Calorie Deficit + exercise? Or no?

weightlossmfp1

Hi! So I am (re) starting my weight loss journey.. the correct way!

Quick question though...
If I'm using myfitnesspal and it has given me a calorie deficit...

Through exercise do I need to burn all the calories I eat or just a portion since I'm already in the deficit?

I'm confused. Thank you for all help!

Ready2Rock206

You burn calories just being alive. Eat the number of calories MFP gave you. If you exercise you can eat more calories.

TeaBea

weightlossmfp1 wrote: »

Hi! So I am (re) starting my weight loss journey.. the correct way!

Quick question though...
If I'm using myfitnesspal and it has given me a calorie deficit...

Through exercise do I need to burn all the calories I eat or just a portion since I'm already in the deficit?

I'm confused. Thank you for all help!

MFP gave you a calorie deficit BEFORE exercise. Your body is burning calories 24/7. So you don't have to add exercise. It is however good for your health and fitness.

You will earn additional calories if you choose exercise. Many people eat pack a portion of those calories, say 50% at first because calorie burns are guesstimates. After a time you can gauge whether calorie burns are high or low.

wizzybeth

Just be careful not to go crazy with the additional calories you're allotted due to exercise. MFP is too generous with calorie burn. If MFP gives me 300 calories for an activity, I only "take" 150 - I pretty much cut them all in half! Some of it is ridiculously high. I do the same with apps and the cardio machines at the gym - I do not want to kill my deficit by overestimating my calorie burns!

meganw2020

I agree if you are adding exercise just using MFP the burns are generally WAY too high, I used a heart rate monitor for years and it was very rare that I could burn more than 10 calories per minute (that is doing intense cardio) so as long as I am working hard that is usually what I base my exercise burn off of. Of course everyone is different, just don't necessarily trust the estimates they give you if you think it seems high. As for eating calories back you burned during exercise, I just try to listen to my body, if I am hungry I eat, if I am not I don't. You should try to eat most of the calories that MFP give you before exercise though, just to make sure you are giving your body enough fuel.