Calculating Calories Burned

hila_13
hila_13 Posts: 44 Member
in Getting Started
Quick question because I am not sure if I am doing this right:

My MFP goal is 1200 calories per day. If I wear a heart rate monitor that tracks calories all day - can I calculate my "exercise" (in order to count my general calories burned) as the number of calories burned in a 24 hour period (on my HRM) and then subtract 1200?

For example: If I burned 2500 calories in a 24 hour period (including walking, cycling, sitting at my desk, even sleeping) then can I record that I burned 1300 calories (2500-1200). And then aim to eat below 2000 calories which would be a 500 calorie deficit?

I am just trying to make sure that I am not over eating...

Replies

  • TheWorstHorse
    TheWorstHorse Posts: 185
    First thing... a HRM will not accurately calculate calories burned when you are sitting, lifting weights, cooking and so on. HRMs use a formula based on heart rate to estimate calories. That formula works, more or less, when your heart rate is (a) in a range of roughly sixty to eighty-five percent of your maximum heart rate and (a) your heart rate is in that band, steady-state. So you can't use it to estimate calories burned in the way you would like.

    You may find it more helpful to use the TDEE method for estimating your calorie needs. If you search the forums here for "TDEE" and "sexy pants" (I know, just trust me) you will find a number of posts that every beginner should read.

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