My understanding

meggy88
meggy88 Posts: 23
edited September 19 in Food and Nutrition
I just wanted to make sure I am understanding this whole calorie thing correctly.

For example, MFP tells me that I should eat 1,370 calories a day to lose a pound and a half per week. Today I exercised some (only 129 calories burned, I have a bad headache! :[) So, basically, when I put my exercise into the computer, it raises my number of calories I have left to eat (since I burned some while working out). Am I correct in thinking that I just need to eat the 1,370 calories that MFP tells me to eat? Or, do I add the 129 (or however many cals I burn that day exercising) to the 1,370 per day number?

I understand why I need to eat all my calories, I've read a bunch of things on here...I was just having trouble applying it to my own situation. If anyone can help, let me know. :)

Replies

  • meggy88
    meggy88 Posts: 23
    I just wanted to make sure I am understanding this whole calorie thing correctly.

    For example, MFP tells me that I should eat 1,370 calories a day to lose a pound and a half per week. Today I exercised some (only 129 calories burned, I have a bad headache! :[) So, basically, when I put my exercise into the computer, it raises my number of calories I have left to eat (since I burned some while working out). Am I correct in thinking that I just need to eat the 1,370 calories that MFP tells me to eat? Or, do I add the 129 (or however many cals I burn that day exercising) to the 1,370 per day number?

    I understand why I need to eat all my calories, I've read a bunch of things on here...I was just having trouble applying it to my own situation. If anyone can help, let me know. :)
  • BrandNewLaura
    BrandNewLaura Posts: 1,650 Member
    Once you upload your exercise calories, MFP automatically recalculates your calories remaining for the day. If you go to your home page, it will show you how many calories you have left (your total intake for today should be 1499 and you'll want to eat that number or really close to it!). Tomorrow if you don't exercise at all, you'll want to just eat your 1370. And if the next day you burn 500 calories exercising, you'll want to eat 1870 calories. MFP adds them for you though so you never have to wonder!
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/6556-the-answers-to-the-questions

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/6832-eating-all-of-your-calories-bmr

    These two posts should answer your questions.

    You don't have to "add" anything--MFP does it for you. Just eat the total number of calories it shows you having for that day--it will also show you how many you have left to eat.
  • jenn10
    jenn10 Posts: 161
    Don't go by anything but that number of calories left for the day! eat them all as close to all without going over much. ALWAYS input your exercise calories and then refresh the food page and make sure you are eating all of them.

    To lose the one and a half pounds mfp is already subtracting for you the calories you are not suppose to eat . if you don't eat your exercise calories at first you will still lose weight but then your metabolism will slow down and you will get stuck.
  • kerrilucko
    kerrilucko Posts: 3,852 Member
    Just a word of advice. At your weight, 1 1/2 lbs per week is not gonna happen. It's just too much. I'd lower the sounds to 1/2 lb per week, or at least 1 lb. I know it doesn't sound like much but slow and steady is the best way to do this. :flowerforyou:
  • meggy88
    meggy88 Posts: 23
    Thanks for all the help. I understand what to do now. And Kerrilucko, thanks for the tip. I'm kinda new to all this weight loss thing, and I appreciate any help and advice. :)
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