Exercise Calories

YorriaRaine
YorriaRaine Posts: 370 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I know fitness calculators tend to overestimate the number of calories you burn. I was wondering if maybe there was a certain percentage I should take off the calories it estimates for me so I don't go over my deficit for the day? To be safe.

Replies

  • piratebear1
    piratebear1 Posts: 88 Member
    After a few weeks of trial and error I actually think my calculators underestimate my calories burnt - as I should only lose 1lb yet always lose 2 or 3 - I can only work this out to be I burn slightly more.

    I use Map my walk to calculate my walking calories - and I do 10 min stints of 'walking on the spot' at work - desk job :-(. I always log exactly the walking calories burnt - but underestimate the walking on the spot.

    For things like swimming i tend to go for the lowest estimates to make sure I dont over calculate. I dont log any thing extra I do such as house work - cleaning out the animals etc.

    I then decide whether to eat all my exercise cal's back - some - or carry them over for a bad day. I have more time on weekends so after weighing in on a Saturday morning I can easily busy myself and be 'in the green' by 1000 on that day - and 500 on a Sunday - meaning the days Im at work or hungry during the week I can have some of those extra calories for a treat.

    You might want to be cautious the first few weeks until you get a feel for what works for you.

    Good luck :-) - always happy to have new MFP friends if you want to add me
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Everybody's different, and weight loss takes a whole lot of trial & error to find what works for you. The calorie counts & burns are estimates, so some people compensate by eating back half their exercise calories.

    Try it, then reevaluate in two weeks.

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • toad493lbs
    toad493lbs Posts: 39 Member
    Do not eat back your calories and you would be okay. I never have believed in EATING back what I am trying to get rid of. I just attended a 2 week weight loss program with several registered dietitians and doctors and they all agree. Now they have me on 1200 for two weeks then up to 1500. It is a BALANCED diet with NO powders or other gimmick. Just real food cooked properly and in correct proportions.
    Also was doing 10,000 steps plus a day. Plus 2 hours of cardio and strength training a day while there also.
  • silmarilliane
    silmarilliane Posts: 133 Member
    after a few workouts with a HRM i checked against the estimated calories burned on mfp. for the time i was 'in the calorie burning zone' according to my HRM (HR between 124 - 163 for me) the mfp calories were accurate enough. e.g. i did a half hour workout but was only 'in the zone' for 20 minutes of that, if i put 20 mins into mfp the calories were pretty much the same as my HRM.

    it is advised by most people on here to eat back exercise cals, so if you want to add them and want them more accurate i would add the exercise, taking off time warming up and cooling down.

    good luck :)
  • emerald73
    emerald73 Posts: 6 Member
    Hello Toad,

    Would love to know what the meals were for 800 cals a day. After Slimming World in my life for so long, I have lost my calorie knowledge....

    Sounds like you are doing just great!
  • SailorKnightWing
    SailorKnightWing Posts: 875 Member
    Most people can comfortably start by eating back half of their estimated burn. If you're not losing while doing this, eat fewer back. If you're still losing at a good pace but getting hungry, eat more back.

    The math is sound, but there are too many unknowable variables to get a 100% accurate number. :ohwell:

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