Understanding MFP Calculations

christineleesmith
christineleesmith Posts: 3
in Getting Started
Hi all! New to MFP and wondering about the calorie calculations. The thing that trips me up is when excercise is tracked, it adjusts my calorie goals for the day. I don't understand why this is. It seems to me that if I'm eating my calorie goal (1650) and then I exercise that would be good - why do I want to "undo" my exercise by eating more?

Thanks!

Replies

  • RunBrew
    RunBrew Posts: 220 Member
    Please don't take this as flippant, or rude.

    Use the search tool located directly above the topic header on this thread and search 'eating back exercise calories'

    the ensuing results will be numerous and will outline every point of view expressed on this forum. There happens to be a gigantic wealth of other good weight loss advice contained in these same discussions. You will learn more from reading them than the jaded forum regulars that will post here with something akin to:

    OMFG, not this &(^&*^ again.

    Join the community, read up on whats been said in the past, and make your own decisions.

    Aside from that I'll sum up the general opinion of MFP posters: eat them back because MFP determines your needed calories based on a declared weight loss per week goal irrespective of exercise. the calorie deficit is built in to the program when you set it up. You will lose weight just sitting and breathing.
    Exercising to burn more calories *can* be a good thing, but be extremely cautious of burning so many calories that your body is left in such a hole that it can't function properly metabolically, repair damage, or store more glycogen necessary for cellular functions. You can take fat and do *some* of those processes, just not very well and may lead to you feeling very ill.
  • jasonw1178
    jasonw1178 Posts: 1 Member
    When you set your goal, say you want to lose a pound a week, MFP sets your goal to that 1lbs a week cut, if you exercise more you will fall below that and be overcutting and starving yourself, so you want to add in your exercise to prevent overdieting and losing muscle.
  • christineleesmith
    christineleesmith Posts: 3
    Thank you, RunBrew. I just joined yesterday and literally didn't know where else to begin. I appreciate your reply.
  • christineleesmith
    christineleesmith Posts: 3
    When you set your goal, say you want to lose a pound a week, MFP sets your goal to that 1lbs a week cut, if you exercise more you will fall below that and be overcutting and starving yourself, so you want to add in your exercise to prevent overdieting and losing muscle.

    Thank you, Jason. A former fitness program I used had us calculate in the exercise we were doing as part of the program, so we were instructed to not "add" calories after a workout. But your explanation helps clarify the issue a lot. :)
  • imzadi481
    imzadi481 Posts: 86 Member
    I have a real-life friend who was on MFP already when I joined. I was lucky because I could ask her all these questions! I couldn't wrap my mind around it at first, either. The search tool will definitely be your friend! Good luck :)
  • FitFunTina
    FitFunTina Posts: 282 Member
    All of this calculation stuff is mind boggling. Even to myself, who LOVES calculations. (Seriously, math was my best core subject).

    Everyone's going to have differing opinions on how to tackle the world of weight loss. Until you form your own, work on a light-moderate calorie deficit. As you go, you'll learn more and find out what calculations work best for you.

    (As for me, I set a calorie goal without eating back exercise calories - I worry too much about the calorie burn being accurate. I have more control over food accuracy with my scale. My calorie goal is not aggressive, but I'm still successful).

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