Burning all the calories you eat?

miassecret
miassecret Posts: 14
edited November 11 in Health and Weight Loss
First off I'm new to diet and new here. :) Im just a bit confused regarding the whole, when you burn calories thing. Should i eat back the calories i burn of will i just eat my recommended 1200cals to lose weight or should i be eating the calories ive burned as well??? Any advice s really appreciated.

Replies

  • shadowofender
    shadowofender Posts: 786 Member
    What are your stats? If MFP gave you 1200 calories (which is often too low) you need to eat ALL of them as your deficit is already worked into your day.

    You should also eat back at aleast a portion of workout calories. I say a portion because it's very easy to over estimate a burn. I usually log about 75% of what I'm told I burned, to account for potential errors.
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    I eat back 1/2-3/4 of all my exercise calories.
  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
    Could you please share your stats,

    age, gender, height, weight, weight you want to lose

    that would help in giving you suggestions.
  • I'm 18, female, 5'8, 134.8 lbs and i want to get down to 130 :) (I have a wedding in a just over a month)

    Also i work out in the gym so my all calorie deficit i add in comes from the machines i use. But maybe for safety from now on I'll only add in 75% of what it says i burn.

    Thanks :)
  • shadowofender
    shadowofender Posts: 786 Member
    miassecret wrote: »
    I'm 18, female, 5'8, 134.8 lbs and i want to get down to 130 :) (I have a wedding in a just over a month)

    Also i work out in the gym so my all calorie deficit i add in comes from the machines i use. But maybe for safety from now on I'll only add in 75% of what it says i burn.

    Thanks :)

    Just be mindful that with only about 5lbs to lose you might have slow progress. The closer to goal, the slower it goes.

    Plus with the final 10lbs or so, I'm told it's less about the scale and more how you feel you look? If you're concerned with appearence, you might want to look into starting strength training.
  • miassecret wrote: »
    I'm 18, female, 5'8, 134.8 lbs and i want to get down to 130 :) (I have a wedding in a just over a month)

    Also i work out in the gym so my all calorie deficit i add in comes from the machines i use. But maybe for safety from now on I'll only add in 75% of what it says i burn.

    Thanks :)

    Just be mindful that with only about 5lbs to lose you might have slow progress. The closer to goal, the slower it goes.

    Plus with the final 10lbs or so, I'm told it's less about the scale and more how you feel you look? If you're concerned with appearence, you might want to look into starting strength training.

    Thanks :) I'll look into strenght training, it's really just a bit of tummy weight I've had for like 2 years that has stared bothering me. So eat back some of the calories but not all yes?
  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
    thanks for sharing that information. Honestly, I'm not really comfortable giving you advice on weight loss. The reason why is that your BMI is 20.5, and you are 18 years old. You are in the low-normal range and really there is no reason you need to lose weight. At your age, your body is still developing, and it's not a good idea to try to restrict yourself right now. My advice would be to start an exercise program, e.g., weight lifting, and just focus on developing healthy eating habits that work well for you. Get a great dress, and have a blast at the wedding :)
  • thanks for sharing that information. Honestly, I'm not really comfortable giving you advice on weight loss. The reason why is that your BMI is 20.5, and you are 18 years old. You are in the low-normal range and really there is no reason you need to lose weight. At your age, your body is still developing, and it's not a good idea to try to restrict yourself right now. My advice would be to start an exercise program, e.g., weight lifting, and just focus on developing healthy eating habits that work well for you. Get a great dress, and have a blast at the wedding :)

    Thats fine i appreciate the training advice :) And will make sure to look into it. :) Thank you so much :)
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    edited January 2015
    If I were you, I would eat just at maintenance (and eat back 75% if doing cardio), tracking calories carefully by honest logging and weighing food instead of measuring, and do a strength program or maybe a Ripped in 30 program for the month. If you do, be sure to take before and after measurements, and don't worry about the number on the scale.
  • If I were you, I would eat just at maintenance (and eat back 75% if doing cardio), tracking calories carefully by honest logging and weighing food instead of measuring, and do a strength program or maybe a Ripped in 30 program for the month. If you do, be sure to take before and after measurements, and don't worry about the number on the scale.

    i just do cardio at the moment :) thanks again for the advice :)
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    Forgive me for jumping to conclusions here, but based on the fact that you're on the low end of the healthy weight range already and looking to lose more, and your username starts with the word "Mia" raises a huge red flag. I think you should talk to professionals, not people on this forum. And those professionals, not you, should determine whether or not you need to make weight loss a goal.
  • Forgive me for jumping to conclusions here, but based on the fact that you're on the low end of the healthy weight range already and looking to lose more, and your username starts with the word "Mia" raises a huge red flag. I think you should talk to professionals, not people on this forum. And those professionals, not you, should determine whether or not you need to make weight loss a goal.

    My name is Mia. But thanks for your concern :)
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    miassecret wrote: »
    miassecret wrote: »
    I'm 18, female, 5'8, 134.8 lbs and i want to get down to 130 :) (I have a wedding in a just over a month)

    Also i work out in the gym so my all calorie deficit i add in comes from the machines i use. But maybe for safety from now on I'll only add in 75% of what it says i burn.

    Thanks :)

    Just be mindful that with only about 5lbs to lose you might have slow progress. The closer to goal, the slower it goes.

    Plus with the final 10lbs or so, I'm told it's less about the scale and more how you feel you look? If you're concerned with appearence, you might want to look into starting strength training.

    Thanks :) I'll look into strenght training, it's really just a bit of tummy weight I've had for like 2 years that has stared bothering me. So eat back some of the calories but not all yes?

    This particular thread might be a good starting place for you: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1

  • miassecret wrote: »
    miassecret wrote: »
    I'm 18, female, 5'8, 134.8 lbs and i want to get down to 130 :) (I have a wedding in a just over a month)

    Also i work out in the gym so my all calorie deficit i add in comes from the machines i use. But maybe for safety from now on I'll only add in 75% of what it says i burn.

    Thanks :)

    Just be mindful that with only about 5lbs to lose you might have slow progress. The closer to goal, the slower it goes.

    Plus with the final 10lbs or so, I'm told it's less about the scale and more how you feel you look? If you're concerned with appearence, you might want to look into starting strength training.

    Thanks :) I'll look into strenght training, it's really just a bit of tummy weight I've had for like 2 years that has stared bothering me. So eat back some of the calories but not all yes?

    This particular thread might be a good starting place for you: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1161603/so-you-want-a-nice-stomach/p1


    thanks :) super appreciate it.
  • obscuremusicreference
    obscuremusicreference Posts: 1,320 Member
    Look into shapewear to go with the dress, but definitely get a jump on strength training! Your weight is fine, you just need some muscle to lose inches.
  • Look into shapewear to go with the dress, but definitely get a jump on strength training! Your weight is fine, you just need some muscle to lose inches.

    perfect. do you know if waist trainers work or are they just a hoax... ill ask about weight training in my gym session tomorrow :)
  • kozinskey
    kozinskey Posts: 176 Member
    Yep, strength training! Yoga would be a good place to start if the weight area looks scary / you don't have time to get a trainer before the wedding. But I would definitely recommend eating back your exercise calories. As a person who exercises a lot, I find that I don't feel great if I consistently have a calorie deficit over 500 or so, and I tend to start reaching for less healthy food options. It's all about what works for you of course, but eating 1200 cals without eating some extra to account for exercise isn't sustainable for most people (and can mess up your metabolism).
  • kozinskey
    kozinskey Posts: 176 Member
    Oh, and if there's a Soma store near you, I can't recommend their shapewear enough. It's a million times better than Spanx.
  • kozinskey wrote: »
    Oh, and if there's a Soma store near you, I can't recommend their shapewear enough. It's a million times better than Spanx.

    Thank you so much for amazing advice and I'll take it all in... I would love to get into yoga. I have time to fit in a personal trainer so will do. I'll look for a soma store near enough. It will be wonderful :)
  • enm2122
    enm2122 Posts: 14 Member
    miassecret wrote: »
    Look into shapewear to go with the dress, but definitely get a jump on strength training! Your weight is fine, you just need some muscle to lose inches.

    perfect. do you know if waist trainers work or are they just a hoax... ill ask about weight training in my gym session tomorrow :)

    I'll agree with this poster! Toning up may make you feel better. You can still lose those dreaded five pounds and not be happy.

    From what I've researched, waist training is a slow, painful process. And it's definitely not good for your body/insides. I blame the media.
This discussion has been closed.