Mfp giving really high projected weight loss?

npearce124 wrote: »

I have been logging my diet and exercise in mfp for about a month now. I hit my calorie target and do about 30 minutes of exercise a day. When I complete my food diary at the end of the day it has been consistently projecting that I am going to have a 16 pound weight loss in 5 weeks. I am currently 176 and it keep saying I will be 160. I feel like there is no way that is possible. Anyone else have totally unrealistic projections?

These are just educated guesses. I surpassed my first 5week projection, my next one looks like crazypants.

I tend to ignore them, BUT they do give me hope that I can beat this one day.

Well just keep in mind, the projection comes from basic math and doesn't exactly reflect reality.

MFP estimates how much you will burn before exercise based on the activity level you pick. Your goal is based on how much you want to lose per week and a set number of calories is subtracted from the burn number (250, 500, 750 or 1000). Exercise then gets added to the original burn number. So an example would be:

2200 burn before exercise
-1000 (2lb per week loss)
1200 calorie goal
If you burn 500 and eat roughly 250 back, MFP thinks your deficit is now 1250.

1250*35 = 43750 (calorie deficit if every day was exactly the same for five weeks)
43750/3500 = 12.5lb projected loss

Hope that helps and doesn't confuse you more. The math however can't account for logging inaccuracies (from over inflated burns to inaccurate entries in food and even if your logging was perfect, there are still other factors that could effect this equation).

How does it say estimated 16 pound loss in 5 weeks if your hitting your calorie target?

I thought the highest was like 2pounds per week so if your on target calorie wise then 2 x 5 weeks equals 10 pounds max.

Or are you actually eating less? Set your own limit or something else?

Edit: just read your eating back half your exercise, that explains it.