Confused on Calories?

Traceval
Traceval Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
So I'm a newbie!

Here is my story... I started a 12 week program without counting calories (I NEVER HAVE) I pretty much eat healthy except on weekends. I'm trying to lose about 8 to 10 lbs. I weight train 4 days a wk and cardio 5 to 6 days. I hate the scale because it can't determine fat from muscle so I try not to torture myself. I thought I would weigh in at my 10 week mark of my program, so I did. READY FOR THIS????? I gained 10 lbs!!! Seriously!?!? I completely freaked out! I got on the scale like 5 times just to make sure I wasn't seeing what I was seeing. Now, I know I gained muscle and feel a lot tighter but 10 lbs, ummmm yeah no! I heard about this app and have been tracking my calories (SO MUCH HARDER THAN I THOUGHT) I guess I was eating WAY more than I was burning. GRRRRRR...

Here is my question? When you burn calories do you add them back to your plan and then you can eat them again? Kinda makes sense, but kinda confuses me. I'm doing a 1,200 calorie diet (for now) so if I burn 600 that day, I can add them back on? I'm still learning how this all works.

Any advice is appreciated! =)

Tracey

Replies

  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    PM me any Qs
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    I eat them back. If I don't, I have low energy and don't put 100% into my workouts. I also want to make sure my metabolism is running at an optimal level for weight loss.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Here is my question? When you burn calories do you add them back to your plan and then you can eat them again? Kinda makes sense, but kinda confuses me. I'm doing a 1,200 calorie diet (for now) so if I burn 600 that day, I can add them back on? I'm still learning how this all works.

    It depends. When you calculate your daily calorie goal, if you factor exercise into that calculation then no, you don't need to eat back exercise cals. This is how most TDEE calculators work. If you don't factor exercise into your daily calorie goal, then yes you should eat them back. This is how most people use MFP and how most BMR calculators work.
  • Traceval
    Traceval Posts: 8
    I never factor them in, so I've been eating them back. I just want to make sure that I'm doing it right this time. I don't think i could survive with working out and only eating 1,200 calories!

    THANK YOU!!!

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