Simple calories question

Hello there. Let me start by saying that I am not a diet/fitness expert, just someone who has had a lot of trial and error with weightloss.

I learned early on that it is very difficult to track calories burned. I've invested in a heart rate monitor and that allows me to track my calories burned when I do various activities. If you are able to I would recommend purchasing one. I've gotten both of mine from academy for about $60.

As for burning calories to lose weight, no you are not suppose to burn more than your allowed 1840 to lose. When you joined it probably asked what your goals were: lose 2 pounds per week, maintain, gain 2 pounds per week, etc. Say you said lose 2 pounds per week, then eating up to 1840 a day with minimal exercise would (in theory) lead to that goal. So, with you burning extra calories every day that is helping you lose more weight faster.

For me, I'm allowed around 1550 per day. I typically eat between 1350-1450 calories with about 500 calories burned per day. I'm trying to bump up my calories since I'm coming close to a maintaining weight. For you I would say that eating up to your max is fine since you are burning a lot of calories per day.

As a general rule, just remember to always eat at least 1200 calories a day, and workout for at least 30 minutes three times a week. Again, I'm only voicing what I know works for me and am no expert lol! Anyways, good luck and I hope you found some of this helpful.

Um....no. Eating 1450 less 500 in exercise = 950 calories you body has to work with. Heart, lungs, kidneys, etc. all burn calories throughout the day. The number for basic bodily function is called BMR (basal metabolic rate).

"As a general rule, just remember to always eat at least 1200 calories a day" ..........no. You should NET 1200. This means 1200+500.....or eat 1700 per day.

The purpose of eating at least your BMR (many women have BMRs > 1200)....is so your weight loss is mostly fat. Really large calorie deficits don't support lean muscle.

A heart rate monitor will give you a pretty good estimate for steady state cardio.....not true for "other activities"

Am I suppose to burn more than 1840 to lose weight?
(snip)
TL;DR - I just want to know if you have to exercise and lose more calories than you eat to lose weight.

This may help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

(basically - What mfp set you is what you should be *Netting* and if you ate this without doing any exercise (as your body uses energy to maintain itself) you will lose weight you don't need to burn 1840 via exercise to lose weight)

Haha sorry, even I still have learning to do. I apologize for any wrong information. I've tried looking into BMR and basic caloric needs before and I guess I still don't get it.

BMR = calories your body needs for basic function. Your heart, lungs, kidneys, etc. use calories 24/7.

Activity level is added to BMR....this isn't exercise, it's your basic daily activity. If your job is retail you are generally more active than someone who sits at a desk all day. This piece is hard to pin down.

Exercise - this can be many things. But basically it should be something that is above your normal routine, it's not doing laundry, or shopping. But if you walking your dog (briskly) that can definitely be counted. Exercise is for fitness....exercise should challenge you. Calorie burns are estimates.

TDEE (total daily expenditure) = the total of everything. This is what it takes to maintain your current weight. Find this number.....it will vary between sites.....then you reduce this number to lose weight.

Now, reducing from your TDEE should vary depending upon how much weight you have to lose. Morbidly obese people can take as much as 30% from TDEE.....but those close to goal want to take a smaller cut .....even 5%.

This is how people come up with really low MFP numbers....they put in the highest weekly goal possible....and MFP defaults to 1200 for women. We all want to lose weight quickly, but when weight loss is too quick (for our current size) we are much more likely to lose muscle mass. Losing weight should lower one's body fat percentage. Your BMR is the "warning track" so to speak. If MFP gives you a number lower than your BMR.....your weekly goal is too high.