Confused

My calorie goal is 1,350, food intake 882, exercise -432. believe me I have eaten quite a lot today and yet it says 900 remaining, where am I going wrong?

Replies

  • jenmom2myboys
    jenmom2myboys Posts: 311 Member
    maybe open your food diary
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    882 - 432 = 450

    1,350 - 450 = 900
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    because you are supposed to net 1350 a day, assuming you are using MFP method which it sounds like..

    so in your example…your goal is 1350, you exercised and burned 892 calories, you then need to eat 2212 - 892 burned = 1350 ..

    one caveat - what are you using to measure calorie burns? If it is MFP or exercise machine they are usually way off, so you should only eat back half of your calories…..so you would eat 1750 - 400 (half of exercise cals) = 1350 ….
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    MFP builds in a particular deficit based on the information you entered and your desired weight loss goal. When you log exercise, MFP assumes that you didn't account for that in your activity level, and since burning more calories increases your deficit, you essentially "earn" more calories.

    In other words, if your goal without extra activity is 1350, you have a 1lb/week deficit (500 calories), and you burn 400 calories exercise, your total energy expenditure for the day is 1350 + 500 + 400 or 2250. To keep that 500 calorie deficit with the exercise, you need 1750 (1350 + 400), otherwise, you'd have a 900 calorie deficit (500 + 400), which is too much for your goal.
  • eallen65
    eallen65 Posts: 19
    Im a newbie to this, thanks. Hopefully I will get it.
  • Train4Foodz
    Train4Foodz Posts: 4,298 Member
    MFP builds in a particular deficit based on the information you entered and your desired weight loss goal. When you log exercise, MFP assumes that you didn't account for that in your activity level, and since burning more calories increases your deficit, you essentially "earn" more calories.

    In other words, if your goal without extra activity is 1350, you have a 1lb/week deficit (500 calories), and you burn 400 calories exercise, your total energy expenditure for the day is 1350 + 500 + 400 or 2250. To keep that 500 calorie deficit with the exercise, you need 1750 (1350 + 400), otherwise, you'd have a 900 calorie deficit (500 + 400), which is too much for your goal.
    ^^ What he said :)
  • eallen65
    eallen65 Posts: 19
    So that means I wont lose weight as quick? Sorry for stupid questions.
  • elliej
    elliej Posts: 466 Member
    You don't want to lose weight quickly, its not healthy or sustainable. You will eat through your muscle mass and slow your metabolism. Is your goal to be health? If yes then slow and steady wins the race.

    Eat your 1350 on sedentary days and eat back your exercise calories on workout days.
  • asciiqwerty
    asciiqwerty Posts: 565 Member
    if using mfp method it is important for your health and long term progress that you NET your calorie goal:

    eat your calorie goal and eat back your calories burned through exercise and you will have consumed the net number of calories required for your planned weight loss

    eating less can be unhealthy

    BUT all this is a moot point is you are underestimating what you eat (very common) by not tracking properly, or overestimating what you burn (by reliing on incorect estimations from gym equipment)

    so to start with log everything and eat your net calories - do this for 3-4 weeks and see how you're getting on
    then make adjustments as necessary to account for excersive overestimation for example some people only eat back 50-70% of their excercise calories on top of their basic calories
  • eallen65
    eallen65 Posts: 19
    Thank you, I definitely do not want to eat through muscle, only just getting back muscle tone through pt after neck surgery.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    You have 45 pounds to lose. Set MFP to lose 1 pound per week, not two.

    Now, how many calories does it give you to eat?

    Eat that number + eat half of the exercise calories you log.

    The number MFP gives you to eat DOES NOT INCLUDE EXERCISE, this is why it gives you more to eat when you exercise. This is so you would lose weight if you could do no exercise. As someone else noted, the number of calories it gives you for exercise are typically inflated, so that is why people say only eat half of those.
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    So that means I wont lose weight as quick? Sorry for stupid questions.

    You can lose weight as quickly as your body will let you. Is it sustainable? No. Is it the healthy way to do it? No. With only 45 pounds left to lose, you should aim for around 1 pound a week. Eat back about 1/2 of your exercise calories. If you are really hungry, eat a few more.
  • eallen65
    eallen65 Posts: 19
    It's making more sense to me now,, thank you everyone for your input, truly appreciated.