Goal calculator

jeanne38654
jeanne38654 Posts: 1
edited September 26 in Introduce Yourself
New here - just entered my info into the "goal" calculator and was stunned to see a project 4 lbs lost between now and June 4th!

When I did WW a few years back I lost 12 lbs the first MONTH.

But I'm trying to incorporate more exercise and not just go solely on points. I went back to "re-calculate" my goal, and increase my daily workouts. Hit submit and was given the same information. Then I went back and turned workouts completely off (entered 0) and hit click and the result was the SAME.

Why does the calculator appear to take workouts into consideration, when workouts clearly don't affect the calculated results? Is this just a bug? I'm confused.....

Replies

  • Tabimiller417
    Tabimiller417 Posts: 20 Member
    Its only recommended that you lose 1-2 lbs a week in the system.. most likely u will lose more but it wont let you set more than that as a goal. It makes me feel great that I surpass the goal every week =]
  • iamhealingmyself
    iamhealingmyself Posts: 579 Member
    It gives you a GOAL to work towards but you won't actually get the goal numbers until you enter that exercise in your diary. It doesn't incorporate it because some people eat back their calories and some don't. Some people have a goal to work out 3 times a week but only get in one or two. The only activity factored into your daily numbers is your activity level.
  • DJmom44
    DJmom44 Posts: 91
    Its only recommended that you lose 1-2 lbs a week in the system.. most likely u will lose more but it wont let you set more than that as a goal. It makes me feel great that I surpass the goal every week =]
    ^That's true. I think your changes should have changed your calorie allowance for the day though. Did it?
  • kappyblu
    kappyblu Posts: 654 Member
    It's not a bug. MFP works in a deficit based on your bmr and your daily activity. If you want to lose 1 pound per week, it gives you a deficit of 500 calories per day. That is your bmr + activity - desired weight loss. A setting at sedentary gives you about 500 calories a day from activity. So say your bmr is 2000 and you are sedentary. It figures you to use 2500 calories in a day to just function. Then to lose one pound per week, it takes away 500 calories per day, setting your limit at 2000 calories per day.

    Any calories you burn should be eaten back to keep your body functioning properly to burn that desired weight loss per week.

    You probably have your settings set at 1 pound per week to lose. If you want more, change it to 2 pounds per week. It is not an exact number you will always get of course, but if you follow it, you should average that amount. There will be weeks you will lose more, and weeks you will lose less. The settings should also be changed every now and then to keep your body guessing. Meaning, do 1 pound per week for a month or two, then change it to 1 1/2, then 2, and then go back down again. If you do this, and eat your exercise calories, drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest, and allow yourself an indulgence every now and then (the cheat meal) you should do just fine! Good luck!!
  • TourThePast
    TourThePast Posts: 1,753 Member
    Why does the calculator appear to take workouts into consideration, when workouts clearly don't affect the calculated results? Is this just a bug? I'm confused.....
    It is not a bug, it's because it assumes that you are eating the extra calories burned during exercise, as the theory is that if you don't eat all your "exercise calories" your metabolism will grind to a halt.

    Yet according to the formulas on the site, exercise calories taken during the day as part of your employment do not have to be eaten, so presumably do not affect your metabolism for some mysterious reason. Eating exercise calories seems to be a pretty contentious issue on here, but the important thing is to find something that works for you. Following the advice of this site is a good starting point, and if you find you're losing weight at 1-2lb a week I wouldn't worry about it.

    The bottom line is that losing weight slowly is supposed to be healthier and result in establishing a healthier long term eating pattern; broadly speaking I agree with this concept.
  • ladyhawk00
    ladyhawk00 Posts: 2,457 Member
    MFP doesn't work like most other counters/plans. When you enter your "intended" exercise as you set up your account, those are simply goals and are not accounted for in your cal goals. MFP is designed to help you lose weight with or without exercise. It creates a built in deficit, based on your chosen loss per week goal - however, it has an upper limit of 2 lb per week loss goal, because that is recommended by experts for safe, healthy weight loss. Also, it has a lower limit of cal goals of 1200, because that is recommended by experts as the minimum amount required for the average woman to receive adequate nutrition.

    MFP then has you log exercise on a daily basis, as it is more accurate and motivational this way. Calories will be added in to your daily cal goal for exercise you log, to keep the built in deficit stable.

    May help to read these threads that help explain how MFP works, how it gets the numbers it gives you, and why faster is not necessarily better. :wink:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/153704-myth-or-fact-simple-math-3500-calories-one-pound-eat

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/222019-60-lbs-in-60-days?hl=60+lbs
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