Hey, new to weight loss, tips??

jacolyncoker

So here on MFP it tells me that I have to eat more when I work out and burn calories... but that doesn't make any sense to me! I am set to eat 1,200 calories a day, so if I work out shouldn't I still eat only 1,200 calories? Isn't it kind of defeating the purpose to eat the remaining calories? I feel like if I eat my calories I will just stay the same and not lose any weight...

spiralgirl71

My Fitness Pal wants you to net 1200 calories. So what you eat minus what you burn working out should equal 1200 calories a day. It took me awhile to think of it in those terms.

Robin1109

I'm keeping an eye on your post to find some answers out for this myself. I agree that it seems counterproductive to eat more calories to make up the deficit when you need to have a deficit of 3500 calories to lose a pound. Today I took a spin class and burned more than 500+ calories. It's now telling me to eat 1700 calories today. I already ate dinner and I have 600 to go! I can't possibly keep eating food. Obviously you don't want your body to go into starvation mode with too few calories but I though a deficit was how one lost weight? I hope someone can weight in on this and help out.

jacolyncoker

So, you do this? because I see you have lost the same amount I want to lose.
You follow this rule, and it has generated results?

Robin1109

This might be helpful. http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/caloriedeficitcalculator.php

I put my information in and have a better grasp, I think, on how many calories I need daily to maintain and lose.

spiralgirl71

When MFP helps you figure out your calorie goal for the day, it takes into account the workout information you keyed in. Double check that first to make sure it's accurate. You may be working out more or less than what you entered. I've had to change mine in the past.

The daily calorie goal it gives you should ensure that you will lose weight if you eat the daily calorie total. I don't usually eat all of my exercise calories. I make sure I'm netting at least 1200 a day once exercise is taken into account.

There are several good threads on here about eating exercise calories. It's an ongoing debate. I will see if I can find some to link you to but you can try to search "eating exercise calories" and it might pull up a good discussion or two that explain things better than I do.

spiralgirl71

So, you do this? because I see you have lost the same amount I want to lose.
You follow this rule, and it has generated results?

I have been following the weight watchers points system, then I enter my food into MFP a few times a week to make sure I'm still within the 1200 calorie goal it advised me to follow. So far, this has been working. I've only hit one plateau and I cut sugar out of my diet and was back to losing weight again.

jacolyncoker

Thanks I kind of understand now... I am just nervous, because I have lost about 6 pounds since I started working out, and 1 since I started on MFP and I am just really scared all of that hard work will be put to waste. Since I am only 18 I am with my friends a lot and they eat tons of junk, and I have to restrain myself. It makes me nervous to think I could be doing it all in vain.

spiralgirl71

Thanks I kind of understand now... I am just nervous, because I have lost about 6 pounds since I started working out, and 1 since I started on MFP and I am just really scared all of that hard work will be put to waste. Since I am only 18 I am with my friends a lot and they eat tons of junk, and I have to restrain myself. It makes me nervous to think I could be doing it all in vain.

See how it works for a week or so. If you're not losing then play with the number of calories you need to net to get you results. I've read on many of the discussions where people actually end up having to eat more a day to loose. Everyone's body is different and some times you have to fine tune things to fit "you". Good luck!!!