at a loss here calorie intake verse burning.

midnightlovestory
midnightlovestory Posts: 9
in Health and Weight Loss
So im conflicted here im trying to lose at a steady pace 1-2 lbs a week. Im on a 1390 calorie intake. What im trying to figure out is with a calorie deficit what should I be burning to see results. No one seems to agree. Some say restrict and burn all calorie intake for the day plus 500 and others say not to. My gp said to reduce calorie intake and burn them all plus 500 extra to lose and my gyn/weightloss doctor said restrict and burn 500\7 days a week. ( I see my gyn because I have mirena) not for weightloss but sje offers advise. I did how ever try one to burn all intake plus 500 one day and I felt wretched. I just dont see how ypu can sustain that. What do you guys lose and exercise.

Replies

  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    When you use MFP you are already at a calorie deficit. Eating 1390 a day is already putting you at losing weight.

    Exercise isn't needed to lose weight. It is for health or to eat more than 1390 that day.

    You just need to log accurately and not exceed your calorie limit OFTEN to lose weight.

    Be patient :)
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    So im conflicted here im trying to lose at a steady pace 1-2 lbs a week. Im on a 1390 calorie intake. What im trying to figure out is with a calorie deficit what should I be burning to see results. No one seems to agree. Some say restrict and burn all calorie intake for the day plus 500 and others say not to. My gp said to reduce calorie intake and burn them all plus 500 extra to lose and my gyn/weightloss doctor said restrict and burn 500\7 days a week. ( I see my gyn because I have mirena) not for weightloss but sje offers advise. I did how ever try one to burn all intake plus 500 one day and I felt wretched. I just dont see how ypu can sustain that. What do you guys lose and exercise.

    MFP gives you the amount of calories so that you would lose weight if you did NO exercise. You do not HAVE to burn anything. People who are disabled could lose weight with this amount of calories. Of course exercise has other health benefits, and when you do exercise, you need to eat more for fuel with the MFP method.

    The idea here is not to burn up all of your allotted calories, it already gives you your deficit.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Your calorie goal includes your weight loss deficit. You are "burning" calories 24/7. The vast majority of your "burn" is just your body working and you being alive. If you ate to MFP's calorie goal accurately, you would require no exercise whatsoever to lose weight...MFP calculates your NONEXERCISE maintenance number as per your stats and takes a cut from that for weightloss. Any exercise you do is additional and extra activity which is why you get those exercise "burned" calories to eat back.

    Here's what my number looks like...without any exercise at all, I can maintain consuming 2,300-2,400 calories...meaning that between my basal calories (around 1800 calories) and my day to day stuff like working and cooking and cleaning, etc that I "burn" 2,300 - 2,400 calories per day. If I take a 500 calorie per day cut from that I will lose roughly 1 Lb per week without any exercise at all. If I wanted to increase my deficit I could either restrict more calories or add exercise and not eat back exercise calories. Just keep in mind that too large a deficit can be counterproductive.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) - This is all of the calories you would need in a day for everything you do including exercise. This is also called "maintenance calories" because you would not gain or lose eating this much.

    To lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit from TDEE. You can do this either through diet or exercise, or a combination of them both. So, you could eat 500 calories less than TDEE or you could exercise and burn 500, or you could eat 250 less and burn 250. All of those options should result in the same loss.

    As I stated above, MFP calculates what you need to lose (not including exercise) so you would lose just by diet alone.
  • midnightlovestory
    midnightlovestory Posts: 9
    Based on all you're replies. It seems my suspicion was correct. I try and strive for 200 cardio and 200 strength a day. Simply because I clean house everyday and chase kids. But I've done that for so long it no longer feels like a workout. I also take vitamin supplements. And im very good at keeping on track with my diary and staying at my goal. But when I do exercise more that my normal I will make up the calories not all of course as long as im actually hungry. But I also drink lots of water too. Not just for exercise and daily requirements but I live in Florida so im out in the heat to.

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