Calories per day

sarahnicolexoxo

I just started here so, please forgive me if this is a silly question. Yesterday MFP gave me a certain number of calories for the day and now today, the number of calories have lowerd. Do they just start you off on Monday having more than the rest of the week?

SHBoss1673

did you input exercise yesterday?

sarahnicolexoxo

Yes, I did. Does it lower my calorie intake based on my exercise the following day?

elephantmeg

no, once you exercise it gives you back those calories

MakeLifeBright

I just started here so, please forgive me if this is a silly question. Yesterday MFP gave me a certain number of calories for the day and now today, the number of calories have lowerd. Do they just start you off on Monday having more than the rest of the week?

When you burn calories, you are able to eat a little more calories . So when you log your exercise, You get extra calories to eat. Its up to you, if you choose to eat the extra calories. Some people do, some people don't.

Zara11

So... if you wanna eat more.... exercise!

iplayoutside19

Also your 5 lbs might have an impact on your calories. The less of you there is to haul around the less energy is required.

sarahnicolexoxo

Yesterday they gave me 1774 calories to have and I didnt use 303. I burned 124 calories on the bike at the gym and today they only gave me 1650 calories which is LESS than yesterday. So, if you do the math, the difference is 124- the calories I burned off yesterday. Why is that? Definitely not complaining, just curious why they'd take off the amount I worked off from my daily calorie intake.

PJilly

Yesterday they gave me 1774 calories to have and I didnt use 303. I burned 124 calories on the bike at the gym and today they only gave me 1650 calories which is LESS than yesterday. So, if you do the math, the difference is 124- the calories I burned off yesterday. Why is that? Definitely not complaining, just curious why they'd take off the amount I worked off from my daily calorie intake.

It means you get 1,650 calories on days you don't exercise. Yesterday, you burned 124 calories working out, so you were allotted 1,774 calories. If you log any exercise for today, it will add those calorie to today's calorie goal.

Jill

sandra400

i noticed the same thing this morning my calories have been consistant since i started last of july and this morning i noticed a deficect of about 300 calories and i weigh in on tues so i thought it might be related to
weight every 25 # you lose your caloried reduced but maybe not might be a glich in program?????
i have lost 17 lb so my theory does not really hold water:laugh:

nehtaeh

Yesterday they gave me 1774 calories to have and I didnt use 303. I burned 124 calories on the bike at the gym and today they only gave me 1650 calories which is LESS than yesterday. So, if you do the math, the difference is 124- the calories I burned off yesterday. Why is that? Definitely not complaining, just curious why they'd take off the amount I worked off from my daily calorie intake.

Your starting point is 1650. That is based on what you input according to your sex, weight, height, and normal physical activity. The 124 is extra. They aren't taking it off, they put it on after you input your exercise for the day. If you go back to that day and take out the exercise, you would have 1650 left. You'd also have not used 179 of that 1650.

Does that make sense. You are looking at it backwards by saying they are taking calories away. Had you never put in any exercise, you'd have 1650 calories a day.

sarahnicolexoxo

It means you get 1,650 calories on days you don't exercise. Yesterday, you burned 124 calories working out, so you were allotted 1,774 calories. If you log any exercise for today, it will add those calorie to today's calorie goal.

Jill

Thanks Jill for explaining that for me! I am new to this so, I appreciate it!! :happy:

Wecandothis

Here is a good article that explains it - and yes you should eat your exercise calories:

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

LittleSpy

When you first set up your fitness goals, MFP automatically sets you at a calorie deficit based on how much you said you wanted to lose per week (.5, 1, or 2 pounds). So based on that, MFP comes up with the number of calories you need to eat each day so that you will still have that calorie deficit for the day. For you, that amount was 1650 calories. When you exercise, you burn calories, so even if you eat all the calories your burned off with exercise, MFP is set up so that you still have that original calorie deficit.

The basics: roughly speaking, 1 pound of fat = 3500 calories So, to lose 1 pound of fat, you need to burn 3500 calories more than you consume.
If I want to lose 1 pound in a week, I need to have a calorie deficit of 500 calories each day that week. 7 days/week x 500 calorie deficit/day = 3500 calories (and as stated above, 3500 calories = 1 pound of fat).

EXAMPLE: On a day I stay in bed all day and don't do ANYTHING, I burn 2200 calories just breathing, digesting, pumping blood through my body, blinking, etc -- just staying alive. I want to lose 1 pound every week. So, if 2200 is the amount of calories I need to exist on any given day, then in order to lose my 1 pound a week, I need to eat 1700 calories/day to keep me at that 500 calorie a day deficit. If I exercise and burn 200 calories, my daily deficit grows to 700. So, in order to lose my 1 pound a week, I need to be at a 500 calorie deficit, but I've exercised and now I'm at a 700 calorie deficit for the day. I can EAT those 200 calories I burned off with exercise and still be at my 500 calorie/day deficit. So that day, I can eat 1900 calories and still be on track to lose my 1 pound for the week.

sarahnicolexoxo

Your starting point is 1650. That is based on what you input according to your sex, weight, height, and normal physical activity. The 124 is extra. They aren't taking it off, they put it on after you input your exercise for the day. If you go back to that day and take out the exercise, you would have 1650 left. You'd also have not used 179 of that 1650.

Does that make sense. You are looking at it backwards by saying they are taking calories away. Had you never put in any exercise, you'd have 1650 calories a day.

Yes, that does make sense! I was not noticing the number BEFORE I added the exercise. Thanks for explaining it to me

PJilly

It means you get 1,650 calories on days you don't exercise. Yesterday, you burned 124 calories working out, so you were allotted 1,774 calories. If you log any exercise for today, it will add those calorie to today's calorie goal.

Jill

Thanks Jill for explaining that for me! I am new to this so, I appreciate it!! :happy:

You're welcome. Happy to help!