We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Don't understand the Deficit....Help

ShanR77
ShanR77 Posts: 287 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I keep seeing ppl talk about Deficit. Can someone explain it to me in Lay-men(spelling) terms? :huh:

Replies

  • 2April
    2April Posts: 285 Member
    Deficit means eating less than what you need to maintain your current weight. For example, if you need 2000 calories to maintain your current weight you can eat 1500 a day and lose 1 lb a week or eat 2000 a day and burn an extra 500 calories per day or some combination of the two.
  • ShanR77
    ShanR77 Posts: 287 Member
    Deficit means eating less than what you need to maintain your current weight. For example, if you need 2000 calories to maintain your current weight you can eat 1500 a day and lose 1 lb a week or eat 2000 a day and burn an extra 500 calories per day or some combination of the two.

    Then what about the eating your exercise calories back? I'm probably making this more difficult than it really is :embarassed:
  • 2April
    2April Posts: 285 Member
    The deficit is created by eating less or exercising more or a combo. So if you can eat 1500 calories on a lazy day and lose 1 lb a week, you can eat 2000 calories a day (if you burn 500 a day) and lose the same amount of weight. Some people eat more on the days they exercise but create the same daily deficit.
This discussion has been closed.