Help Understanding Calorie Deficit Please

Angelz23
Angelz23 Posts: 40 Member
in Food and Nutrition
My calories are set at 1200 per day. There are days when I eat a little over that number, and days when I eat a little under.
1200 calories a day comes out to 8400 calories per week. Right now I am at a weekly deficit of something like 542.

What do I do about that? Do I try to scarf down the 542 calories by the end of the week? If so, that would put me way over on some days...

Or do I just leave it alone?

Also, is there any way to set MFP to subtract calories eaten from a weekly amount instead of daily?

Replies

  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Not 100% sure I understand your question correctly, but if I do...

    One week of undereating isn't going to be a big deal. Just plan better from now on. Plan your day's intake in advance to make sure you're hitting your goal. If you struggle to eat that many calories, aim for calorie dense foods rather than trying to force a large volume of food into yourself. Things like eggs, cheese, chocolate, olive oil, nuts, seeds, nut butters, avocados, full fat yoghurt etc. If you're eating "diet" or "low fat" or "lite" products, switch to the full fat versions. Remember that you can also drink your calories in milk, smoothies, protein shakes etc which might be easier if you're feeling full.

    Check also that 1200 calories is the right amount for you. It's hard to tell without knowing your stats, but that's a very low goal for a lot of people. If you only have 25lbs to lose, aiming to lose 2lbs a week is a bit aggressive.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    1200 calories is already a large deficit from you theoretical maintenance. When you set your profile, MFP calculates a theoretical maintenance based on statistical averages of people of similar stats...it then cuts from that number based on how many Lbs you said you wanted to lose in a week.

    1200 calories is typically 800-1000 calories deficit from the average females maintenance calories. It's already built in.
  • Angelz23
    Angelz23 Posts: 40 Member
    It said my projected weight loss is 1.1 pounds per week.
    I don't go hungry. I just want to know what the hell I do with any weekly calorie deficit...
    I'm not in a huge hurry to lose the weight. I'm 5'9" so I get the "you don't HAVE to lose weight" bit all the time (that gets old. I know what I need and don't need)

    - - Edited for typos - -
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    500 calories under over the course of a week is less than the margin of error on the measurements. You don't have to worry about it at all.
  • MichaleneRN
    MichaleneRN Posts: 13 Member
    I struggle with this as well. I am set at 1200 calories, but have been working out 6 days a week. I am burning between 525-675 calories a day with exercise. I do not eat them back. Occasionally, I will go over my 1200 cals a bit (100-150 cals.) but not sure if I should be eating back those extra calories burned.
  • Angelz23
    Angelz23 Posts: 40 Member
    500 calories under over the course of a week is less than the margin of error on the measurements. You don't have to worry about it at all.

    Oh, awesome, thank you :)

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