confused

hushmonkey1234

I was just wondering if anyone could explain this better to me. I always thought that when dieting you are suppose to burn more calories than you consume. So at what point does your body go into "starvation mode"? Is it different for everyone? If I burn and extra 300 calories a day why would I want to eat to consume the extra wouldnt that just leave me were I am right now?
Maybe I am over analizing this but thought if someone could explain this better to me I could do better at loosing weight. Thanks for all the help in advance!

hushmonkey1234

I was just wondering if anyone could explain this better to me. I always thought that when dieting you are suppose to burn more calories than you consume. So at what point does your body go into "starvation mode"? Is it different for everyone? If I burn and extra 300 calories a day why would I want to eat to consume the extra wouldnt that just leave me were I am right now?
Maybe I am over analizing this but thought if someone could explain this better to me I could do better at loosing weight. Thanks for all the help in advance!

HelloSunshine

Yeah I've got the same issues with that.
I was on Web MD and they can set up a personalized nutrition and fitness goal for you and they had me on 1200 calories same as MFP but they also said I need to burn 479 calories a day to loose 6 lbs a month... Why would I eat those 479 calories?
If there is no calorie deficit how can there be weight loss?

marisa0918

You want to AT LEAST have taken in 1200 calories a day. If you only eat 1200 calories and then burn 200 the same day you really only have 1000 calories for the day.

tayner

dont forget, when you input your goals on MFP they already account for the deficit needed to lose your goal weight, so the calorie guide is what you need to eat AFTER the calorie loss (500 per 1 lb/week) is deducted.. so, if you exercise you need to eat those too so that you dont go even farther behind.

pipinana

Hi ladies,

MFP gives you a deficit in calories. For example MFP has me eating 1200 cals/day. I burn 1500/day doing absolutely nothing (your BMR - basic metabolic rate (http://walking.about.com/cs/calories/l/blcalcalc.htm)). Therefore there is a 300 cal deficit for me per day. Now, say I work out and burn 300 cals... really I'm only eating 900cals - not good. Your body needs at least 1200 cals a day to stay out of starvation mode.

The other reason why you want to eat your exercise cals is because it increases your metabolism...

You may start out loosing weight like there's no tomorrow if you don't eat your exercise cals, but not for long.... You will be doing your body more harm! Be healthy about the weight loss, and it will stay off.

Does that make more sence?

Pip

LuckyLeprechaun

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


you cannot keep the fire going without fuel. if your car sits in the garage(resting), you don't have to fill the tank. if you drive to the corner(regular daily activities), you use up a little. if you drive to the next state (workout) you have to refuel so it can keep going.

pipinana

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


you cannot keep the fire going without fuel. if your car sits in the garage(resting), you don't have to fill the tank. if you drive to the corner(regular daily activities), you use up a little. if you drive to the next state (workout) you have to refuel so it can keep going.

ohhhhhh! good analogy!!

marisa0918

Yeah I've got the same issues with that.
I was on Web MD and they can set up a personalized nutrition and fitness goal for you and they had me on 1200 calories same as MFP but they also said I need to burn 479 calories a day to loose 6 lbs a month... Why would I eat those 479 calories?
If there is no calorie deficit how can there be weight loss?

This helped me understand it, but then again I am a math girl :laugh:

--1 pound equals 3,500 calories
--So to lose 1 pound a week I need 3,500 less calories a week or 500 a day
--So lets say on a normal day doing my normal activity I would burn ohh 1,800 calories
--If I want to lose 1 pound a week I should then eat 1,300 calories a day
--By eating 1300 calories a day I am already at a 500 calorie deficit so if today I also exercise and burn 500 calories that makes my calorie deficit even bigger. Now it's 1,000 for today, and I only want a 500 calorie deficit, so guess what I get to eat those extra 500 calories :bigsmile:


Now some people ask why exercise at all. Technically you do not need to exercise to lose weight, but if you don't exercise you may be "skinny" but you will still be "flabby". Also if you have a decent amount of weight to lose if you dont exercise that access skin will just hang instead of tightening up.

LuckyLeprechaun

thanks!:blushing:

marisa0918

Hi ladies,

MFP gives you a deficit in calories. For example MFP has me eating 1200 cals/day. I burn 1500/day doing absolutely nothing (your BMR - basic metabolic rate (http://walking.about.com/cs/calories/l/blcalcalc.htm)). Therefore there is a 300 cal deficit for me per day. Now, say I work out and burn 300 cals... really I'm only eating 900cals - not good. Your body needs at least 1200 cals a day to stay out of starvation mode.

The other reason why you want to eat your exercise cals is because it increases your metabolism...

You may start out loosing weight like there's no tomorrow if you don't eat your exercise cals, but not for long.... You will be doing your body more harm! Be healthy about the weight loss, and it will stay off.

Does that make more sence?

Pip

:laugh: :laugh: We were typing pretty much the exact same thing at the same time. Great minds think alike haha

pipinana

Hi ladies,

MFP gives you a deficit in calories. For example MFP has me eating 1200 cals/day. I burn 1500/day doing absolutely nothing (your BMR - basic metabolic rate (http://walking.about.com/cs/calories/l/blcalcalc.htm)). Therefore there is a 300 cal deficit for me per day. Now, say I work out and burn 300 cals... really I'm only eating 900cals - not good. Your body needs at least 1200 cals a day to stay out of starvation mode.

The other reason why you want to eat your exercise cals is because it increases your metabolism...

You may start out loosing weight like there's no tomorrow if you don't eat your exercise cals, but not for long.... You will be doing your body more harm! Be healthy about the weight loss, and it will stay off.

Does that make more sence?

Pip

:laugh: :laugh: We were typing pretty much the exact same thing at the same time. Great minds think alike haha

hahahhaha, yes they do...... :laugh: :laugh:

ChubbyBunny

I think one of the big things people miss is that MFP isn't setting your calories to a level to MAINTAIN your current weight (unless you specify that). The calorie number you are given is to LOSE weight, without figuring in additional exercise.

I'm 185 lbs... if I WANTED to stay this weight... I would be eating 2100 calories a day.
However, MFP set me to 1600 calories to LOSE 1lb a week (not including exercise).
To MAINTAIN my "future" ideal weight I will consume 1790 calories a day.

Do you get the distinction?
There is a deficit already there to LOSE the weight you want to (whether you workout or not).
So, if you are eating the calories suggested (working out or not) there WILL be a loss because you AREN'T eating the calories to maintain your CURRENT weight.

hushmonkey1234

thank you everyone! This makes alot more sense now to me. I really love this place everyone is so friendly!:bigsmile: