Remaining calories confusion....?

caseyla12

My daily calories is at 1200 and when I exercise and burn 400 calories it adds to my remaining calories (1600). If I'm looking to lose weight, should I eat those calories? It makes sense that I would have to eat more to fuel my body, but I need a deficit of about 500. Does that mean that my net should be -500?! I have no idea how to record everything and how it works...
Any advice would be great!!! I want to make sure I'm doing this right!

bonnymom

MFP builds a deficit in, so eat those calories.

BranMuffin21

I've been eating my exercise calories and been losing weight. I don't normally eat ALL, leave atleast 100 just incase if the calories aren't correct

caseyla12

Thanks so much! That's exactly the answer I was looking for!

momma3sweetgirls

1200 is with the 500 deficit. To maintain, you'd need to eat 1700. So, if you burn 400 calories, technically you should eat them back to maintain a 1 lb a week loss.

k2quiere

What do you do if you are under your goal excluding exercise calories and you just don't feel like you can eat anymore??? I don't want to eat too little and not lose (I have to far to go), but I feel like I'm stuffed.

rileysowner

If you feel like you can't eat snack on something with a high caloric density like almonds or some other nut.

k2quiere

Great idea! I knew I wanted to pick up some nuts at the store today, and I just didn't do it. Will have to stock up.

rileysowner

Measure them carefully though.