I don't understand calorie counting
tanisha719
Posts: 2 Member
I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories. I tried researching EVERYWHERE and haven't came upon any helpful sources. Please give me a definite number of calories I should be burning a day & how you got that number. Thanks 
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To lose 1lb a week you need to be eating 500 calories a day less than what you're burning (as 1lb is 3500 calories), so if you're eating 1770 a day then you'd need to be burning 2270 to lose 1lb a week.0
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That's all you need to know, really. Log your food intake, don't go over 1770 calories, and you should lose ON AVERAGE 1 pound per week. You can make it more complicated by factoring in exercise, but you don't have to.0
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tanisha719 wrote: »I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories. I tried researching EVERYWHERE and haven't came upon any helpful sources. Please give me a definite number of calories I should be burning a day & how you got that number. Thanks
The 1770 already figures in your daily movement and what you need to lose 1 lb a week. You don't have to exercise. If you do choose to exercise, MFP will give you extra calories to eat back. The estimates tend to be a bit high, so most people eat back about half of those.
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2270, on average.
Your MFP goal is set up by calculating your BMR (basal metabolic rate = how many calories it takes to keep you alive with basic biological functions) plus your NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis = lifestyle activities like washing dishes, walking to the mailbox, etc.) less the caloric deficit required to achieve the weekly weight loss that you indicated. One pound of fat is more or less equal to 3500 calories, or 500 calories per day for a week. So if you told MFP that you want to lose 1 pound per week, the formula would be BMR+NEAT-500.
As you can see, the MFP goal does not include exercise calories. This means that when you exercise, you are supposed to log it and then eat the calories. Many people feel that MFP (as well as other activity trackers) overestimates calories burned for exercise. My suggestion is to log the exercise and then eat back a standard percentage, such as 50%, of the calories, for 4 weeks. After that, adjust how many exercise calories you eat up or down depending on your rate of loss (or perhaps keep it the same if you are happy with it.)0 -
You always burn calories. When you stop: you're dead.
When you put in your stats (age, height, weight, activity level) into MFP it estimated how much you burn per day before exercise. The 1770 goal is based on this. So living your normal life, assuming you gave an accurate activity level, and eating 1770 should result in 1 pound per week loss rate. You can exercise in addition to your normal activity, to improve fitness, lung/heart health, etc.0 -
The number that MFP gave you is all you need to eat in order to lose weight. If you exercise, you'll be able to eat a little more and still lose 1 pound a week.0
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1 pound = 3,500 calories. The calculation My Fitness Pal (MFP) did was take the calories to maintain your current height, weight, etc (at your activity level) and take 500 calories away. It's 500 because 3500 / 7 = 500
Just log the food you eat in MFP and be at or under your goal of 1770. Now, do not expect exact results because many factors can mess with the scale (high sodium = water weight)...you may be more or less active (activity uses more calories)....these are estimations.0 -
You eat 1770 calories and you should be losing about a pound a week. That amount already has 500 calories taken away... in other words, just to maintain your current weight you'd eat 2270. If you do exercise, you'd have to eat back some of those calories so that at the end of the day the amount of calories eaten is a NET of 1770 calories. You eat them back so you fuel your body with the nutrients needed. Hopefully I haven't confused you even more. :flowerforyou:0
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NVM. I misread.0
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You mean extra calories burned through exercise? None--the MFP number assumes no exercise. If you do a significant amount of exercise you generally add it and eat some of it back.0
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Here's a good and simple calculator I use. It's free, you don't have to log in to anything. I've been using it since 2013 and have lost almost 50 pounds by following it.
http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
It figures out how many calories you need per day, allowing for your stats and your level of exercise.
Then you just come back here to MFP and plug in your logged daily calories. Super easy.
You do have to update it with your weight loss, I do mine like every 5-10 pounds or so. But it's worked.0 -
DemoraFairy wrote: »To lose 1lb a week you need to be eating 500 calories a day less than what you're burning (as 1lb is 3500 calories), so if you're eating 1770 a day then you'd need to be burning 2270 to lose 1lb a week.
This is correct, but be aware that you wouldn't need to burn 2270 through exercise or added activity. That figure includes what your body naturally burns for functions like breathing, digestion, organ functions, etc.
To you know exactly what you need to burn through exercise/activity, you'd need to know your BMR. There are online calculators that will figure the average BMR for someone with your same stats, but to get a more accurate figure you'd need to have it tested.
It's nearly impossible to get exact numbers for any of this stuff. Just start with what MFP gives you and adjust as necessary if it's not working.0 -
I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories.
You are getting some wrong information here. I think people misread/misunderstood what you asked.
If you plugged in your stats correctly into MFP and told it you want to lose 1 pound per ween and it told you you need to eat 1770 calories a day to do that, then 1770 calories a day is what you need to eat to do that.
MFP has already calculated the appropriate deficit based on your age, weight, activity level, and desired weight loss weight.
If it says you need to eat 1770 calories a day to lose 1 pound per week, then that is what you need to do. If you exercise on top of that, you just get to eat more.
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You're trying to make it way more complicated than it really is. MFP told you to eat 1770. So eat 1770 and you should lose weight. No need to do additional math and fancy tricks. Crazy right?! Good luck! 0
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
Please go re-read the OP and you will see that she said exactly what I typed out she said, so there really was no reason for you to quote me and type out a number she never typed herself.
I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories. I tried researching EVERYWHERE and haven't came upon any helpful sources. Please give me a definite number of calories I should be burning a day & how you got that number. Thanks0 -
tanisha719 wrote: »I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories. I tried researching EVERYWHERE and haven't came upon any helpful sources. Please give me a definite number of calories I should be burning a day & how you got that number. Thanks
OP MFP is setup for NEAT method of weight loss...Non Exercise Adaptive Thermogenisis.
Basically what that means is based on your stats and activity level in order to lose 1lb a week you eat as many calories as MFP gave you...in this case 1770.
If you exercise you log that exercise and eat those calories...at least 50% of them or you will lose more than 1lb a week and possibly be unhealthy.0 -
MFP does the math for you. just eat how many it says (and that means weigh your food not use cups and dont guess)0
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DemoraFairy wrote: »To lose 1lb a week you need to be eating 500 calories a day less than what you're burning (as 1lb is 3500 calories), so if you're eating 1770 a day then you'd need to be burning 2270 to lose 1lb a week.
MFP already figured that in, she just needs to eat at the 1770 cal. level to lose.
OP, if you are going to exercise, you can have more food, just have to keep 500 cals defict daily, so if you did a walk that burned 250 cals. you have add that to your 1770 and eating 2020 cals. that day your at the NET calories of 1770. You have to be extremely accurate in weighing and logging to eat back all exercise cals. Most will eat part of them.
And loses are not linear, you will bounce a bit here and there, but it will come off if you stick to it.
If new to MFP you might want to check out this list of helpful links here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026
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I'll explain using my OWN numbers.
If I want to MAINTAIN the weight I am now I would eat 2500 calories a day. That means my CI=CO (calories consumed in food equals my calories burned at a sedentary level)
If I wanted to LOSE 1 pound a week I would eat 2000 calories a day. CI<CO (calories consumed is less than my calories burned at sedentary level)
My personal stats are set to lose 2 pounds per week so I have 1000 reduction per day. I get 1500 calories a day.
If I go for a walk and burn an EXTRA 150 calories, I can add that to my 1500 calories, so I then would get 1650. You only get extra calories when you exercise to stay at a healthy amount of calories consumed less than calories burned
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
Please go re-read the OP and you will see that she said exactly what I typed out she said, so there really was no reason for you to quote me and type out a number she never typed herself.
I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories. I tried researching EVERYWHERE and haven't came upon any helpful sources. Please give me a definite number of calories I should be burning a day & how you got that number. Thanks
She was given the answer to the question in her own question. She clearly stated to program told her to eat 1770 to burn 1 pun per week. It told her what to eat in order to burn 1 lb per week. Not sure how that isn't clear there.
She didn't answer her own question within her own question. Her question stated that she has to eat 1770 calories to lose one pound per week. It asked how many calories she needed to burn. That number is 2270 (1770 calories eaten + 500 more to achieve the appropriate deficit.) Nowhere in her question does the number 2270 appear.0 -
My little fitbit zip tells me I burn 1,650 calories a day just from living. From midnight to six when I wake up I've already expended over 100 calories. I learned from a National Geographic episode that every human being gives off about the same heat as a 60 watt light bulb. Even sitting absolutely still, we're still cooking along, burning energy. Touch your arm. You are warm to the touch.
MFP has figured out how many calories a day you are expending from living (more than 1,770 calories a day) and has given you the calories to consume for the day. Try and target 1,770 calories a day and you will lose weight.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
Please go re-read the OP and you will see that she said exactly what I typed out she said, so there really was no reason for you to quote me and type out a number she never typed herself.
I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories. I tried researching EVERYWHERE and haven't came upon any helpful sources. Please give me a definite number of calories I should be burning a day & how you got that number. Thanks
She was given the answer to the question in her own question. She clearly stated to program told her to eat 1770 to burn 1 pun per week. It told her what to eat in order to burn 1 lb per week. Not sure how that isn't clear there.
The question wasn't about eating or "burning" lbs. She wants to know how many calories to burn (e.g. the CO side of the equation). The only ambiguity I saw was whether she was asking total expenditure or how many she needed to exercise off to make 1770 work (e.g. how many calories burned from exercise = lightly active, or whatever setting she used).0 -
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
Please go re-read the OP and you will see that she said exactly what I typed out she said, so there really was no reason for you to quote me and type out a number she never typed herself.
I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories. I tried researching EVERYWHERE and haven't came upon any helpful sources. Please give me a definite number of calories I should be burning a day & how you got that number. Thanks
She was given the answer to the question in her own question. She clearly stated to program told her to eat 1770 to burn 1 pun per week. It told her what to eat in order to burn 1 lb per week. Not sure how that isn't clear there.
She didn't answer her own question within her own question. Her question stated that she has to eat 1770 calories to lose one pound per week. It asked how many calories she needed to burn. That number is 2270 (1770 calories eaten + 500 more to achieve the appropriate deficit.) Nowhere in her question does the number 2270 appear.
So let me ask a different way.
She input her numbers into MFP, she selected the option of 1 lb per week weight loss and the program set her up with a daily intake of 1770.
"After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week!"......okay so am I reading this wrong? The program told her to eat that number right there and she will lose 1 lb per week. No? The program already told her how many calories to eat a day in order to lose weight so why would she need to worry about how many calories she is burning?
I don't know that she needs to worry about it. Perhaps she has some type of calories burned tracking device she wants to monitor. Perhaps she is confused as to what activity level is right for her. Whatever the reason, clearly she wants to know so she asked. That's pretty much what the forums are for, right?0 -
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
Please go re-read the OP and you will see that she said exactly what I typed out she said, so there really was no reason for you to quote me and type out a number she never typed herself.
I started using MFP app on Monday 5/11/15. After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week! But I'm totally confused! How many calories a day do I need to burn in order to lose 1 lb a week if my daily intake is 1770 calories. I tried researching EVERYWHERE and haven't came upon any helpful sources. Please give me a definite number of calories I should be burning a day & how you got that number. Thanks
She was given the answer to the question in her own question. She clearly stated to program told her to eat 1770 to burn 1 pun per week. It told her what to eat in order to burn 1 lb per week. Not sure how that isn't clear there.
She didn't answer her own question within her own question. Her question stated that she has to eat 1770 calories to lose one pound per week. It asked how many calories she needed to burn. That number is 2270 (1770 calories eaten + 500 more to achieve the appropriate deficit.) Nowhere in her question does the number 2270 appear.
So let me ask a different way.
She input her numbers into MFP, she selected the option of 1 lb per week weight loss and the program set her up with a daily intake of 1770.
"After putting in my information, I have to consumer 1770 calories a day in order to lose 1 lb a week!"......okay so am I reading this wrong? The program told her to eat that number right there and she will lose 1 lb per week. No? The program already told her how many calories to eat a day in order to lose weight so why would she need to worry about how many calories she is burning?
I don't know that she needs to worry about it. Perhaps she has some type of calories burned tracking device she wants to monitor. Perhaps she is confused as to what activity level is right for her. Whatever the reason, clearly she wants to know so she asked. That's pretty much what the forums are for, right?
If you are going to move your goal post and just nit pick because you think I might be questioning for her for no reason just save your time. I asked a question. Obviously you just realized that she did actually answer he own question and now your trying to come up with theories to what she "could" have meant.
Yup...it was a very obtuse way of asking a question but the OP answered it in the OP.0
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