calorie deficit.

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what does this mean?

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  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
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    It means eating less than the calorie amount it takes for you to maintain your weight. Any number below that, that will result in weight loss. So, for example, I maintain around 2150, if I eat at 1900 I'm eating at a deficit.
  • JaxNole82
    JaxNole82 Posts: 21
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    It means eating less than the calorie amount it takes for you to maintain your weight. Any number below that, that will result in weight loss. So, for example, I maintain around 2150, if I eat at 1900 I'm eating at a deficit.

    It basically means you burn more than you eat. A pound is 3500 cals so if you are at a 500 cal deficit per day techincally you should lose an lb a week.
  • stormyxpony
    stormyxpony Posts: 157 Member
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    so i'm at 1590 and I eat 1200 to 1300 a day i'm eating a calorie deficit.? Is that good or bad?
  • AlanByam
    AlanByam Posts: 36
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    I agree with the below. Guess I needed more info.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
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    so i'm at 1590 and I eat 1200 to 1300 a day i'm eating a calorie deficit.? Is that good or bad?
    if mfp is giving you 1590, the deficit is already built in. no sense in eating 1200-1300 a day.
  • Morgaath
    Morgaath Posts: 679 Member
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    so i'm at 1590 and I eat 1200 to 1300 a day i'm eating a calorie deficit.? Is that good or bad?

    No, it is bad. Your daily goal is 1590....you want to get close to that number. It already has the deficit built into it.
    By eating 1200-1300 that means you are increasing the size of your deficit.
    So, if you picked that you want to lose 1lb/week, MFP calulates how many cals you burn each day (2090), minuses 500 from that, and sets that as your goal (1590).
    If you then only eat 1200-1300 cals, you are now having a 890-790 daily deficit.... which might be fine...if you are trying to lose 25-50lbs...but when you are in that last 10lb range...no, as it mans when you get to your goal weight you will have no clue as to how to eat and stay there, so you will continue t yoyo your weight, coming back every 6-9 months complaining you got fat again.
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
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    so i'm at 1590 and I eat 1200 to 1300 a day i'm eating a calorie deficit.? Is that good or bad?
    if mfp is giving you 1590, the deficit is already built in. no sense in eating 1200-1300 a day.

    ^My thoughts exactly. When you input your info into mfp, you already calculate in your daily activity (aside from exercise), so it gives you a deficit calorie amount. If you exercise, this gives you more calories to eat back, so you don't create too aggressive of a calorie deficit, which would be counterproductive. When I was in weight loss, I typically ate around 1700 net.
  • stormyxpony
    stormyxpony Posts: 157 Member
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    makes sense. I'm trying to get down to 170 lbs for now. Then 155. I'm at 185 lbs right now.