Calculating calories

purgatoryqueen · October 2014

So I started counting calories and exercising to lose weight and I don't understand how to calculate properly. I get adding up the calories I've consumed but do I subtract the calories I burnt form that? Like so far today I've ate about 277 calories but I burnt about 258 with exercise. How do I work it all out properly

Some details just incase:

I'm female 130 ibs 5' I'm trying to eat 1300 cals a day and doing about 1 hour of exercise 4 times a week plus strength for 1/2 hour 3 times a week

Thank you x

JTick · October 2014

Typically, you'll want to eat about 50% of your exercise calories back. The numbers are just estimates, which is why you'll see 50% recommended a lot - gives you room for error.

The reason for this is so that you don't create too large of a deficit. Keeping your deficit to a reasonable number and only aiming for 1 lb/week will keep you from feeling too hungry and make it easier for you to adhere to your calories.

purgatoryqueen · October 2014

Thank you it's quite hard to work out what to eat back

steff274 · October 2014

Burnt calories are extra on top of what you get so 1300 calories then whatever else you have burned through excersize on top of that.. It's not very accurate so eat them back if you need them.. If you are too hungry on the amount of calories it might be worth looking at your settings checking whether it's correct for you..

ksy1969 · October 2014

purgatoryqueen wrote: »

Thank you it's quite hard to work out what to eat back

Why?? The website does it all for you. That is what makes it such a great tool.

Here is a link to help explain how the exercise calories work. I am also adding some other links that were put together by some very successful people on MFP.

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

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

Calculating calories

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