Healthy margin when cutting with workout

dende3

Hi,

I started logging my meals only a while ago. What I noticed that I end up 300-400 under the recommended amount after subtracting exercises burn.

Should I to up to the recommended amount or 300-400 deficit is not too much of an issue.

malibu927

Ideally you want to eat the amount MFP gives you net (after exercise). But since calorie burns are often overestimated, many people only eat back 50-75% of those calories.

evildeadedd

The answer to your question is largely dependant on your coals vs. the results you are getting. You say cutting so I assume you want to maximize fat loss while minimizing muscle loss. So a VERY moderate deficit and slow loss is the way to go. Track your weight from week to week, if you are losing more than half a pound to a pound a week then add one or two hundred calories a day. Make sure to keep lifting. And that you are getting enough protein to support your muscles.

evildeadedd

Also if you are 300 or 400 UNDER what mfp gave you that is not a three or four hundred deficit. Unless you set your MFP goal to maintain the deficit is built in. MFP has my goal at 1900, that's with a thousand calorie deficit built in,because I set it to lose 2 pounds a week. if I ate 1600 I would be at a 1300 deficit on the day not a 300. I am already going to lose a lot of muscle at 1900 but because I am so obese that is really unavoidable.