calculating correct amount of calories

noworkkaren
noworkkaren Posts: 2 Member
edited February 10 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm new to this and am a little confused by how many calories I should eat. When I initially entered my weight loss goal, weight, height etc., the program calculated that I should eat 1200 calories to lose two pounds a week. Then when I entered my calories burned from exercise, it said I could eat that many more calories. That meant I could eat 1700 calories. I'm not sure if that's just to maintain my weight or will I lose weight, even if I increase my calorie allotment by the number of calories burned?

Replies

  • kiwitechgirl
    kiwitechgirl Posts: 145 Member
    The 1200 MFP tells you to eat is net calories: food eaten - exercise calories burned = net calories. So you should be eating your exercise calories back - although you may want to start out not eating them all back depending on how you are calculating them; MFP often overestimates, and a heart rate monitor (for cardio exercise) will be a lot more accurate. I have a HRM, eat my exercise calories back and am losing steadily.

    By the way, you're going to get a lot of people telling you that 1200 is very low and that a pound a week loss is more sustainable, depending on your stats. I'm short and don't have a lot left to lose and I'm still eating more than 1200.
  • snowmaniac
    snowmaniac Posts: 600 Member
    It does that because you should eat back your exercise calories. If it is recommending 1200 per day, that is net calories. Your net calories are total calories consumed minus calories burned through exercise. You will still lose weight eating your exercise calories because your net will still be at the recommended daily amount to lose weight.

    Also, the previous responder is correct in that if your weight loss goals are overly aggressive you may struggle more than if you take a moderate approach. It depends upon your age, height, weight and estimated TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure).
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    MFP is designed for you to eat your exercise calories back.
    If you selected a weekly weight loss goal of 2lbs per week, you need a daily deficit of 1000 calories to make that happen. Your calorie goal of 1200 already includes that deficit. By exercising, you burn more calories and create an even larger deficit. If you're not sure that your calorie burns are accurate, you may only want to eat half of them.

    However, your profile shows that you only have 18lbs to lose. If that's the case, 2 lbs a week is likely too aggressive for you. It's much more realistic to aim for 1lb a week or less. :smile:
  • noworkkaren
    noworkkaren Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks everyone, for responding. It's very helpful. I'll think about the 1 vs. 2 pound loss goal...this is day 2 and I'm enthusiastic, but I'm guessing in a week or so the micromanaging of food intake might start to annoy me.

    Thanks again.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Thanks everyone, for responding. It's very helpful. I'll think about the 1 vs. 2 pound loss goal...this is day 2 and I'm enthusiastic, but I'm guessing in a week or so the micromanaging of food intake might start to annoy me.

    Thanks again.
    Karen, your ticker shows you have 19 pounds to lose, which is not that much. I suggest you set your goals to lose a half pound a week. This way the weight loss will be slow.

    Yes, eat a portion of your exercise calories back to properly fuel your body for exercise.
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