Exercise/food allowance question

meonlybetterDUH
meonlybetterDUH Posts: 25 Member
in Getting Started
Hello all! I have what is probably a DUH question but since I'm confused here goes!
After I log my food for the day and then log my exercise, the exercise allows for more calories.
Why is this? I'm sticking to 1200 calories per day. Why add more calories after considering the exercise?
Why not just go with 1200 calories and don't count the extra calories due to the exercise?
I'm just not getting it!!! I hope this makes sense! TIA!!!

Replies

  • ranranbolly
    ranranbolly Posts: 7 Member
    Because you burn when you exercise. That 1200 number is the general amount you would burn just in your daily activity without exercise added in. Avoiding the 1200 vs 2200 or whatever debate, when you burn too much without replacing it, your body suffers and you lose less fat + more muscle in the process.
  • sargessexyone
    sargessexyone Posts: 494 Member
    Because your body needs fuel from the exercise. MFP gives you a calorie allowance with a deficit already in place.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Hi there. You're going to find that this is a really commonly asked question on the boards. There are a lot of different explanations written out and some of them are pinned in the topics at the top of each board (you should read through the pinned topics if you haven't already). I like this explanation best: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • Technolero
    Technolero Posts: 90
    The explanation at the link above does a very good job at putting it in easy to understand terms.
  • meonlybetterDUH
    meonlybetterDUH Posts: 25 Member
    Thank you guys very much! I'm going to run with what the one person said.... if I've worked my hiney off, I will eat back calories. If I've had more of a putzy day, I won't. That should keep it simple enough for me! Have a fabulous day!!!

Categories