lose per week it calculated how many calories you need to eat per day to lose that much - the deficit is built in. MFP means for you to eat all of your exercise calories per day.

    Now, will you lose weight faster if you don't eat your exercise calories, or don't eat all of them? Depends on your body and your weight and how many exercises calories you have, etc etc and etc etc. :) To be a healthy weight loss you shouldn't lose more then 2 lbs a week (if severely over weight, or just starting weight loss it is usually acceptable to lose more then that). Also, to no go into starvation mode you should not have less then 1200 calories so those are 2 more numbers that effect the equation.

    Personally, I don't 'plan' on eating all of my exercise calories every day... mostly because I tend to have no problem eating those extra calories (oops) and because I tend to go over a little on my calories on days I don't work out. By following this made up system (albeit made up system) if I average out a week's daily calories I will end up on target.

    Everyone will have an opinion on both sides... everything between "yes you MUST eat every exercise calorie and I lose 2lbs a week every week with no platues" and "I have 3000 exercise per day and I don't eat a single one of those and I lose at least 2lbs a week every week with no platues".

    In the end, you'll want to do what makes sense to you and that you know you can make a part of your life style. Next you'll need to see if it is working for you, and if not, tweak as needed until it is. :)
  • FabulousFifty
    FabulousFifty Posts: 1,575 Member
    I think you get it., I try to eat about half of my exercise cals. That helps to make up for any mistakes in how many cals burned or a missed calorie or two. I feel better when I eat them. I feel a bit wane if I don't. All the best to you. :flowerforyou:
  • janetgardiner
    janetgardiner Posts: 32
    Hi I'm also on 1200 calories a day. I try never to go over that unless I've done something to earn more calories. I don't go crazy with exercise, I walk to and from work (40min each way) and if I really want chocolate or anything else I'm craving, or even a can of coke or two, then I might do a little more exercise. I found in the first two weeks the weight was coming off nicely leaving only 20-50 calories. Now I find I need to leave a few more for the weight to keep coming off. I also don't think of this as a diet, it's a fun game between the computer, my sister and I to see who can still lose weight and eat the things we enjoy eating......

    Have fun with it is all I can say. And if you want that piece of chocolate have it but work out at home in front of the tv or at a gym, in the park or wherever before you eat it so you have the calories there.

    I have a step at home that cost very little, (you put it in front of the sink so kids can wash their hand). I watch tv and step if I feel I really need that food.
  • Kmill217
    Kmill217 Posts: 204
    Tweak and adjust!!!

    I usually eat under and over throughout the given weak. It all averages out in the end. I mainly eat to how I feel. If i know my body can handle a bit more food then I try to give it a bit extra knowing at the end of the week it won't show on the scale....

    but that is just it...i know my body well enough to give it enough fuel to let go of the extra fat. Been on track now for 2 months, and I'm down 15 lbs going into week 8....and yes, I'm a guy....

    its all about adjusting fire to your weeks end result. See what you did right and wrong and build from there....my diet comes for years of not getting it right, and getting it right....I mainly just added cardio 3x a week w/ moderate food intake, and the weight has been coming off...haha...nothing to it really
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