How many calories is it safe to burn?

Kenan102
Kenan102 Posts: 11
in Health and Weight Loss
How many calories is it safe to burn in a day?

Like today, I burned 730, but I ate most of it back

Is there ever "too many calories burned"? Like if I did 1000 cals one day?

As long as I eat it back, is any number okay?

(sorry if this doesn't make sense or if I explained it wrong)

Replies

  • angel823
    angel823 Posts: 190 Member
    idk i like burning anywhere from 400-2000 a day
  • selig0730
    selig0730 Posts: 509 Member
    i have seen people burn 1500 calories, its not really a certain number but as you burn more you need to eat more to fuel your self so if you burn 1000 calories then maybe eat 500-800 calories of your burn calories
  • Sarge516
    Sarge516 Posts: 256 Member
    I have burned over 5000 in a day climbing mountains/hiking with a 50 pound pack.
  • Kenan102
    Kenan102 Posts: 11
    So I can keep burning a lot, as long as I am eating to keep up?
  • calitravelingal
    calitravelingal Posts: 53
    I personally would think the sky's the limit. As long as you are healthy enough for the activities you're doing that result in such a high amount of calories burned and you eat back enough of them to mantain a healthy metabolism then sure why not. Not sure if you should do it everyday (that could really be hard on ones body), but a few times a week sure. I burn between 600-700 calories 3 times a week training for a 5K. If you were say training for a half marathon or full marathon one could easily burn in the 1000's.
  • LiftHuff
    LiftHuff Posts: 131
    Yes
  • RuthievsDessert
    RuthievsDessert Posts: 3 Member
    Why doesn’t this app tell you how many calories you burn when you do any kind of strength training? I’ve been weight lifting 3x a week and I know I’m burning calories, but I can never really tell how many… what’s up with that?
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I think that really depends on your health and level of fitness.
    Lots of people train hard, go hiking, run marathons, play sport etc that burns a lot of calories. But, you need to build up to that level, going from being completely sedentary to burning 1000 cals a day may be putting your health at risk.

    Generally though, I'd say as long as you train smart, work up gradually, don't have any health issues that make exercising a bad idea and are eating enough to support the extra activities - go for it.
  • kairisika
    kairisika Posts: 131 Member
    Consider climbers and mountaineers, or professional athletes, or such. they burn thousands of calories in a day, and it obviously goes okay.
    If you are burning a lot of calories, you just need to make sure you are properly fueling yourself. It becomes more important to get enough protein and such.

    If you were properly tracking your energy expenditure, then you don't want to eat back half of what you burn - you want to eat back as many as you need to, in combination with your dietary goals, create the deficit that you want. Meaning if you are using MFP's guidelines, and already have a 500-1000 calorie deficit, you should be eating everything back, to still get the planned net calories. But that is assuming you actually know how much you are burning.
    If you'd rather just use MFP's exercise numbers which are known to overestimate calorie burn, and then just eat a smaller amount that you figure is about what you actually burn, that works too.

    But if you are steadily burning lots of calories, it's entirely safe - just make sure you are getting in sufficient net calories with enough of the good stuff.
  • Kenan102
    Kenan102 Posts: 11
    I personally would think the sky's the limit. As long as you are healthy enough for the activities you're doing that result in such a high amount of calories burned and you eat back enough of them to mantain a healthy metabolism then sure why not. Not sure if you should do it everyday (that could really be hard on ones body), but a few times a week sure. I burn between 600-700 calories 3 times a week training for a 5K. If you were say training for a half marathon or full marathon one could easily burn in the 1000's.

    I'm training for my first ever running 5K. I've walked them before but now I have a gym buddy who wants to run so she is helping me get ready

    I generally burn 500-700 calories 4-5 days a week doing cardio. And I'm sure it's more with the weight training I do. It doesn't feel like too much. I feel fine and energetic.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Why doesn’t this app tell you how many calories you burn when you do any kind of strength training? I’ve been weight lifting 3x a week and I know I’m burning calories, but I can never really tell how many… what’s up with that?

    You can add strength training under cardio if you want to use MFP's cals burnt.
    Have a look in the FAQs (there is lots of good info there!) for a more detailed answer.
  • kairisika
    kairisika Posts: 131 Member
    Why doesn’t this app tell you how many calories you burn when you do any kind of strength training? I’ve been weight lifting 3x a week and I know I’m burning calories, but I can never really tell how many… what’s up with that?
    It doesn't include specific exercises, in part because it is very variable.
    You can include the time you did your strength training as a timed 'strength training' (or whatever it is) under the cardio exercises.
    Or, since a lot of the actual calorie loss comes over time after the strength training, you can just consider it a bonus.
  • MrGonzo05
    MrGonzo05 Posts: 1,120 Member
    I burned 3300 on Saturday. And all I got was this stupid post.
  • Kenan102
    Kenan102 Posts: 11
    Consider climbers and mountaineers, or professional athletes, or such. they burn thousands of calories in a day, and it obviously goes okay.
    If you are burning a lot of calories, you just need to make sure you are properly fueling yourself. It becomes more important to get enough protein and such.

    If you were properly tracking your energy expenditure, then you don't want to eat back half of what you burn - you want to eat back as many as you need to, in combination with your dietary goals, create the deficit that you want. Meaning if you are using MFP's guidelines, and already have a 500-1000 calorie deficit, you should be eating everything back, to still get the planned net calories. But that is assuming you actually know how much you are burning.
    If you'd rather just use MFP's exercise numbers which are known to overestimate calorie burn, and then just eat a smaller amount that you figure is about what you actually burn, that works too.

    But if you are steadily burning lots of calories, it's entirely safe - just make sure you are getting in sufficient net calories with enough of the good stuff.


    I've noticed that MFP overestimated calories burned. I use what the elliptical or treadmill tells me instead
  • Hezzietiger1
    Hezzietiger1 Posts: 1,256 Member
    How are you measuring your burned calories? If you are using MFP calculations you are probably burning far less. I suggest you invest in an HRM and get an accurate count. I am pretty fit and my workouts are pretty intense and I usually burn between 400-600.
  • Kenan102
    Kenan102 Posts: 11
    How are you measuring your burned calories? If you are using MFP calculations you are probably burning far less. I suggest you invest in an HRM and get an accurate count. I am pretty fit and my workouts are pretty intense and I usually burn between 400-600.

    I use what the machines at the gym tell me :)

    I'm looking into getting a HRM but it's gonna have to wait for now
  • calitravelingal
    calitravelingal Posts: 53
    I personally would think the sky's the limit. As long as you are healthy enough for the activities you're doing that result in such a high amount of calories burned and you eat back enough of them to mantain a healthy metabolism then sure why not. Not sure if you should do it everyday (that could really be hard on ones body), but a few times a week sure. I burn between 600-700 calories 3 times a week training for a 5K. If you were say training for a half marathon or full marathon one could easily burn in the 1000's.

    I'm training for my first ever running 5K. I've walked them before but now I have a gym buddy who wants to run so she is helping me get ready

    I generally burn 500-700 calories 4-5 days a week doing cardio. And I'm sure it's more with the weight training I do. It doesn't feel like too much. I feel fine and energetic.

    Good for you on training for your 5K. My 1st one is this weekend. On my non running days (that would be the other 2-3 day a week) I still burn between 400-500 doing the bike, hiking on the treadmill and doing weights. But my highest burn days are the days I run. Just be sure to eat back at least some of what you burn. If you don't have a specific 5K training plan, check out Couch to 5K. It's great, I used it and many other people on MFP use it, makes the whole thing a little less daunting!
  • Kenan102
    Kenan102 Posts: 11
    I personally would think the sky's the limit. As long as you are healthy enough for the activities you're doing that result in such a high amount of calories burned and you eat back enough of them to mantain a healthy metabolism then sure why not. Not sure if you should do it everyday (that could really be hard on ones body), but a few times a week sure. I burn between 600-700 calories 3 times a week training for a 5K. If you were say training for a half marathon or full marathon one could easily burn in the 1000's.

    I'm training for my first ever running 5K. I've walked them before but now I have a gym buddy who wants to run so she is helping me get ready

    I generally burn 500-700 calories 4-5 days a week doing cardio. And I'm sure it's more with the weight training I do. It doesn't feel like too much. I feel fine and energetic.

    Good for you on training for your 5K. My 1st one is this weekend. On my non running days (that would be the other 2-3 day a week) I still burn between 400-500 doing the bike, hiking on the treadmill and doing weights. But my highest burn days are the days I run. Just be sure to eat back at least some of what you burn. If you don't have a specific 5K training plan, check out Couch to 5K. It's great, I used it and many other people on MFP use it, makes the whole thing a little less daunting!


    I don't have a specific "training plan", just running and cardio and stuff. My gym buddy helps keep me on track and we both push each other
  • sevsmom
    sevsmom Posts: 1,172 Member
    I burn over 1,000 calories on my 10+ mile runs. You can't burn those kinds of calories without fueling the body. Some people will exercise to that level while maintaining very minimal food intake. That's NOT healthy. But if you're fitness level will let you exercise to the point of burning off 1,00 + calories. . .Yay! Stay hydrated and fed. You'll be golden.
  • danaweston
    danaweston Posts: 82
    I burned 3300 on Saturday. And all I got was this stupid post.

    that's hilarious:laugh:

    keep at it that burn rocks!!!
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    So I can keep burning a lot, as long as I am eating to keep up?
    Yes, but what you need to watch out for is injury and burnout. It's not the calories burned that will be a problem, it's the inflammation and/or tears in your joints/ligaments/muscles that can result from ramping up your training too fast. People who go from sedentary to lots and lots of exercise in a matter of weeks often end up with plantar fasciitis, iliobtibial band tightness or tears, knee pain, achilles tendonitis or rupture, calf strain, hip pain, etc. etc. etc.

    You say you are training for your first 5K, which is awesome. You will just want to increase your mileage slowly. This can take some self-control. Your cardiovascular system and energy level and motivation, for example, might enable you to double your mileage within the month, and you might feel okay for a while, but you'd be at high risk for injury. Instead you'll want to add on the mileage slowly, in a controlled way, even if you feel like you can/should be able to handle much more. The same would be true for any other form of exercise that you're doing.

    Good luck, and congrats on your excellent progress!!
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    Just burn all of them!
  • Kenan102
    Kenan102 Posts: 11
    So I can keep burning a lot, as long as I am eating to keep up?
    Yes, but what you need to watch out for is injury and burnout. It's not the calories burned that will be a problem, it's the inflammation and/or tears in your joints/ligaments/muscles that can result from ramping up your training too fast. People who go from sedentary to lots and lots of exercise in a matter of weeks often end up with plantar fasciitis, iliobtibial band tightness or tears, knee pain, achilles tendonitis or rupture, calf strain, hip pain, etc. etc. etc.

    You say you are training for your first 5K, which is awesome. You will just want to increase your mileage slowly. This can take some self-control. Your cardiovascular system and energy level and motivation, for example, might enable you to double your mileage within the month, and you might feel okay for a while, but you'd be at high risk for injury. Instead you'll want to add on the mileage slowly, in a controlled way, even if you feel like you can/should be able to handle much more. The same would be true for any other form of exercise that you're doing.

    Good luck, and congrats on your excellent progress!!

    Thanks for all the advice!

    I still cannot run for anything. I can do an hour non-stop on the elliptical, burn 700 cals and everything. But when I get on a treadmill, I last maybe 3-4 minutes

    I just cannot run on the treadmill. I don't even know if I am going to be able to run the entire thing
  • kairisika
    kairisika Posts: 131 Member
    Thanks for all the advice!
    I still cannot run for anything. I can do an hour non-stop on the elliptical, burn 700 cals and everything. But when I get on a treadmill, I last maybe 3-4 minutes
    I just cannot run on the treadmill. I don't even know if I am going to be able to run the entire thing
    I like running. But I find treadmills horrific. Can't do it. (Also not realistic when your race will not be on a treadmill.)
    Try running somewhere more inspiring? Have a city park?
    Doing a 'run 3 minutes, walk 1' cycled 5km is still a great accomplishment.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Another question you can ask is: how many calories from fat can you potentially burn in a day?

    A woman around average range body fat percentage can lose 2 lbs per month of true fat. The higher the body fat percentage, the more true fat she can burn - up to about 7 lbs per month if she has is the size of The Biggest Loser contestants. If she is leaner than average, then she can expect about 1 to 1.5 lbs per month.

    A man, due to his higher lean body mass, can lose 4 lbs per month of true fat if he is around average range body fat. The maximum is 8 lbs per month if he needs to lose substantially over 150 lbs of fat. If he is leaner than average, then he can expect closer to 2 to 3 lbs of true fat loss.

    To calculate, there is a formula: 31 x lbs of body fat = maximum amount of true fat that can be oxidized in 24 hours

    Example: 160 lb Woman with 30% bf has 48 lbs of body fat
    48 x 31 = 1488 max calories from fat oxidation

    Keep in mind, this is not a goal to reach, its just when you can no longer oxidize fat and start utilizing other energy sources such as muscle. Realistically, most people will not even come close to that estimate because it will create too large of a sustainable deficit.

    Here is the study on it:

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15615615
  • dustygn
    dustygn Posts: 28 Member
    Thanks for all the advice!

    I still cannot run for anything. I can do an hour non-stop on the elliptical, burn 700 cals and everything. But when I get on a treadmill, I last maybe 3-4 minutes

    I just cannot run on the treadmill. I don't even know if I am going to be able to run the entire thing

    Running and cycling uses different muscles. I trained for a half marathon, finished it without walking, but then i jump on a bike a week or so later and still find cycling 3 km at a decent speed a challenge. While cross training is great, it would be best to spend most your training running. It's likely you are trying to go too fast on the treadmill. Try slowing it down and getting the distance sorted, then you can worry about speed.
  • Kenan102
    Kenan102 Posts: 11
    Thanks for all the advice!

    I still cannot run for anything. I can do an hour non-stop on the elliptical, burn 700 cals and everything. But when I get on a treadmill, I last maybe 3-4 minutes

    I just cannot run on the treadmill. I don't even know if I am going to be able to run the entire thing

    Running and cycling uses different muscles. I trained for a half marathon, finished it without walking, but then i jump on a bike a week or so later and still find cycling 3 km at a decent speed a challenge. While cross training is great, it would be best to spend most your training running. It's likely you are trying to go too fast on the treadmill. Try slowing it down and getting the distance sorted, then you can worry about speed.

    The treadmill is terribly disorienting for me. I run a lot better when I get to run outside but as a single mom of a young child, I rarely get the chance to run alone.
  • Martina_Who
    Martina_Who Posts: 172 Member
    Skys the limit as long as you are healthy and eat a god chunk of your exercise calories back on average!
  • DylanJM1985
    DylanJM1985 Posts: 3
    Honestly it depends on your goal... if you are trying to gain muscle then yes, burning almost 1000 calories a day would be too much. If your first step before gaining muscle is to lose body fat, then it no if you’re doing it right! It’s ok to burn a lot of calories but also depends on your daily calorie count your setting for yourself. It’s important to eat enough calories based on your calorie burned count (that is healthy). I burn over 1000 calories some days, and because I’m pregnant, I’m already eating 300-400 plus calories extra a day. If I’m burning more calories than I eat, that’s not good. I make sure I stay at 1500 calories a day after burning calories so I know I’m getting enough food and nutrition in my diet for my baby and me. Same goes for you, stick to your calorie count but don’t push it and burn more than you eat, and the goal you set each day. If you do it the wrong way and burn more than you eat your body will eventually weaken and break down and will have a harder time gaining strength then getting the results you’re looking for long term. Basically what will happen if you burn more than your healthy calorie count per/day you will not only be burning body fat, you will be burning your body lean mass (muscle). That being said will then only slow your metabolism more, and will more likely be gaining fat back when you eat than gaining muscle while maintaining to try to burn your body fat. The faster you lose weight the faster gained back. So do it the right the first time around. “Progress is key, no matter how slow”-Plato. Don’t learn the hard way like I did. Stick to your goals, keep a good diet (70%) of your success and stay passionate about your fitness results. Good luck! -Dylan

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