Can someone explain?

Lola0ne

I need to consume 1200 calories a day. Why does that increase with however many calories I've burned? Surely, to lose my goal weight in the time I have decided, I should stick to my 1200.

givprayz

There's a thread right now arguing eating back your exercise calories. The short of it is, MFP has you at the lowest healthy calorie intake, and going below that net calorie level will cause you to burn muscle tissue for energy. Keep your net calories above 1200, you will still lose weight, but you won't risk losing so much lean body mass.

edorice

Exercise calories:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/69708-calorie-deficit-for-dummies-a-little-long

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/155953-should-i-eat-my-exercise-calories?hl=exercise+calories

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/138631-stupid-exercise-calories-yeah-i-said-it?hl=exercise+calories#posts-1888371

dawnslaughter

like the previous post said keep it above 1200 or you will lose muscle and look awful plus as soon as you hit goal and eat maintenance calories you will balloon

erickirb

a simple answer is MFP gives you 1200 calories to lose your goal amount of weight by creating a caloric deficit for the day. If you exercise this deficit becomes larger. MFP adds the cals back to keep your caloric deficit at your goal amount.

What you are proposing would make your deficit larger than your goal and may cause you to lose muscle instead of the fat you want to lose. Try eating most of the calories for a month or so and it should work for you. Otherwise you will not get the fuel your body needs.