Question about calories

melody_powers13

Hey everyone, I hope your days are just as awesome as you. Anyways my question is if when this site generates an amount of calories you should consume for how much you want to lose are u supposed to try to reach that amount or are you supposed to have less than that?

callsitlikeiseeit

eat the amount mfp tells you to.

malibu927

Reach that amount. It's already taken off an amount to ensure you're in a deficit.

melody_powers13

Thank you guys

rianneonamission

You can have less if you want. However, I find that MFP overestimates the calorie deficit. It told me to drop to 1400-1500 cals for a 1lb/wk weight loss, but I can do it on 1700 cals based that on my BMR & TDEE, which are easily calculated via a number of websites. I would recommended calculating your BMR and estimating your TDEE to set a suitable target for you.

TeaBea

rianneonamission wrote: »

You can have less if you want. However, I find that MFP overestimates the calorie deficit. It told me to drop to 1400-1500 cals for a 1lb/wk weight loss, but I can do it on 1700 cals based that on my BMR & TDEE, which are easily calculated via a number of websites. I would recommended calculating your BMR and estimating your TDEE to set a suitable target for you.

There's a difference between MFP and TDEE.....so yes, the calorie goals are different.

MFP uses NEAT (non exercise activity thermogenesis) That's your BMR + activity outside of deliberate exercise. With MFP you log exercise (just like you log food) and you earn additional calories.

TDEE includes BMR + activity + exercise. This will be a bigger number if you intend to exercise.

MFP is great for users who are not so consistent with exercise. But if you know you will do exercise, the TDEE less a cut is more straight forward.

mazdauk

I use MFP plus eat all my exercise calories (or save them for a treat weekend).