Should I burn MORE than I eat?

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Replies

  • shalomabeth
    shalomabeth Posts: 63 Member
    im so confused i burned close to 1200 but at 2400 do i need to eat more calories set by mfp or can i leave it as is
  • emma_louise_23
    emma_louise_23 Posts: 25
    I am really confused about BMR it says mine is 1780 and i eat upto 1300 calories per day but how much do i have to burn with this BMR to lose weight? its soooo confusing lol :)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I am really confused about BMR it says mine is 1780 and i eat upto 1300 calories per day but how much do i have to burn with this BMR to lose weight? its soooo confusing lol :)

    Actually you will lose weight eating your BMR and doing no exercise, as the moment you move, walk, sit, brush your teeth you burn more than BMR. It is suggest to not eat less than you BMR to lose weight.

    Just living if you are sedentary you will burn 2136/day with no exercise. So all you have to do is eat less than 2136 on non-workout days to lose weight, on days you workout you could eat even more and still lose.
  • skyestevenson00
    skyestevenson00 Posts: 3
    Soneone help me!! My recommended intake to lose weight is 1200 calories, but if I go to the gym I usually burn around 300-500 calories. But that would make my NET calories like 800, and I know I shouldn't have less than 1200 net, but then what's the point in going to the gym if I just eat to make it back up to 1200?? So confused!!! Someone help me :(
  • thrillhouse69
    thrillhouse69 Posts: 9 Member
    i just started last week and have had limited experience dieting. i am a man and weigh 180 pounds. Last week i was burning 800 to 900 calories a day working out and eating 1600 calories (except saturday night where I did not work out and ate and drank 2700 or so), so on most days i was eating 700 net calories. I know realize I need to eat more based on this forum (thank you). My question is that in the first few days last week I lost 2 pounds and since then have gained a pound back. In addition to my intake being insufficient for my boddies needs, did I also sabotage my weight loss and if so why?

    Thank you all for your help
  • eliseofthejungle
    eliseofthejungle Posts: 113 Member

    Does a car engine run on nothing? no. When it moves, it burns fuels, and needs refilling and that is how your body works. You workout, you are burning the fuel and leaving your body empty of the things it needs to run properly.

    Imagine your car gas tank was so over-full your mechanic said to make it lighter or else. Would it make sense to drive off a gallon a day and then go to the gas station and put a gallon in once a day? No, you need to create a deficit to make the 'tank' smaller. It doesn't matter if today's drive burns up 'today's gas' or last January's. You have too much gas. Quit topping off. (Don't fast but don't think your BMR distinguishes between today's intake and your stored calories, either. It doesn't.)

    The point is that even if the car isn't moving as long as it's running (ie, as long as you are alive) it's burning that fuel. The only time you are not burning any calories is when you are dead. The car burns fuel every minute of every day, not just the extra gallon that was used driving that one time. Your body isn't the equivalent of a parked car that is turned off, it's the equivalent of an idling car. What would happen if you went outside and started your car up and let it run in the driveway...then drove around to burn extra fuel....then came back and kept it running in the driveway...repeat... and never put any more fuel in it? It would use all of the gas and STOP RUNNING. The difference being, obviously, that you can't stuff a sandwich into a person who has starved to death and expect them to come back to life.
  • sammypoo79
    sammypoo79 Posts: 1
    I am having trouble getting in 1200 calories
    A day. I am trying to eat healthy foods ( low carb.)which of course
    Have low cals. Any suggestions on food ? I love working out
    But only eating 1200 cals I don't think it's healthy
    To exercise .... The whole calorie eating and burning confused
    Me I guess that's why I can't loose weight. My mind
    Immediately thinks eat less to be skinny can someone
    Please help me ?? Thanks in advance
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I am having trouble getting in 1200 calories
    A day. I am trying to eat healthy foods ( low carb.)which of course
    Have low cals. Any suggestions on food ? I love working out
    But only eating 1200 cals I don't think it's healthy
    To exercise .... The whole calorie eating and burning confused
    Me I guess that's why I can't loose weight. My mind
    Immediately thinks eat less to be skinny can someone
    Please help me ?? Thanks in advance

    This thread has been done for over a year...

    that said low carb does not = low cal, fat is the highest caloric macro, if you are low carb you should be high fat, high protein. Eat meat, nuts, seeds, nut butters, oils, etc.

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