Daily calories

ScarletFyre

OK - so i set my daily calories on the option that says to lose 1 lb per week, because it had "RECOMMENDED" in big caps next to it...but its telling me to eat something like 1500 a day...and that is NOT counting what i "earn" back when I work out...does this sound right to everyone? it seems like an awful lot...I had been on the option of losing 2 lbs per week, but figured maybe i better switch to the "recommended" one...

I set the goal using my start weight of 215 lbs.

Also - as i lose weight, does that mean that the calories per day will automatically update in MFPs system? Just curious - i am a ways off from having siginificant enough loss to worry about that, at this point.

Thanks!

erickirb

If you find 1500 to much, with the amount you have to lose you could set at 1.5lbs/week.

MFP's system will update your intake when you check in and enter a new weight.

krik84

1500 adds up a lot faster than you may think if you are actually recording everything. Don't make it so difficult that you can't stick to it

Statsol

Sometimes I feel that much of the exercise counts are exagerated and don't take into account the fact that you would be burning something even if you weren't exercising. I usually subtract about 20% from most of the posted exercise calorie numbers to account for this. Not scientific, but just a gut feeling that the exercise value is somewhat inflated because of the failure to consider basic resting needs over the time period.

For example, if an exercise says it is 400 calories per hour, I make it 320 calories to take into account that I would have burned at least 80 lying in bed doing nothing.

You will find this changes the amount you can "earn back" in a significant way.

2stepz

Sometimes I feel that much of the exercise counts are exagerated and don't take into account the fact that you would be burning something even if you weren't exercising. I usually subtract about 20% from most of the posted exercise calorie numbers to account for this. Not scientific, but just a gut feeling that the exercise value is somewhat inflated because of the failure to consider basic resting needs over the time period.

For example, if an exercise says it is 400 calories per hour, I make it 320 calories to take into account that I would have burned at least 80 lying in bed doing nothing.

You will find this changes the amount you can "earn back" in a significant way.

I just figure that the compensation between "burned" and "burned above resting" is made up by the afterburn factor (which can last several hours after a good workout).

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On topic: we can account for what we eat pretty precisely these days, with weighing food and knowing what you put in a dish, etc. However, the calories burned is still an estimate, based on height and weight. Everyone's body chemistry is different, and you may burn at a rate above or below what the standard estimate is for your size. Play with the intake numbers until you find what works for you. That's why there is a personalization mode for the goals.

mandemonious

I am at 1 lb per week (cause I feel that is sustainable for me) and 1600 cals per day. I usually stay around 1500 anyway, but it feels nice to have that extra if I need it. I also have mine set at sedentary since I work at a desk. I don't eat back all of my exercise calories (gasp!), just making sure I stay above 1200 net. Do what seems to work best without leaving you starving. If you are not losing at the pace you desire, switch your goals a little. See ya @ pal