Daily burn help!!!

erikarobles
erikarobles Posts: 205 Member
edited February 6 in Fitness and Exercise
How many calories should I be burning a day in exercise if I am eating 1500 calories a day? I am trying to lose 2lbs a week.

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    That calorie goal already has a built in deficit for weight loss. If you put in your goals to lose 2lbs per week, MFP gave you a weight loss goal with a built in deficit from maintenance (based on statistical averages of individuals with similar stats) to accomplish that task with no exercise whatsoever...you simply eat to that calorie goal. With MFP, you actually account for your exercise after the fact...you're not supposed to include it in your activity level...you account for exercise activity after the fact when you log it and eat back your exercise calories (adjusted for estimation error).

    That said, you should exercise...for fitness and overall health and well being. But really, use your diet for weight control; exercise for fitness.

    Edit: you have to also understand that you "burn" calories all day long...most of your daily "burn" has nothing to do with exercise. The vast majority of your calorie "burn" is just you being alive...2nd largest aspect is your day to day hum drum of cooking, cleaning, going to work, etc. On average, exercise (if one exercises) represents only about 10% - 15% of an individuals daily calorie requirements.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Well, mfp allows you to eat what calories you burn- so if you exercised 300 cals your daily intake would go up to 1800.

    Now, there's endless debates about this. And of course it's hard to measure accurately. But if you've set up mfp properly, you dint NEED to exercise at al.


    In my opinion, exercise doesn't help you lose weight, diet dies that. But exercise will help you look and feel good.
  • erikarobles
    erikarobles Posts: 205 Member
    Makes total sense.....too bad it is not working lol.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    How long have you been trying- height, start weight,, goal weight etc? How's your nutrition?
  • erikarobles
    erikarobles Posts: 205 Member
    I have been trying forever!!!! I am 5'3 am weigh 217. I have lost around 7 lbs in about a year. Granted I have been on a huge steroid regimen 2 times due to back and neck problems. I have recently been diagnosed with a low thyroid but am on medication. I am now just trying to create a calorie deficit. I eat good for the most part. I either do a stair stepper/recumbent bike or hip hop abs 6 times a week. I also lift weights.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    You're certainly doing teh right things - but the meds may be stopping you lsoing faster.

    Try to get a bit more variety in your workouts, and what weights are you doing?
  • OMGeeeHorses
    OMGeeeHorses Posts: 732 Member

    In my opinion, exercise doesn't help you lose weight, diet dies that. But exercise will help you look and feel good.

    Umm exercise actually is the HUGE factor in losing weight when eating healthy! because if that is the case I would love to know how all these people who have lost 125+ in a matter of months with EXERCISE and diet lost that weight so fast...they did it from EXERCISE.
  • OMGeeeHorses
    OMGeeeHorses Posts: 732 Member
    Are you measuring yourself? My scale didn't move for a month but I lost crazy inches.

    The steroids will make it MUCH harder to lose weight and keep it off. ( not sure about the pills)

    do you measure your foods?
    have an HRM? - asking to make sure your getting the exact calorie burn. MFP is way LOW or HIGH for some
    Do you log every nibble, lick and bite?

    I ask this, because until I started doing this my scale didn't move an ounce. But when I started measuring everything and cutting my sweets out then did my scale move with EXERCISE and eating more fruits, veggies and lean meats.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    OK, let me clarify.

    If someone says that they're not losing weight - it's probably their diet that needs changing, rather than their exercise routine. It's perfectly possible to lose weight with little or no exercise, and its also impossible to out-train a bad diet.
  • RoyBeck
    RoyBeck Posts: 947 Member
    OK, let me clarify.

    If someone says that they're not losing weight - it's probably their diet that needs changing, rather than their exercise routine. It's perfectly possible to lose weight with little or no exercise, and its also impossible to out-train a bad diet.

    Absolutely. If someone isn't losing it's the going in rather than going out that I would say is the reason. Exercise is needed to create the bigger deficit but we all know that already!
  • erikarobles
    erikarobles Posts: 205 Member
    I am very appreciative of all these posts!!!! Let me answer some questions.....
    I do hip hop abs on my cardio days, I also have a stair stepper and recumbent bike that I use, I follow New rules of Lifting, and I have a love/hate relationship with my HRM....lol. I measure everything that goes in my mouth.....I even try sometimes to over compensate I am sure, for instance my friend gave me a little 2 bite piece of steak at lunch yesterday I logged it a little higher. I walk around with a measure spoon on me at all times lol.....maybe a little too anal.
    I do not measure myself since I can tell by the way my clothes fit if I am losing inches or not. I also am not that girl that gets on the scale daily, this is recipe for disaster for me. The scale will consume me if I let it. I am VERY open to any suggestions and love the help....Thank You!!!
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