New here ...needing info

mamax5

Can someone explain how the calorie tracking works and this net calorie and bonus calories from exercise? I don't understand it...but it looks like a great tool.

Pandorian

MFP gives you a caloric goal based on your info (height, weight, age, sex) and chosen rate of loss...0.5 1 1.5 or 2 lbs of weight loss per week.
IF you log your exercise on here you earn extra calories to eat so you keep the deficit at the chosen safe and sustainable rate of loss.
Don't just jump yourself on 1200 calories a day because... as a guy my min is said to be 1500 calories, but I wasn't losing weight at 1600 calories... increased them to 2000 a day and I'm losing weight just fine.

dannylives

Someone explained it to me like this "You are supposed to eat a minimum of 1200 calories a day or else your body will go into starvation mode from what I understand. This means your body will break down your muscle and not your fat. My MFP calore allowance is 1200, therefore if I burn 600 calories I am -600. However my body will have nothing to rebuild the muscle I just tore down and will pull from negative sources such as more muscle to try to replenish that energy. At least that is my understanding"

auntiebabs

When you enter your height, weight, age and gender into MFP, it calculates what you need to maintain your current weight.

When you select lose 1 lbs a week it subtracts a 500 calorie DEFICIT from that amount (1,000 cals deficit for 2 lb/wk, 750 cal deficit for 1.5lbs/wk and 250 calorie deficit for 1/2 lb/wk)

For MOST people it is very difficult to get proper nutrition if you are eating less than 1200 calories. If you go under 1200 calories when you complete your daily food diary you get a little notice about starvation mode.

Not too big of a deal if it happen occasionally, but if it's happening on a regular basis it's time to start paying attention. (I don't worry about it at all if I've gone over the day before)

I find I am most successful when I give myself a range.
1200 calories as my rock bottom, MFP calories as my target and MAINTAIN MY GOAL WEIGHT as the top end.
As long as I'm bouncing around in that range I figure I'm doing okay.

BTW...
Account for your exercise in only one place.
I have a desk job... I like to set my activity level at sedentary and track everything I do. It gives me a greater sense of accomplishment and encourages me to do more.

Some folks are very consistent dedicated to their workouts and take that into account when they set their activity level. So they don't have to track their exercise everyday/week.

I'm pretty sure that If you count it both places MFP will give you way too many calories.

Pandorian

If we're quoting the "minimum caloric intake" figures we should be clear that based on them it's
1200 calories for ladies
and
1500 calories for men
and I can't find the guidelines in a quick internet search, because I don't remember who it is has "suggested" them as the minimums