Need some insight...

pbajwally

I'm having some trouble. As a devoted WW member for so long, I fell into the routine of having my "points" and never really having to base my eating on a calorie countdown. That sounds ridiculous, I know -- I can count points, but have trouble with calories. WTF?! In any case, since the beginning of August I have been trying to stay focused with my diet and exercise. Some days are easy, others not so much. Originally I started out with my daily intake at I think 1700 calories plus I was adding about 500 or so a day in exercise and eating the majority of all that, save about 100-300 calories. Wasn't seeing much in terms of scale weight loss and I only measure my inches at the beginning of each month so I'm not due for that yet. So last week, I scaled the daily intake back again to 1400 or thereabouts. Again, haven't felt much of a change and I only weigh myself weekly, so I'm not due for that until tomorrow morning. I have since scaled my calories back a third time -- to 1220 to start tomorrow. Doing 60 min of cardio 5 days a week, at about 500 calories per burn -- that boosts me to 1700 or thereabouts. My question is this: should I eat my exercise calories? Everything I ever learned in WW says YES -- your body needs those extra calories lost. But if I'm eating all my dailies PLUS my exercise calories... this is just frustrating to me. I have no idea if I'm doing this right. It's becoming frustrating and I'm trying desperately to NOT get discouraged. Any advice would be very helpful right now. TIA.

crazymama2two

eat all of your exercise calories - you need to find your starting number tho for your body personally. it's trial and error for sure but dont expect any changes in one week's time...you have to give it more than that to see real sustainable results (in my opinion that is) so you knocked down your starting number and so make sure to record your exercise calories burned and enjoy your extra eating calories - just dont use em for burger king or chocolate bars

Nikki881

I had the same question when I started, but a lot of members helped me understand it. When you input your ideal weight loss goals per week, say 1 pound a week, MFP calculates the 3500 calories needed to lose 1 pound, so 500 cals a day. That's automatically calculated into your daily calorie goal. So if you don't exercise and still eat all your calories for the day, it still accounts for the 500, it's just not there. Does that make sense? Sorry if this seems a little jumbled.

bcattoes

Yes, eat the majority of them at least. Otherwise you'll likely just get too hungry and give up, or lose and then gain it back.

pbajwally

Yes, actually that makes sense. I scaled all the way back to 2 lbs/week which for me is 1220 calories/day. I am worried because I already feel like I will be starving myself... even with the exercise adding it back to 1700. Should I be having any extra calories left for the day? All the diaries I've looked at, people have TONS of calories left for the day. I know everyone is different but I feel like I'm doing something wrong eating all the calories I'm given! (??) Ugh. It's ridiculous that this is stressing me out as much as it is!