3 weeks in and a silly calorie question

Itfcgadget
Itfcgadget Posts: 8 Member
edited November 22 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone.
I am 3-4 weeks into using the app. I seem to be eating more frequently but watching the calorie numbers etc. So far I have lost 7lb and am loving the app. I have it linked to my Fitbit which than adjusts my allowed calories. Now for the silly question... I am currently spending a few days away and I am walking lots throughout the day (20,000 steps today) and as I am having breakfast and snacks thought the day I have been getting back to find I have 1600-1800 calories left. Other members of the community said I should stick to the calories and don't eat much less. Does this therefore mean that I can or should 'eat lots' for my main meal? Or should I have staggered it throughout the day (which obviously will be difficult as I don't know how many steps I will use) ....just thought I'd ask before I go on a celebratory munching spree.

Replies

  • AngelaAlario
    AngelaAlario Posts: 46 Member
    You should always eat at least your base calories. Say MFP tells you to eat 1500cal/day, then you do 20k steps and your fitbit says you burned 2000cal. You need to eat at least the 1500 and no more than half of the calories burned. All calorie counters are notorious for over estimating calories burned and if you're not weighing ALL of your food you run the risk of underestimating the calories consumed.

    It terms of what time of the day you should eat, it doesn't matter. Calories in and calories out, it's that simple... BUT in order to feel satiated during the day and reduce the risk of overeating at any given time, it is recommended that breakfast and lunch are no less that 300 calories each and that your snacks are between 100 and 200 calories. Because you can eat all of your calories in one sitting and still lose weight, does not mean you should or that your body will be happy about it.
  • AngelaAlario
    AngelaAlario Posts: 46 Member
    I just want to clarify. Your minimum in the above scenario is 1500cal and your max is 2500cal. So anything between 1500 and 2500 is acceptable but if you are not hungry you don't need to eat more than the 1500.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    When you eat is irrelevant unless you have a preference. Such as if eating a big meal 30 minutes before bed gives you heartburn and keeps you up all night: then don't eat a big meal 30 minutes before bed.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    It doesn't matter when you eat your calories. You can eat them all in one big meal if you want. Meal timing as very little affect on weight loss. Calories are what matters.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Timing is irrelevant. It all comes down to CICO.
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    I don't think OP is asking a meal timing question...if I'm reading this correct OP, you're saying you had breakfast today and lots of snacks today and are approaching dinner...since you've walked a lot and ate small meals, you have a ton of calories (over 1600) and are wondering if you should eat it all at dinner.

    It's hard to say without knowing exactly what you ate today, and how you measured it. If you're away, you're probably estimating a lot (not weighing food). So I would assume that you've probably eaten more than you think today. Eat a decent meal and enjoy (go for dessert! drinks!), but understand that it's difficult to be precise in this situation.
  • Itfcgadget
    Itfcgadget Posts: 8 Member
    Awesome guys. Yes jaga13, you are spot on. However all snacks were weighed out too lol. Very sad I know. I've just had an awesome meal and feeling guilty! 700 cals left but I'm going to leave them as the estimate for walking calories is 1200 and following the first reply I have worked on half of it. Thanks again.
  • jaga13
    jaga13 Posts: 1,149 Member
    Itfcgadget wrote: »
    Awesome guys. Yes jaga13, you are spot on. However all snacks were weighed out too lol. Very sad I know. I've just had an awesome meal and feeling guilty! 700 cals left but I'm going to leave them as the estimate for walking calories is 1200 and following the first reply I have worked on half of it. Thanks again.

    Enjoy your time away!!
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Itfcgadget wrote: »
    So far I have lost 7lb and am loving the app. I have it linked to my Fitbit which than adjusts my allowed calories. I am walking lots throughout the day (20,000 steps today) and as I am having breakfast and snacks thought the day I have been getting back to find I have 1600-1800 calories left.

    Your Fitbit burn is TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), the calories necessary to maintain your current weight. Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit

    Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    Ignore your Fitbit calorie goal and follow MFP's, eating back your adjustments. No need to log any step-based activity—your Fitbit is tracking it for you. Log non-step exercise (like swimming or biking) either in Fitbit or in MFP—never both. Exercise logged in MFP overwrites your Fitbit burn during that time.

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
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