Calories vs Exercise

agronx

So this has be a little stumped. I have always heard in order to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume. So lets say for example I am on a 1200 cal/day consumption. In order for me to lose weight I need to burn more than 1200 cal/day in order to lose?

Can someone break this down for me a little bit better?

Ready2Rock206

You burn calories just by being alive. So you don't have to do 1200 worth of exercise.

lisawinning4losing

From what I understand, you just have to burn more calories than you eat. So if you exercise, you can subtract that number of calories from your total number of calories to equal your "net" calories. Some say that your net calories should not go below 1,200, but there is some disagreement about that. I'll be interested to hear the answers to this question because I also have questions about this. Thanks for starting the thread.

QuietBloom

You need to eat less than you burn. However, your body probably burns at LEAST 1200 calories a day just keeping all of your organs functioning. So if you then when out and tried to burn off everything you ate, you might as well just stop eating (which is - obviously - not a good idea).

Where are you getting 1200 from, btw? Depending on your age, weight and height, you most likely could eat quite a few hundred more and still be in a deficit by the end of the day without even exercising.

AnotherNewYorker

Two things to look at:

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_metabolic_rate
-http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

You burn calories being alive. Find out what your BMR is (how many calories you'd burn staying in bed all day) and then track how many extra calories you're adding. Hope that helps.

ndj1979

you do not need exercise to lose weight. You can create a deficit by eating less then your maintenance level calories and lose the way. so if your maintenance calories are 1800 and you eat 1300 that is a 500/cal per day deficit, or one pound per week loss…or you can add in exercise to increase your burns, and your daily calorie deficit...

Mick1127

You misunderstand the principle. Assuming you have entered the correct information (weight, goal, pounds to lose per week, etc.) and the site has indicated a 1200 calorie per day diet will allow you to reach your goal. it means a net of 1200 calories after adding in your exercise is what it will take. The 1200 calorie figure is coincidental as that is what my calorie total is also 1200/day. The way I am achieving that is by eating (the past week) an average of 2375 calories. I am a snacker and will not change that part of my lifestyle. However, I am doing 2 or 3 sessions a day on an exercycle averaging about 24 mph and burning an average 1475 calories/day. That actually gets my net calories to 900/day. Two years ago I lost 27 lbs. in 3 months doing the 1600 calorie/day routine and cycling off 400 calories. I hated the food intake and quit. I gained back 20 pounds over the last 1 1/2 years and need to be serious again. I just can't see myself eating sliced mushrooms for snacks any more. Give me a Milky Way Ice Cream bar or a Golden Grahams Breakfast bar and I'm in heaven. Better yet, give me both in a day and I'm willing to do the cycling. I don't mind the workout. I'm 68, retired, and have the time to do it, so that's what's working for me.

AmyRhubarb

You don't want to burn more than you eat - that leaves you with zero fuel.

As Ready2Rock said, you burn calories all day long - sleeping, walking, folding laundry, etc. You need to eat less than THAT number, also known as your TDEE, or total daily energy expenditure. MFP has estimated this number for you based on the information you entered at set up (based on your current height, weight, etc), and then depending on what you entered for your weekly loss goal, gives you a daily goal that is less than your TDEE.

Keep in mind that your goal is also without exercise - meaning you could eat all your calories every day, all the way to goal, do zero exercise and you'll lose weight. This is why the cals are added back in when you log exercise - the burn has left you with a much larger deficit, too large, and can cause you problems over time. You're supposed to eat them back, at least a good portion of them, bringing your daily NET cals up to, or very near your daily goal. That way your body has plenty of fuel for daily life and exercise, and you're still at a deficit to lose weight.

agronx

The 1200 is what MFP gave me as a goal to lose 1.5 pounds/week. Some days I do really good at staying at or under that goal. Like today I am 158 cal under. I am not hungry at all and definitely not trying to under eat. I just want to make sure I find a balance that works for me.

agronx

This is a lot of good information...Thanks everyone!