MFP Confusion

Honestly, the best way to get a calories-burned count is to invest in a heart rate monitor. I used to to TF and I NEVER burned 650 cals in a session. Also, MFP builds a 500 calorie deficit into the calories that they "give" you, so yes, eat back your exercise calories.

Do you have your calorie goal set at 1300 or is that what MFP sets for you? IF it's what MFP sets for you try to NET that as often as possible..go over on purpose from time to time for sanity sake (birthdays, nights with family or friends, etc). IF it's not what MFP set for you and you dropped it for whatever reason, you should let MFP calculate for you. Also, investing in a heart rate monitor will help you calculate closer...it's still an estimation, but the 300 calorie difference that you talk about in your post is a lot of calories for just a guess.

Agree for the most part that eating enough is very important. I eat a decent amount of food every day. It has been my experience that MFP over-estimates calorie burn on exercise, so be careful with that. It's a problem for people who exercise MORE and eat back their exercise calories than it is for people who exercise very little. MFP routinely calculates my calorie burn through exercise as over 1000 calories on a day. I've had to adjust that down by half to be closer to accurate. For example, MFP estimates dancing, elliptical and biking at twice my real burn. Strength training is only about 20% more than I really burn.

Put it this way, I gained 6 pounds before I changed my approach (eating TDEE instead now and not counting back any exercise calories...really shocked to discover I've been averaging 300 calories too much, oops). I'm okay with the weight gain as I found the knowledge beneficial in the end, but MFP says I should weigh 10 pounds less. So now to get back to maintenance, I'm reducing my calories from a whole lot to just a lot.

I adjusted my calories up from what MFP gave me. They gave me 1240/day. I really do need a monitor I guess to be more accurate with my exercise. If they already have the 500 calorie deficit for weight loss built in then I will eat back my workout calories. I am unsure why this has been so confusing for me!

First - MFP expects you to eat your exercise calories back. That's why their #s are different from other websites that calculate TDEEs.

Second - did you pick sedentary activity level and a 2lb/week loss? Change it to 1lb and pick the correct activity level if you did.

If you want, check out this link by MFPer Heliotsdan - It'll give you a detailed walkthrough (with pictures even) on finding your TDEE and calculating what you should be eating.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Or for a different version to figure out your TDEE, as well as some great advice...check out:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833500-what-do-i-do-common-sense-cliff-notes
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/844040-raspberry-ketones-for-the-rest-of-us


Also, if you are worried about the calorie intake, I also suggest you read this thread that has numerous people who met their goals and are maintaining. Some for years and they also provide their calorie intake and how often they work out.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/816542-let-s-hear-it-for-maintainenance


For more information about fitness and nutrition, I highly suggest checking out and joining this group: (Read all the stickies. It's great information to know.)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress


Here are some other links that might interest you :
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/81391-starvation-mode-myths-and-science
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/859495-if-only-i-had-known?page=1#posts-12919931


Yes, this is can all be overwhelming and complicated , but you are more than welcome to ask questions on the post.
One of the things that I have found that has been one of the best methods for me to get fit is to understand fitness. To understand where all these figures, etc come from.

The good thing is once you get the hang of it - it is something you'll be aware of constantly and you'll get a better understanding about your eating habits.

So I HIGHLY suggest making the effort to take every chance to educate yourself. Even if you don't end up going with any of these methods, calculations, etc - at least you understand what they are, where others are coming from, and maybe they will still be able to help you figure out what is best for you.

I adjusted my calories up from what MFP gave me. They gave me 1240/day. I really do need a monitor I guess to be more accurate with my exercise. If they already have the 500 calorie deficit for weight loss built in then I will eat back my workout calories. I am unsure why this has been so confusing for me!

First - MFP expects you to eat your exercise calories back. That's why their #s are different from other websites that calculate TDEEs.

Second - did you pick sedentary activity level and a 2lb/week loss? Change it to 1lb and pick the correct activity level if you did.

If you want, check out this link by MFPer Heliotsdan - It'll give you a detailed walkthrough (with pictures even) on finding your TDEE and calculating what you should be eating.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Or for a different version to figure out your TDEE, as well as some great advice...check out:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833500-what-do-i-do-common-sense-cliff-notes
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/844040-raspberry-ketones-for-the-rest-of-us


Also, if you are worried about the calorie intake, I also suggest you read this thread that has numerous people who met their goals and are maintaining. Some for years and they also provide their calorie intake and how often they work out.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/816542-let-s-hear-it-for-maintainenance


For more information about fitness and nutrition, I highly suggest checking out and joining this group: (Read all the stickies. It's great information to know.)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress


Here are some other links that might interest you :
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/81391-starvation-mode-myths-and-science
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/859495-if-only-i-had-known?page=1#posts-12919931


Yes, this is can all be overwhelming and complicated , but you are more than welcome to ask questions on the post.
One of the things that I have found that has been one of the best methods for me to get fit is to understand fitness. To understand where all these figures, etc come from.

The good thing is once you get the hang of it - it is something you'll be aware of constantly and you'll get a better understanding about your eating habits.

So I HIGHLY suggest making the effort to take every chance to educate yourself. Even if you don't end up going with any of these methods, calculations, etc - at least you understand what they are, where others are coming from, and maybe they will still be able to help you figure out what is best for you.

bump