N00b here with lots of little but confusing questions!

hope24x

Ok, here goes......

Hi.

I'm new and while not new to dieting or trying to eat healthy or whatever you'd like to call it, there's a few things I'm confused about and would appreciate any guidance or advice!!

I'm 24 years old, 247 lbs. and 5'4. So my questions are:

- how many calories a day do I need to be consuming?
- what the heck is TDEE and how do I figure it out?
- should I be eating back my work out calories?
- does anyone have any simple but yummy recipies for veggies where I won't end up gagging?

Those are the most important ones I can think of right now, there's more back in my brain somewhere but will save those for another time.

Thanks so much!!

bethannien

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

I eat back some or most of my exercise calories

herblackwings39

Ok, here goes......

Hi.

I'm new and while not new to dieting or trying to eat healthy or whatever you'd like to call it, there's a few things I'm confused about and would appreciate any guidance or advice!!

I'm 24 years old, 247 lbs. and 5'4. So my questions are:

- how many calories a day do I need to be consuming?
- what the heck is TDEE and how do I figure it out?
- should I be eating back my work out calories?
- does anyone have any simple but yummy recipies for veggies where I won't end up gagging?

Those are the most important ones I can think of right now, there's more back in my brain somewhere but will save those for another time.

Thanks so much!!

-Set up MFP with your information and it will give you a target goal. Log your exercise and eat at least a portion of those calories back to reach the "Your Daily Goal" section.
-TDEE is total daily energy expenditure. It includes your exercise. scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator is one calculator. There are others. You fill in the info with workouts and it gives you a number that you will then take a % off of to create a deficit.
-Using TDEE you don't eat back exercise calories. Using MFP method you would.

-Trial and error for recipes I'm afraid. I know many people like to blend them into smoothies or puree into sauces.

BelleVegan77

I don't have answers to everything but I can tell you these! If you set up your profile and put in your information MFP will tell you how many calories a day to meet your personal goals. Yes you should eat back your work out calories. It keeps your metabolisum pumping! And I just learned the easiest way to make veggies ever. I had dinner at my best friends the other night and she over roasted them. They were SO good and took like no effort at all. She bough mini carrots, chopped up a head of broccolli and a beet. She just "sprinkled them" with olive oil ( I say put 2 tsp in a plastic bag and shake them in it) then baked them on 350 for 30-60 min till they were done. Just crazy delicious.

Koldnomore

There are tons of posts here in the Getting started section that will help you with all your questions like:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/848374-large-collection-of-info-for-beginners-2013-edition
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10665-newbies-please-read-me-2nd-edition

I have a big thing in my blog too if you want to look or not - up to you
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Koldnomore/view/your-first-2-weeks-will-determine-your-success-here-573450

Hopefully you will find what you seek in one of those threads. Good luck.

salladeve

It is really up to you if you eat back your exercise calories,or not, there are many opinions on both sides of that argument. Depending on how accurate you are with your actual calories (eaten and burned), it can be a recipe for disaster if either are not accurate.

The links Koldnomore provided are excellent sources for information.

hope24x

Awesome, very helpful info! Thanks for your time!

hope24x

Belle- that does sound delicious!! And super easy! Unfortunately, I'm lazy when it comes to food, so easy will be key. I will be trying that tonight! Thanks!

And thanks to everyone else who responded..I appreciate your time and info! I just read so many different things from everyone on here it's really overwhelming. Hopefully will get the hang of it! MFP set me up with a 1500 calorie a day goal and that just seems like alot since I've always heard 1200. Also, I don't know if I'm stupid or what but that Scooby site and figuring out the tdee is confusing to me...lol..sigh. I think since I'm just starting out I'll take it slow and easy, 1 step at a time.


Thanks again!

megsmom2

Ok, here goes......

Hi.

I'm new and while not new to dieting or trying to eat healthy or whatever you'd like to call it, there's a few things I'm confused about and would appreciate any guidance or advice!!

I'm 24 years old, 247 lbs. and 5'4. So my questions are:

- how many calories a day do I need to be consuming?
- what the heck is TDEE and how do I figure it out?
- should I be eating back my work out calories?
- does anyone have any simple but yummy recipies for veggies where I won't end up gagging?

Those are the most important ones I can think of right now, there's more back in my brain somewhere but will save those for another time.

Thanks so much!!

-Set up MFP with your information and it will give you a target goal. Log your exercise and eat at least a portion of those calories back to reach the "Your Daily Goal" section.
-TDEE is total daily energy expenditure. It includes your exercise. scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator is one calculator. There are others. You fill in the info with workouts and it gives you a number that you will then take a % off of to create a deficit.
-Using TDEE you don't eat back exercise calories. Using MFP method you would.

-Trial and error for recipes I'm afraid. I know many people like to blend them into smoothies or puree into sauces.

this. MFP will give you a useful target. If it isn't working for you, you can make some changes later, but this will be a good place to start. If you're using the TDEE method, you don't eat them. If not, you do. I do.
As for recipes...just cook, taste, eat. And grow up a little. Its a veggie, not pond scum.

farrellcat

In regards to eating the calories you worked off. It depends on how many calories you work off. If you burn 200-300 calories a day in exercise, you don't HAVE to eat them back but it might make you want to eat a healthy snack. If you are an athlete, training for a race, or burn 800-1500 calories a day, you need to eat them back in order to maintain energy, gain muscle and stay healthy. If you don't your body will go into "starvation mode". It will just mess with your metabolism. For instance, if you need 1300 calories a day to loose a pound of weight per week and you burn 1300 calories a day exercising, you are at a net calorie balance of 0. This is not enough calories to maintain your body's every day functions like breathing, digesting, and just functioning through the day. Your metabolism will drop. Then when you eat , your body will store fat in anticipation for the next time you starve it. This is why I cringe when my friends say, " I don't know why I can't loose weight?? I only eat once a day" It's because they have slowed their metabolism down.

Hildy_J

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

^ This link is so useful. Game changer.

Can't help you with the vegetables - my only non-gag ones are potatoes, onions, mange-tout and sweetcorn. Fruit works though. :-)

Good luck! x

hope24x

Ok, here goes......

Hi.

I'm new and while not new to dieting or trying to eat healthy or whatever you'd like to call it, there's a few things I'm confused about and would appreciate any guidance or advice!!

I'm 24 years old, 247 lbs. and 5'4. So my questions are:

- how many calories a day do I need to be consuming?
- what the heck is TDEE and how do I figure it out?
- should I be eating back my work out calories?
- does anyone have any simple but yummy recipies for veggies where I won't end up gagging?

Those are the most important ones I can think of right now, there's more back in my brain somewhere but will save those for another time.

Thanks so much!!

-Set up MFP with your information and it will give you a target goal. Log your exercise and eat at least a portion of those calories back to reach the "Your Daily Goal" section.
-TDEE is total daily energy expenditure. It includes your exercise. scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator is one calculator. There are others. You fill in the info with workouts and it gives you a number that you will then take a % off of to create a deficit.
-Using TDEE you don't eat back exercise calories. Using MFP method you would.

-Trial and error for recipes I'm afraid. I know many people like to blend them into smoothies or puree into sauces.

this. MFP will give you a useful target. If it isn't working for you, you can make some changes later, but this will be a good place to start. If you're using the TDEE method, you don't eat them. If not, you do. I do.
As for recipes...just cook, taste, eat. And grow up a little. Its a veggie, not pond scum.

No, it's not, but posting a rude comment like that makes you pond scum. I'm shy and never post in forums because of people like you and I just found out that I have to put my childhood dog down tomorrow so maybe that's when I'll grow up, tomorrow, when I watch my dog die. Deleting my account. But thanks to everyone else for your advice and good luck to you all.