Ugh the whole calorie thing....got to get this science down!

AmysNewBeginning

This whole calorie thing.

I eat 1210 a day.

Say I burn 500 today. Do I have to eat them back, or does that just help me lose the weight faster cuz I'm eating what I'm supposed to and burning calories.

Ugh, I need to get every science down now peeps!

I've lost 6 lbs in 5 weeks, but gained 5 of it back over the friggin Mothers Day weekend. UGH so not fair!

Just trying to understand everything I can! Thanks! :drinker:

morganadk2_deleted

Eat all of the calories MFP gives you in a day and spread those extra calories back in during your day. I tend to log my workouts before I go to the gym so that helps me distribute the extra calories. If you're not eating back what you burn off on those days you will NOT lose. Your body is going into starvation mode, that's why you are not losing. Weight watchers works the very same way. There's a lot of posts on here about eating back your exercise calories, and I know it's controversial but that's how you lose the pound/week and keep it off.

Me too i log my exersie in the morning and eat slightly bigger meals that day!


Also you might find this helpfull

Are you eating to enough?

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

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficit


This is just a part of it! please read the link above


Generally someone with a BMI over 32 can do a 1000 calorie a day (2 lbs a week) deficit
With a BMI of 30 to 32 a deficit of 750 calories is generally correct (about 1.5 lbs a week)
With a BMI of 28 to 30 a deficit of 500 calories is about right (about 1 lb a week)
With a BMI of 26 to 28 a deficit of about 300 calories is perfect (about 1/2 lb a week)
and below 26... well this is where we get fuzzy. See now you're no longer talking about being overweight, so while it's still ok to have a small deficit, you really should shift your focus more towards muscle tone, and reducing fat. This means is EXTRA important to eat your exercise calories as your body needs to KNOW it's ok to burn fat stores, and the only way it will know is if you keep giving it the calories it needs to not enter the famine response (starvation mode)


Also this might be helpful http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/00trayn/view/how-to-bust-a-3-month-plateau-87677



Good luck on your journey

MaddameKat

Hi Amy

You can search the info using the bar above ^
It has been covered a lot and there are some great posts worth reading

MysticMaiden22

This is a common argument on this site. Honestly, I only have good results when my "net" intake is at 1200 or above. If you eat 1210 a day and exercise off 500, then you are only eating a net amount of 710 per day and are running the risk of lowering your metabolism and putting your body into starvation mode. Therefore, when you go back to eating a high amount of calories, your body goes into calorie shock and gains weight.

I've done this before and I've known others who have too. Eat those calories back. Good luck!

lisamarie1227

i eat about half of my exercise calories back. in some cases i guess it would make you lose the weight faster to not eat them back but really just depends on how your body works. it is easier for me to stick with it if i know i have the choice of eating those extra calories i have earned from exercise. it has kinda become like a game to me just seeing how many extra calories i can build up through the day.

i say, if your hungry, eat them. if you are satisfied at 1210 calories, then that is all good too. listen to your body.:drinker:

KidP

Not the best analogy, but if if your bank balance had to be $1210 a day in the account and you spend $500 from it, what do you have left at the end of the day? 1210-500=710. Eventually, your bank will send you letters (headaches), phone calls (muscle loss), etc letting you know it's unhappy unless you deposit 500 bucks again before the day's end. If you take it out with exercise, you've got to put it back.

The real world answer is that you wouldn't feel very well or last very long if you tried to survive off 710 cals a day.

lisamarie1227

This is a common argument on this site. Honestly, I only have good results when my "net" intake is at 1200 or above. If you eat 1210 a day and exercise off 500, then you are only eating a net amount of 710 per day and are running the risk of lowering your metabolism and putting your body into starvation mode. Therefore, when you go back to eating a high amount of calories, your body goes into calorie shock and gains weight.

I've done this before and I've known others who have too. Eat those calories back. Good luck!

good point...i should've also said "keep your net intake at - at least 1200 for the day". :blushing:

lisamarie1227

Not the best analogy, but if if your bank balance had to be $1210 a day in the account and you spend $500 from it, what do you have left at the end of the day? 1210-500=710. Eventually, your bank will send you letters (headaches), phone calls (muscle loss), etc letting you know it's unhappy unless you deposit 500 bucks again before the day's end. If you take it out with exercise, you've got to put it back.

The real world answer is that you wouldn't feel very well or last very long if you tried to survive off 710 cals a day.

sorry, i don't mean to keep posting but....wow! that is a great way to put it!!!! great analogy! you should put that as a new topic and post it so more people can see and read it. :flowerforyou:

MysticMaiden22

Not the best analogy, but if if your bank balance had to be $1210 a day in the account and you spend $500 from it, what do you have left at the end of the day? 1210-500=710. Eventually, your bank will send you letters (headaches), phone calls (muscle loss), etc letting you know it's unhappy unless you deposit 500 bucks again before the day's end. If you take it out with exercise, you've got to put it back.

The real world answer is that you wouldn't feel very well or last very long if you tried to survive off 710 cals a day.

Actually, that's a fantastic analogy!!!

AmysNewBeginning

I know right, that is an awesome analogy! Love it! Thanks for your words! Have a great day!

AmysNewBeginning

LOVE YOUR ANALOGY, MAKES PERFECT SENSE! THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!

KidP

No problem, glad it helped!