need advice on calories

Armani0434
Armani0434 Posts: 50 Member
in Food and Nutrition
MFP's suggested calories is less than other online tools would suggest. Which is fine but I am finding that I am losing a lot less when I am eating healthier and working out more.

Are my calories too low? Should I be eating back my work out calories?

Replies

  • nguk123
    nguk123 Posts: 223
    We hardly have the facts on which to decide.

    I hope you are considering that MFP is taking into account the goals you gave it. how fast did you ask it to help you drop weight?
  • julesan902
    julesan902 Posts: 79 Member
    You could also be gaining muscle which you'll see before losing the weight.
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    MFP is set up so that you eat back those exercise calories. Even with that said I feel that they are too low. I use Fat2FitRadio.com military calculator (follow the instructions from there) Then I use the sedentary number and eat back my exercise calories. That is a calorie goal I can live with.
  • Armani0434
    Armani0434 Posts: 50 Member
    I set it to lose 2.5 lbs a week

    It gave me -1000 calorie deficit to lose the weight. So i am assuming that if i burn 800 calories than i am at 1800 deficit and that's too much.

    I think I am going to try eating my calories back and see how that goes.

    I was previously following bob harpers "skinny rules" which is great and I was losing really well. But now that I am counting the calories it doesn't seem to be working as well.
  • Armani0434
    Armani0434 Posts: 50 Member
    MFP is set up so that you eat back those exercise calories. Even with that said I feel that they are too low. I use Fat2FitRadio.com military calculator (follow the instructions from there) Then I use the sedentary number and eat back my exercise calories. That is a calorie goal I can live with.


    This site is recommending the basically the same amount of calories as MFP

    .I guess it comes down to whether to eat my exercise calories back or not?
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    MFP is set up so that you eat back those exercise calories. Even with that said I feel that they are too low. I use Fat2FitRadio.com military calculator (follow the instructions from there) Then I use the sedentary number and eat back my exercise calories. That is a calorie goal I can live with.


    This site is recommending the basically the same amount of calories as MFP

    .I guess it comes down to whether to eat my exercise calories back or not?

    And you will need to eat back those exercise calories. You need to think of your body as a machine. When it is fueled properly it will run efficiently and burn the fat. If you are not going to eat back your exercise calories then raise your goal accordingly.
  • nguk123
    nguk123 Posts: 223
    Either eat 90-100% of them back, or dont bother exercising.
  • Armani0434
    Armani0434 Posts: 50 Member
    Thanks for the advice

    I am going to start eating them back and see how it goes.
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    And are you certain the numbers are the same??? Fat2Fitradio gives me 500 more calories.
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    Either eat 90-100% of them back, or dont bother exercising.

    Yes!!! They've got to be eaten back or you will be depriving yourself. But exercise!!!
  • Armani0434
    Armani0434 Posts: 50 Member
    And are you certain the numbers are the same??? Fat2Fitradio gives me 500 more calories.

    Ya, it was within 100 calories
  • Armani0434
    Armani0434 Posts: 50 Member
    I think maybe the problem as well is the setting i have for my profile.

    I do have a desk job so i'm basically sitting for 8 hrs. I do try and get up and stretch but pretty limited. However I do work out daily. Either doing cardio, weights or both.

    Which setting should i be using?

    Sedentary, (little or no exercise, desk job) OR Moderately Active, (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/wk)
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    Are you looking at the same fitness levels?
  • Armani0434
    Armani0434 Posts: 50 Member
    Are you looking at the same fitness levels?

    Yes..

    Mfp is giving me roughly 1900 for sedentary and fat2fit is giving me 1810 based on sedentary level

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