Which number do I use with MFP?

mkculs13

I found a calculator for running and walking that gives its calculation like this:

"You burned 380 calories during this workout, 215 after subtracting base metabolism."

Which number should I use for MFP?

L1zardQueen

Which calculator is this? What is “Subtracting base metabolism”?

yirara

The base metabolic rate is already part of MFP. That's the calories your body needs when you do nothing at all, like running your organs. Use the other number, also here referred to as net workout calories.

sijomial

215 after subtracting base metabolism.

Use this one, although not strictly accurate to subtract base metabolism it's closer.

MyFitnessPal has already credited you with your non-exercise calories for the period of time you exercised so using 380 would include an element of double counting.

PAV8888

Are you setup as sedentary on MFP?

If you're setup as sedentary MFP starts your estimated caloric expenditure at 1.25 x BMR per minute. (1.4 for lightly active, 1.6 and 1.8 for active and very active)

So the actual correct number to add in terms of actual net calories that you should be able to add to your eating target is:

380-215=165 your BMR during the exercise according to the device

(You could also calculate your BMR yourself by using: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator and getting a per minute value by dividing by 1440)

Assuming 165 is your BMR during this time period, 165*1.25= 206.25, are the Calories MFP has already assigned

380 - 206.25 = 173.75 = 174, are the Calories you burned in addition to what was already assigned to the time period.

bmeadows380

PAV8888 wrote: »

Are you setup as sedentary on MFP?

If you're setup as sedentary MFP starts your estimated caloric expenditure at 1.25 x BMR per minute. (1.4 for lightly active, 1.6 and 1.8 for active and very active)

So the actual correct number to add in terms of actual net calories that you should be able to add to your eating target is:

380-215=165 your BMR during the exercise according to the device

(You could also calculate your BMR yourself by using: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator and getting a per minute value by dividing by 1440)

Assuming 165 is your BMR during this time period, 165*1.25= 206.25, are the Calories MFP has already assigned

380 - 206.25 = 173.75 = 174, are the Calories you burned in addition to what was already assigned to the time period.

@pav8888 you know, I'd never seen a good explanation for why the calories burned that MFP gives for a given activity were so badly off. I had always just seen it recommended to start with counting back half and adjusting based on actual results.

But seeing that 174 is ~45% of 380, that makes some sense to me. Though why doesn't MFP factor that in when they give the calories burned for a particular activity?

mkculs13

Thanks to everyone. I was using the lower number, which consensus seems to say is closest to correct. I only log my intentional exercise and had my setting at "sedentary." I have been losing steadily at a rate acceptable to me although I was having trouble with hunger until I adjusted my setting to "lightly active," which is more realistic and works to keep me losing while still logging intentional exercise. I was greatly underestimating my daily caloric burn, it seems. And while it would be "nice" to be able to lose at the rate that would allow, it wasn't going to happen. I just didn't realize how much more I was burning than I assumed, based on my BMR.

PAV8888

I am a proponent of adjusting based on real life results! And faster is not always better. In fact it can be detrimental and increase unwanted side effects and impact long term adherence which IS critical!

@bmeadows380 this is one of the issues of logging long duration low burning exercises as separate exercises and where I think the trackers work better (for things such as walking) as in the end (and when they work correctly) they send over the net difference.