I am a little confused...

boots

Hi everyone! I am new and looking for some clarification.

My goal calories is 1200/day. From what I understand, if I exercise on the day, I get to eat more. So, does this mean I SHOULD be eating at least 1200 calories a day? and IF I exercise on the same day, I can eat an extra x amount of calories equal to the amount of calories I burned during exercise?

I am a little confused because this seems like it is very easy and as if I am eating a lot more than I should be -- when I get to add more calories consumed when I work out.

Thanks in advance!

boots

Hi everyone! I am new and looking for some clarification.

My goal calories is 1200/day. From what I understand, if I exercise on the day, I get to eat more. So, does this mean I SHOULD be eating at least 1200 calories a day? and IF I exercise on the same day, I can eat an extra x amount of calories equal to the amount of calories I burned during exercise?

I am a little confused because this seems like it is very easy and as if I am eating a lot more than I should be -- when I get to add more calories consumed when I work out.

Thanks in advance!

boots

Oh, and also, is it a bad thing if I don't meet my 1200 cals/day? As in, I burn more than I eat and have more calories I could potentially consume but I choose not to.

raeokay

Yes, you should definitely be eating AT LEAST 1200 calories per day. If you eat less than this, your body will think it is starving and suck up every little calorie it can find and store it as fat. If you work out, be sure to eat the difference in calories that the workout gives you.

For example: Your calorie limit is 1200. Say you do enough cardio to burn 300 calories, that makes your calories for the day (that you should strive to eat) 1500. One of the biggest mistakes people make when dieting is starving themselves.. The food diary makes it easy. Always try to eat as close to the number at the bottom of your food log. It changes when you work out.

vermilionflower

I eat 1200, do light exercise like walking, and don't eat more. If I exercise more intense, I eat a little snack.

ZoneFive

Yes, eat your 1200 plus half to three-quarters of your exercise calories. MFP gives you a built-in deficit, so going below that will make it harder for you to get basic nutrients for the day.

Starvation mode is not a thing. Your body will not “hold onto every last calorie and store it as fat”.

leeangarber1

hello all, first timer here, have been reading a lot about calories and fitness and true enough we must eat those calories 1200 plus the extras. I find it hard to eat but am doing my best. Good luck

kommodevaran

leeangarber1 wrote: »

hello all, first timer here, have been reading a lot about calories and fitness and true enough we must eat those calories 1200 plus the extras. I find it hard to eat but am doing my best. Good luck

If you need to lose weight, I find it hard to believe you find it hard to eat your allotted calories. Eat food you like, log correctly, use a food scale, and pick genuine database entries, and you'll discover that 1200 calories is just about enough to keep you going.

For some reason this community isn't very happy about reviving old threads, just fyi.

snowflake954

vermilionflower wrote: »

I eat 1200, do light exercise like walking, and don't eat more. If I exercise more intense, I eat a little snack.

This thread is 11 yrs old--how did you even find it?

baconslave

snowflake954 wrote: »

vermilionflower wrote: »

I eat 1200, do light exercise like walking, and don't eat more. If I exercise more intense, I eat a little snack.

This thread is 11 yrs old--how did you even find it?

I always wonder that, too.
Meh. Maybe it will help someone nonetheless.

size102b

Research BMR TDEE WEIGHTLOSS CALCULATORS

I’d find the calories you need to lose weight and set them truthfully many input exercise has high when it’s not

Set your goals on here input the weightloss calories don’t log exercise as calories just put 1 calorie

Or use weightloss calculator as sedentary and eat back exercise calories but take off 25% as the thing with most exercise calories they are well over estimated

ZoneFive

snowflake954 wrote: »

vermilionflower wrote: »

I eat 1200, do light exercise like walking, and don't eat more. If I exercise more intense, I eat a little snack.

This thread is 11 yrs old--how did you even find it?

Oh. Yes. Well. Oops.

betty_veronica4

snowflake954 wrote: »

vermilionflower wrote: »

I eat 1200, do light exercise like walking, and don't eat more. If I exercise more intense, I eat a little snack.

This thread is 11 yrs old--how did you even find it?

Same person 11 years later?

PAV8888

The more usual reasons are google searches or clicking "last" on your phone while looking at forum topic listings.