Caloric intake

abbigail_r

So I get that when the # says 1300 for example you eat that plus whatever you exercise out. So if you exercise 400 cals off you really are eating 1700 calories, right? When I do a calorie calculator on other websites when it gives me the # am I supposed to use it like the # on here. As a base? It makes sense but still confuses me.

erickirb

Eating 1700 after burning 400 is the same as eating 1300 and not exercising as 1700-400 =1300. MFP gives you a deficit to lose weight, i.e. 500 cals/day for 1lb. If you burn 400 your deficit for the day would grow to 900 (500-400) as you are taking fuel from your body and using it for exercise. In order to get you back to your goal you must eat the 400 as 900-400 = 500 cal deficit again.