How calorie counting works!

lal73
lal73 Posts: 116
edited September 24 in Health and Weight Loss
I have read numerous times that in order to loose weight you need to burn more calories than you eat....Does this really mean that i have to burn more than 1200 Calories per day if i eat 1200 Caloires per day?

Replies

  • tross0924
    tross0924 Posts: 909 Member
    Yes, but merely existing burns off whatever your BMR is. So there's 1300 ish calories burned right there.
  • louisee294
    louisee294 Posts: 140 Member
    The 1200 cals that MFP allows you is what you naturally burn in a day, if you exercise then you should count those calories and eat them back :) don't exercise off the original 1200 cos they are already used.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    Yes but you will burn this amount and more just by existing. (this is your BMR)
  • kwardklinck
    kwardklinck Posts: 1,601
    Your daily activities burn so many per day. When you set up your goals, it will create a deficit depending on how fast you want to lose. Your daily calorie goal doesn't even take exercise into account. When you log exercise, it will tell you how many more calories to eat while still maintaining the deficit you need to lose weight.
  • ccrawshaw
    ccrawshaw Posts: 166 Member
    Your BMR (Base Metabolic Rate) is how many calories it takes for your body to just exist (for example, if you did nothing but sit on the couch or lay in bed for a whole day). As a 30 year old female, weighing in at 177.4 and measuring up to 5'7", mine is just a pinch over 1550, which means that I can eat up to that many calories and not gain weight (if I do NOTHING in a given day). Your activity level (i.e. sedentary, light, etc.) factors in for the rest of your calories, upping your calorie count from your BMR. Once you've subtracted the calories necessary to lose your goal of however many pounds per week (3500 calories = 1 pound, which breaks down to a 500 calorie deficit each day), THEN any calories that you go over will need to be worked off.

    I hope this makes more sense. If not, message me and I'll give it another try.

    :)
  • lal73
    lal73 Posts: 116
    AHHH...NOW I FEEL SILLY, THATS WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT I GOT SCARED FOR A MINUTE...I GUESS ITS WAY TO EARLY FOR ME TO BE POSTING!!! HA HA HA
  • ccrawshaw
    ccrawshaw Posts: 166 Member
    No worries. There's only one way to find things out and that's what we are all here for.... support and resources. :)
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