calories

laurenmaura
laurenmaura Posts: 45 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So I have 1,200 calories per day. I try to leave about 500 t0 700 left. Is that ok or can I eat the whole 1,200 calories. I work out to try to use up all my calories I have eaten and so that I have burned more calories that I eat. Is this ok?

Replies

  • jcraig1980
    jcraig1980 Posts: 34
    You really should eat as close as you can to the 1200 calories. If you go to low you are likely to end up feeling light headed and hungry all the time, thus setting yourself up for yo-yoing. I try and stay around 1200 and I do not eat my excercise calories back in and for me I am losing about 1-2 pounds a week.
  • Brizoeller
    Brizoeller Posts: 182 Member
    No. Do you plan on living the rest of your life eating only 500 calories a day? That would be considered a bit of anorexia I believe. Eat more. Work out. And lose weight the healthy way, not the quick way. It will pay off in the long run. Believe me.
  • laurenmaura
    laurenmaura Posts: 45 Member
    But I thought you were supposed to burn off more calories by working out than you eat per day?
  • tryinghard71
    tryinghard71 Posts: 593
    Is this for real???
  • mynameiscarrie
    mynameiscarrie Posts: 963 Member
    But I thought you were supposed to burn off more calories by working out than you eat per day?

    I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you really are wondering. Calories in vs calories out is correct-- HOWEVER, when you signed up for MFP, they've already put you at a deficit. Eating 1200 calories a day--NET-- is still enough of a deficit for you to lose weight.

    Say you need 2000 calories to maintain your current weight. You want to lose 1 lb (3500 calories) a week. This means that each day you need to eat 500 calories less per day--1500 calories-- to lose 1 pound. MFP will tell you that number. You shouldn't ever have below 1200 net calories (Calories eaten-exercise calories= net calories) because it's just not good for you and will end up hindering you more than anything. Just make sure your net calorie intake is 1200 and you'll still lose.


    Edit to add: if you're not new and you're reading this--this is just basic information on starting out--not trying to debate eating exercise calories, starvation mode or anything like that...just explaining the math behind MFP's given number.
  • Andromeda173
    Andromeda173 Posts: 33
    Your body burns calories with you just sitting there, or sleeping. Every person has what is called a "Base Metabolic Rate," or BMR. This is the amount of calories your body needs if you were just lying in bed all day--it depends on your height and weight. Most people agree that you shouldn't eat too much under your BMR (unless you're on a doctor-supervised diet) for long periods of time because it could be damaging to your long-term health.
    Then you have another number called the TDEE--"Total Daily Energy Expenditure." This is your BMR, plus the extra calories you get walking, exercising, etc.

    In order to lose weight, you need to eat less than your TDEE, NOT burn more than you eat! If you've set up MFP correctly, all you need to do is eat the calorie number it gives you. If you exercise on top of that, you can eat more, or not...some people do better eating their exercise calories back, some don't.
  • Andromeda173
    Andromeda173 Posts: 33
    Eating 1200 calories a week--NET-- is still enough of a deficit for you to lose weight.

    I think you meant 1200 calories a DAY...don't want to give the OP any scary ideas!
  • laurenmaura
    laurenmaura Posts: 45 Member
    Thank you that is what i was wondering about!
  • GnochhiGnomes
    GnochhiGnomes Posts: 348 Member
    So I have 1,200 calories per day. I try to leave about 500 t0 700 left. Is that ok or can I eat the whole 1,200 calories. I work out to try to use up all my calories I have eaten and so that I have burned more calories that I eat. Is this ok?

    So do you try to get a net calorie amount of 0 ?
  • mynameiscarrie
    mynameiscarrie Posts: 963 Member
    Eating 1200 calories a week--NET-- is still enough of a deficit for you to lose weight.

    I think you meant 1200 calories a DAY...don't want to give the OP any scary ideas!
    that's what i mean! lol my bad---typo! I changed it in my post lol


    1200 calories net--per DAY. You'll still lose and it'll be much easier to maintain!
  • kaervaak
    kaervaak Posts: 274 Member
    1200 Net calories means that you eat 1200 calories per day plus eat back all of your exercise calories. So if you do 500 calories worth of exercise, you need to eat 1700 calories that day.

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