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Calories in Calories out

ladybug998
ladybug998 Posts: 23 Member
edited November 2024 in Getting Started
My question is this. I am given a daily amount of calories to consume, 1200. Then I can "earn" calories by walking and working out . Gives me more calories to "eat". If I don't eat them, will the weigh come off a bit faster. Or am I hurting myself by not eating them.

I just feel I worked to hard to just eat extra calories? (because I would make bad choices, I know me)

Thoughts?

Replies

  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    You're hurting yourself by not eating them, especially at 1200 calories. You'll be netting a smaller amount if you don't eat them back, which isn't good as the minimum RDA calories for a female is 1200.

  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    If you feel like you're just working hard to eat extra calories, why not just cut out the exercise and lose weight just through your diet? It's not something I advocate, but it's better than netting sub-1200 calories.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    At only 1200 calories it will be very hard to get all the nutrients you need for your body to function properly as it is. To net below 1200 is just setting yourself up for failure in my opinion. You'll be tired, hungry and burn out quickly.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    It's possible - yes. 1200 is MFP's default minimum.

    2 things to consider......is 1200 barely enough for you already? How much total weight do you have to lose?

    To find out what 1200 means (for you)...........check your weekly goal against this:

    Pound per week goals
    75+ lbs set to lose 2 lb range
    Between 40 - 75 lbs set to lose 1.5 lb range
    Between 25-40 lbs set to lose 1 lb range
    Between 15-25 lbs set to lose 1 -.50 lb range
    Less than 15 lbs set to lose 0.5 lbs range

    If you already have an aggressive goal, then 1200+ exercise calories is recommended to limit lean muscle loss.

    If you have 50+ pounds to lose, then lean muscle loss is not very likely. The closer you get to goal, the more you risk lean muscle loss. A less aggressive approach helps your body fuel existing muscle.

  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    I hit a plateau at 1300 calories and had to up my intake to 1500
    With exercise sometimes I get to eat 1800-2000
    Now I'm losing weight again
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    If MFP set you at 1200 calories a day, that's taking into account the deficit you need to lose weight. So if you burn 200 calories in exercise, you will need to eat those back to maintain what your daily goal is.

    I will say this, a lot of people set aggressive goals at first that drops them down to 1200 when they would be fine at a higher level. You're not going to lose weight fast in a healthy manner, espically with a very low calorie diet. I don't know your stats so I don't know what MFP has been telling you, but I can say that when I was 200lbs, I set it to lose 2lbs a week and was given I think 1600 calories a day. If you cut too much at first, it's much harder to stick with it!

    And to be perfectly honest, any exercise I do is not for weight loss, it's to try and get my asthma under better control. However, by burning those extra calories, I can have more to eat that day, so that's a very nice side effect. It's perfectly ok to exercise to be able to eat a little more that day, just be careful how you log your calories burned. If you're using MFP, only eat back about half. If you're using a tracker with a heart rate monitor, you can eat back about 80% and still be ok as they're more accurate.

    I will also leave you with this thought, because the Oatmeal is awesome. XD
  • ladybug998
    ladybug998 Posts: 23 Member
    Thanks everyone. I think I get it. I have only been doing this a short while. I was just overthinking like I always do. I do have an aggressive goal. and want to lose 2 lbs a week. basically 40 lbs. I'm overweight to say the least. I just wasn't clear on the extra calories. I just need to add more (good) food! I think I can do that. And Dubrid.. Thanks I will do the 50% add back in calories! See how that goes! And I love Oatmeal! :)
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    I used to be on a 1200 calorie plan and I didn't eat back my exercise calories. It was awful. Yes, I lost a lot of weight in a short space of time but I was utterly miserable and toward the end, fatigued, pale and weak. I have now upped my calories to 1500 calories per day. Not only are my work-outs SO much better, I feel content - not deprived and I am still losing weight. This is something I can sustain in the long term so I know I won't be falling 'off the wagon' any time soon. If you can 'up' your calories and get a good few work out's in per week - you'll be absolutely fine!
  • ladybug998
    ladybug998 Posts: 23 Member
    PinkPixiexox wrote: »
    I used to be on a 1200 calorie plan and I didn't eat back my exercise calories. It was awful. Yes, I lost a lot of weight in a short space of time but I was utterly miserable and toward the end, fatigued, pale and weak. I have now upped my calories to 1500 calories per day. Not only are my work-outs SO much better, I feel content - not deprived and I am still losing weight. This is something I can sustain in the long term so I know I won't be falling 'off the wagon' any time soon. If you can 'up' your calories and get a good few work out's in per week - you'll be absolutely fine!

    I'm not at awful, yet. But I know the 1200 was a struggle. Wish I would have asked 2 weeks ago! haha

    My one goal.. I don't want drugs or surgeries.. I want a way to live. Thanks so much!
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