We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Calorie Intake - What is this?

Jamiebecker24
Jamiebecker24 Posts: 8
edited February 27 in Health and Weight Loss
http://tinypic.com/r/347ebgz/8

Does this mean my average calorie expenditure at the level I entered (sedentary, Light, Medium, Active - Whatever they were)
or is it the calories my body uses if I was to just lay in bed (basically just function/live) ?

Anyone know?

Replies

  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    http://tinypic.com/r/347ebgz/8

    Does this mean my average calorie expenditure at the level I entered (sedentary, Light, Medium, Active - Whatever they were)
    or is it the calories my body uses if I was to just lay in bed (basically just function/live) ?

    Anyone know?

    The former, at your stated activity you'll use 1750 calories a day (give or take 10%). Exercise logged is on top of this.
  • Jamiebecker24
    Jamiebecker24 Posts: 8
    Thank you for clearing this up !!
  • twinskins
    twinskins Posts: 9 Member
    So if I did absolutely NO exercise and list my activity level as sedentary (I work in an office) and stay under my calories allotted, I will lose 1.5 lbs per week (that's what I have set as my goal)? Or does it calculate the # of workouts I "planned" to do during the week. Even though it can't possibly know what exercise, intensity, or # of minutes, unless I log in the workout. Thanks! :)
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    So if I did absolutely NO exercise and list my activity level as sedentary (I work in an office) and stay under my calories allotted, I will lose 1.5 lbs per week (that's what I have set as my goal)? Or does it calculate the # of workouts I "planned" to do during the week. Even though it can't possibly know what exercise, intensity, or # of minutes, unless I log in the workout. Thanks! :)

    MFP uses a method called NEAT. NEAT = Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis
    It bases your calorie goal off of your activity level without exercise included. This is so you can lose weight without working out. Although I wouldn't recommend it. Working out has tons of health benefits. When you do workout, you should log it here on MFP and eat approx 50-75% of the calories back (only 50-75% since MFP and machines tend to overestimate calorie burns for the majority of people).
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    So if I did absolutely NO exercise and list my activity level as sedentary (I work in an office) and stay under my calories allotted, I will lose 1.5 lbs per week (that's what I have set as my goal)? Or does it calculate the # of workouts I "planned" to do during the week.

    Goal setting does not use your exercise goals to influence calories. That's a separate target for you to use for how many sessions you do. Only the calories logged as exercise influence the calories (more ex = more food, to maintain original deficit).
  • twinskins
    twinskins Posts: 9 Member
    Great, thanks so much! I do exercise, but like you said, I really think MFP overestimates the calories burned. What I'm going to do is halve whatever value they give me and just log that. Then I know that I'm saving a certain # of calories and not eating them back. :)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories