I am confused!!

megamoo04
megamoo04 Posts: 269
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I am new to this whole counter calories and burning calories thing. Can please break it down for me so I can understand it. I think i do but i am not 100% sure. I dont want to be doing all this work and be doing it wrong.

Thank you!

Replies

  • potluck965
    potluck965 Posts: 529 Member
    What don't you understand?
  • lilybug13
    lilybug13 Posts: 154
    Well, after putting all your information (age, gender, height, weight, activity level), MFP determines how many calories you would burn on a day you did nothing out of the ordinary (exercise). You then tell them what your weight loss goal is (how much per week), and they then subtract the correct amount from the total they made originally and that is how much they give you as a goal for that week to eat.

    From there if you do exercise, you add that because it creates a greater deficit in your calories, so you get to eat more proportionately.

    Make sense?
  • megamoo04
    megamoo04 Posts: 269
    I no that I have a set amount of calories that I need to eat and that I shouldn't go over it and that i have a set amount of calories that i need to burn. I also no that the calories that i burn come off the calories that i ate. I am not really sure what im confused on lol.

    Someone asked me today if you eat something that is 500 calories you can just burn that off and be ok, and then i was told that as long as i stayed at the calories that i am allowed to eat i dont have to burn any calories.

    i just i need the whole process brokedown for me so i can fully focus and understand.
  • lilybug13
    lilybug13 Posts: 154
    If you don't eat any calories (net--meaning after exercise), you will starve to death. You need something to fuel your everyday activity, because you are not counting that as exercise obviously. You burn calories while doing everything, so you need to eat to make up for that. Even when asleep you are using energy (just very small amounts).
  • Guinivere
    Guinivere Posts: 357 Member
    It's really simple hon.

    It's physics

    You put in 1500 calories to your body - you burn about 1500 calories by just staying alive. (numbers are approximate)

    If you eat more without doing any exercise you will put on weight.

    If you eat more AND do exercise that equates to the same amount of calories - you will stay the same weight.

    If you do exercise without extra food you will lose weight.

    Hope that helps. Good luck!
  • megamoo04
    megamoo04 Posts: 269
    Well, after putting all your information (age, gender, height, weight, activity level), MFP determines how many calories you would burn on a day you did nothing out of the ordinary (exercise). You then tell them what your weight loss goal is (how much per week), and they then subtract the correct amount from the total they made originally and that is how much they give you as a goal for that week to eat.

    From there if you do exercise, you add that because it creates a greater deficit in your calories, so you get to eat more proportionately.

    Make sense?

    I understand all that cause i did it the first day i signed on
  • audjrey
    audjrey Posts: 360 Member
    The female human body requires an average of 1,200 calories just to function daily (ie: breathing, digestion, heart beating, etc). Therefore, you need to make sure you eat no less than 1,200 calories each day - AFTER exercise.

    Use the database to help you find foods you eat and log each day what you eat. If you can't find it in the database, use the search engine (ie: google or safari) to help find the information you are looking for. Then 'Create' the food and share it with everyone else in the database.

    If you find that you eat the same meals everyday, once you're in your food diary and after you've logged, use the 'quick list' and save your meal. You'll have to give it a heading ie: tuna sandwich.

    If your goal is simply to lose weight and tone up, use the 'Recommended' values in the 'Goals' section. The system is set up to automatically track how much protein, carbohydrates, fat, etc you want - but you can custom this by adding other heading such as sodium, sugar, etc. The system will only allow you to track 5 headings/values so choose what is most important to you now and change or modify in future if and when things change.

    When you exercise, you burn calories. The confusion lies in the fact that so many people have varying opinions about whether or not to 'eat back' your burned calories. For example, say you walk 30 minutes and burn 220 calories. Many people who are losing weight would tell you to eat an additional 220 calories on top of the 1,200 you just ate. Others will tell you not to. You need to decide for yourself what you want to do, but I suggest you re-read the first sentence in this post so that you make the most informed decision.

    If you have any more questions, feel free to send me a message and I will respond. However, please understand I am not taking anymore friend requests at this time. Hope this info helps :-)
  • megamoo04
    megamoo04 Posts: 269
    The female human body requires an average of 1,200 calories just to function daily (ie: breathing, digestion, heart beating, etc). Therefore, you need to make sure you eat no less than 1,200 calories each day - AFTER exercise.

    Use the database to help you find foods you eat and log each day what you eat. If you can't find it in the database, use the search engine (ie: google or safari) to help find the information you are looking for. Then 'Create' the food and share it with everyone else in the database.

    If you find that you eat the same meals everyday, once you're in your food diary and after you've logged, use the 'quick list' and save your meal. You'll have to give it a heading ie: tuna sandwich.

    If your goal is simply to lose weight and tone up, use the 'Recommended' values in the 'Goals' section. The system is set up to automatically track how much protein, carbohydrates, fat, etc you want - but you can custom this by adding other heading such as sodium, sugar, etc. The system will only allow you to track 5 headings/values so choose what is most important to you now and change or modify in future if and when things change.

    When you exercise, you burn calories. The confusion lies in the fact that so many people have varying opinions about whether or not to 'eat back' your burned calories. For example, say you walk 30 minutes and burn 220 calories. Many people who are losing weight would tell you to eat an additional 220 calories on top of the 1,200 you just ate. Others will tell you not to. You need to decide for yourself what you want to do, but I suggest you re-read the first sentence in this post so that you make the most informed decision.

    If you have any more questions, feel free to send me a message and I will respond. However, please understand I am not taking anymore friend requests at this time. Hope this info helps :-)

    Thank you so much, this helps me understand it much better :)
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