Calorie Deficit v. Calories Consumed...help!

jlaurena

Hi everyone! Here is my dilemma: I am supposed to consume 1400 calories on a regular day.

When I work out, I end up with about 2400 burned calories for the day, so reaching my goal calorie deficit of -1000 is not a problem.

However, on days when I don't workout, my burned calories for the day is only about 1800!

Does this mean I should only eat 800 calories that day, or stick to my usual 1400? MFP would tell me to stick to the 1400, but on Fitbit it will say I have "failed" for the day if I go over 800.

Thanks for your help!

~Jes

McLifterPants

It's really not healthy (or sustainable) to net below your BMR. Ignore your fitbit, make sure you get enough food, just the right kinds!

DanaDark

Hi everyone! Here is my dilemma: I am supposed to consume 1400 calories on a regular day.

When I work out, I end up with about 2400 burned calories for the day, so reaching my goal calorie deficit of -1000 is not a problem.

However, on days when I don't workout, my burned calories for the day is only about 1800!

Does this mean I should only eat 800 calories that day, or stick to my usual 1400? MFP would tell me to stick to the 1400, but on Fitbit it will say I have "failed" for the day if I go over 800.

Thanks for your help!

~Jes

I do not recommend making going under your BMR a part of you weight loss routine. Instead, be happy that you still have a 400 calorie deficit.

mmapags

Why not just average over a week. Day to day is not so critical as overall.

Also, isn't a deficit already built in to the 1400?

raystark

Why not just average over a week. Day to day is not so critical as overall.

Also, isn't a deficit already built in to the 1400?

Yep. That should be the case in both MFP and Fitbit.

ccarre81

hum... I don't understand your calculations. You want a -1000 deficit per day? Your MFP number of 1400 already accounts for a deficit (based on pounds you set to lose per week). You should at least eat 1400 worth per day, if you burn let's say 400 calories in a day, I recommend you eat between 1600-1800 calories total.

jlaurena

thanks! all in all, i just want to lose weight and it's not working. i'm eating lower carb, getting exercise, eating clean, and i can't seem to budge. I think i'm messing up the calorie intake/outtake but i'm not sure.

ccarre81

thanks! all in all, i just want to lose weight and it's not working. i'm eating lower carb, getting exercise, eating clean, and i can't seem to budge. I think i'm messing up the calorie intake/outtake but i'm not sure.

you can add me if you like, my diary is almost always completed.

jlaurena

thanks! all in all, i just want to lose weight and it's not working. i'm eating lower carb, getting exercise, eating clean, and i can't seem to budge. I think i'm messing up the calorie intake/outtake but i'm not sure.

you can add me if you like, my diary is almost always completed.

Will do! Seems like you know what you're doing!

mcarter99

The Fitbit goal doesn't give you any floor. MFP gives a floor of 1200.

Others will have their own idea but if you ask me, I would eat above 1200 and keep my deficits at or below 1000/day average (or 7000/week if that's easier to think of). So if you burn 1800 some days, eat 1200 (deficit = 600). If you burn 2400 the next day, and you're comfortable eating 1200, eat 1200 (deficit = 1200). Average deficit for the two days = 1800/2= 900, which is under 1000. But if you workout 5 days a week, that's a 1200 calorie deficit 5 days a week, and will probably be uncomfortable, and will suggest you should only have a 500 calorie deficit the remaining two days to stay under 7000/week deficit.

It's not that important. Don't lose more than 2 lbs/week. Don't eat under 1200. Listen to your body.