Lil' confused wit exercise & calories in/out

bluepanda512
bluepanda512 Posts: 64 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi All,

I have reading the MFP posts and Iam grateful to the people here for their immense knowledge sharing.

However, I have a quick concern that's bothering me from sometime.

I understand that for weight loss to happen 'calories in has to be less than calories out'(resulting deficit).
And exercise is only for fitness/endurance/strength.

Now, say suppose on any day, I eat more number of calories than Iam required to (not creating any deficit) and then I workout badly to burn enough calories(..creating a deficit now).

Then, exercise is helping me with my loss goals? Its not only for fitness but for weight loss too right?

Please correct me if Iam wrong...Iam feeling lost with my understanding. :explode:

Thanks you..:smile:

-Suz

Replies

  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    You are sort of correct.

    I think the point of people saying that is to make clear that exercise isn't necessary for weight loss...only the calorie deficit is necessary. However, there's also two different methods of setting your goal, and that saying is only correct for one of them.

    With MFP's method, you have a goal based on your standard activity level not including exercise, and then exercise is extra...so you log your workouts and eat back those calories. With this method, your assumption is right. You can make up for overeating by going out for a run or whatever.

    The other method is the TDEE method. With TDEE, your daily calorie burn already takes into account your average amount of exercise per week, so you don't log your exercise and eat those calories. Your goal is a bit higher to begin with, though, because it is including what it expects to be your exercise calories.

    Does that make sense?
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Hi All,

    I have reading the MFP posts and Iam grateful to the people here for their immense knowledge sharing.

    However, I have a quick concern that's bothering me from sometime.

    I understand that for weight loss to happen 'calories in has to be less than calories out'(resulting deficit).
    And exercise is only for fitness/endurance/strength.

    Now, say suppose on any day, I eat more number of calories than Iam required to (not creating any deficit) and then I workout badly to burn enough calories(..creating a deficit now).

    Then, exercise is helping me with my loss goals? Its not only for fitness but for weight loss too right?

    Please correct me if Iam wrong...Iam feeling lost with my understanding. :explode:

    Thanks you..:smile:

    -Suz

    Suz - yes, working out can help create the day's caloric deficit.

    Calories eaten - calories burned in your workout = net calories

    As long as your net calories don't exceed your daily caloric goal (and you have your goal set to whatever weight loss target), then exercise can be a nice tool to use to keep daily goals "in line".
  • bluepanda512
    bluepanda512 Posts: 64 Member
    Thank you..! I get it now how it works.

    Cheers,
    Suzzane
  • PrincessMissDee
    PrincessMissDee Posts: 183 Member
    Well that was wrapped up nice and easy!

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