What does mfp mean im supposed to burn over 1900 calories a day?

sweetteadrinker2
sweetteadrinker2 Posts: 1,026 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I recently noticed a goal generated by mfp that I don't quite understand. Apparently I'm supposed to burn something like 1900 calories per day, I'm eating between 1200-1400 right now. With a bmr of 1400 (roughly), am I supposed to work out each day to the point of burning those extra 500 or so calories? Or is it just sort of something that happens on it's own since I'm moving and doing things during the day? :s

Any ideas for tracking with decent accuracy the calories I actually burn daily? I use a pedometer app, but suggestions for those would be welcome if that's a good method. :)

Replies

  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    How did you set up your goal? To lose how much a week? What did mfp give you as your daily calorie goal? I'm not sure I understand your question, sorry.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I'm not sure what you're asking - but eat what MFP tells you to eat. They've already included the deficit based on how much you told them you want to lose. And yes, you do burn calories just being alive.
  • higgins8283801
    higgins8283801 Posts: 844 Member
    Are you talking about the number after you exercise?

    If so, that is your net calorie number. Mfp works by eating calories back.

    So example you start with 1300 calories a day, you burn 300, that now allows you to eat 1600 for the day. The more you move, the more you can eat.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    sweetteadrinker2 wrote: »
    I recently noticed a goal generated by mfp that I don't quite understand. Apparently I'm supposed to burn something like 1900 calories per day, I'm eating between 1200-1400 right now. With a bmr of 1400 (roughly), am I supposed to work out each day to the point of burning those extra 500 or so calories? Or is it just sort of something that happens on it's own since I'm moving and doing things during the day? :s

    Any ideas for tracking with decent accuracy the calories I actually burn daily? I use a pedometer app, but suggestions for those would be welcome if that's a good method. :)

    Your BMR is what you'd burn if completely at rest. You're not completely at rest. You get up, take a shower (hopefully), go to the bathroom, go to work, do a few chores, etc. All those things burn extra calories above your BMR. All of it together is your TDEE-- your total daily energy expenditure. MFP doesn't include your exercise in this number. So when you exercise MFP will add a few more calories to your goal as well.
  • Lasmartchika
    Lasmartchika Posts: 3,440 Member
    No, the 1900 you see on your goal page is your maintenance number, the amount of calories you eat without losing or gaining any weight. The 1400 given to you is the amount you have to eat to lose 1lb/wk. If you exercise, you get those calories added so you can eat those back too. Just like Higgins said:
    higgins8283801 wrote: »
    Mfp works by eating calories back.

    So example you start with 1300 calories a day, you burn 300, that now allows you to eat 1600 for the day. The more you move, the more you can eat.

    That's how MFP works. :flowerforyou:

  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    edited January 2015
    Math follows.

    BMR is the start point. For baseline purposes, a sedentary human burns about 120% of their BMR through normal daily activities ... so BMR * 1.2 = resting metabolic rate (RMR) or TDEE for a sedentary person if that is easier for you (close enough for interchangeable use at this point).

    RMR is the point MFP uses to calculate your deficit (we'll call that D). RMR - D= daily net caloric goal. For a one pound per week planned loss it is RMR - 500 cal per day.

    All of that is without factoring in exercise.

    If your goal is 1500 cals per day ... that is net calories .... total eaten - exercise burn = net

    No exercise ... 1500 (eaten) - 0 (exercise) = 1500 net ... nice and simple
    With 300 calories burned working out .... 1800 (eaten) - 300 (exercise) = 1500 net ... balances.

    Keeping that net caloric goal in mind is why MFP adds exercise calories back to the equation. The deficit required to lose weight is already there.


  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Wait are you talking about exercise calories? I thought you were asking about this:17rgpqr4fbuh.png
  • sweetteadrinker2
    sweetteadrinker2 Posts: 1,026 Member
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics wrote: »
    Wait are you talking about exercise calories? I thought you were asking about this:17rgpqr4fbuh.png

    That's exactly what I mean. I don't have to exercise with the express intent of burning those calories it lists as deficit, right?

  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    sweetteadrinker2 wrote: »
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics wrote: »
    Wait are you talking about exercise calories? I thought you were asking about this:17rgpqr4fbuh.png

    That's exactly what I mean. I don't have to exercise with the express intent of burning those calories it lists as deficit, right?

    That's correct. MFP figures your calorie goal without exercise. That number where the red arrow is is the number of calories MFP estimates you'll burn just by existing.
  • sweetteadrinker2
    sweetteadrinker2 Posts: 1,026 Member
    Thank you!
This discussion has been closed.

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