New to MFP - confused about calories

kmgt
kmgt Posts: 24
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm new to MFP (registered a long time ago but am just now utilizing the site). After much reading, I do understand that MFP gives you your calorie intake goal based on what you want to lose, so in essence a deficit is already figured in.

However, I don't understand about exersize and the calories burned. In the Goal section you have to pick whether you are sedentary, or active or whatever and enter in how often you plan to exercise.

So, is my MFP calorie goal based on them assuming I'm exercising as much as I put for my goal? What should i eat on days I don't exercise and what should I eat on days I do exercise?

Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    The sedentary, lightly active etc is based on your daily work life not your exercise. If you sit at a desk all day then you're sedentary, and on up from there. The exercise portion where you fill in how many times, how long, etc is just a goal. It has not effect on your calorie budget.

    It's up to you to decide if you want to eat exercise calories back or not. For me, exercise is about being fit not about finding more food to eat. Unless you do professional athlete type workouts your body doesn't need to consume more to compensate if you already eat a nutritious diet. Some people swear by eating them all back. Your choice.

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