Eat back calories

ohiohannah

Hi...okay so I get about 1,550 calories and I workout and burn about 300-400 everyday at the gym. Should I be eating these calories or leaving 300-400 left....also I'm 214 pounds so if I'm lifting weights every other day I should still lose weight even if I am gaining muscle right? Btw I'm 5"10 and 18 year old female

AmyRhubarb

MFP gives you a daily calorie goal that already has you at a deficit - eat all your cals and do zero exercise and you lose weight. Burn more through exercise, you're creating too large a deficit, so MFP adds those burned cals back into your goal - you're supposed to eat them, bringing your daily net cals up to or very near your daily goal. You'll still be in a deficit.

And yes, weight lifting is awesome for losing fat/weight, and you will not gain muscle while in a calorie deficit, but it does help preserve the lean muscle you've got while shedding the fat. Make sure you are also getting plenty of protein.