Can someone please explain..

aless820

the idea of a deficit for weight loss. Though I've lost a few pounds, I don't understand how it works

fast_eddie_72

Weight loss or gain is the result of taking in fewer or greater calories than you burn. If you're trying to lose weight, it takes about 3,500 calories to lose one pound. So you figure out how many calories you use just being alive, how many more you burn exercising, then come up with an eating plan that creates a calorie deficit so you lose weight.

That's what MFP does for you. If you put your info correctly, it makes a pretty good estimate of how many calories you're burning and helps you track how many you're eating. Then it makes a daily calorie goal that will result in the deficit you need for your desired weight loss goal.

That help?

diannethegeek

Your body burns a certain number of calories every day. Everything from exercise to just pumping blood through your heart burns calories. That number varies for everyone depending on physical stats like age, height, and weight, as well as lifestyle factors and how active you are.

This number is your TDEE, your Total Daily Energy Expenditure. It's the total number of calories your body burns in a day and also the number of calories you could eat to maintain your current weight.

Eating above your TDEE will cause you to gain weight. Eating below your TDEE will cause you to lose weight.

When people talk about needing a deficit to lose weight they simply mean that you need to eat fewer calories than your body uses throughout the day.

There are a lot of online calculators to get an estimate of your TDEE if you're interested. Check out a site like iifym.com

aless820

Great thank you both!

hnsaunde

Read this thread, it's a great guide!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

lambchristie

I like how fast_eddie and diannethegeek explained this. Although I know this and believe I live it ... not happening for me right now.

I've lost 55 pounds; and now seem to be stalled out (again). What causes the platue affect?

I eat between 300-500 calories less a day than my TDEE; I work out 3xs a week at the gym (different routine and muscle group each time; and I walk 4 miles 1x a week (currently...hoping to change that to 2xs a week here when we get back into daylight savings times).

Does watching the 'macros' play a more important part than I am perhaps giving credit too?

Thanks ...

aless820

Thanks!

fast_eddie_72

I like how fast_eddie and diannethegeek explained this. Although I know this and believe I live it ... not happening for me right now.

I've lost 55 pounds; and now seem to be stalled out (again). What causes the platue affect?

I eat between 300-500 calories less a day than my TDEE; I work out 3xs a week at the gym (different routine and muscle group each time; and I walk 4 miles 1x a week (currently...hoping to change that to 2xs a week here when we get back into daylight savings times).

Does watching the 'macros' play a more important part than I am perhaps giving credit too?

Thanks ...

Depends on how long you've been stuck, I think. Everyone seems to agree that weight loss isn't linear. So it's normal to have weeks where nothing happens. It seems like, for me, I'll have a week with nothing, or even seem like I gained a pound (just due to daily fluctuation) then the next week I'll lose a couple or three. Shrug. I dunno. When it's going slow I just remind myself that I'm not in a hurry and I'll get there. When it's going faster I just enjoy it.

If you're not seeing any change over a longer period of time, like a month, it probably means something is out of whack. Either you're eating a bit more than you realize (easy to do!) or not burning quite as many as you think (even easier to do! lol). I wouldn't adjust anything for a short term "plateau". But if it doesn't resolve in a few weeks, somehow you're not at a calorie deficit.

Good luck with it!