Calories in vs calories out

Lynnrushton
Lynnrushton Posts: 2 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I just started using this app daily. When i add my workout/calories burned, the app adds the calories back to my daily intake. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of losing weight. If you add the calories back with more food, i won't lose the weight.

Replies

  • ccrdragon
    ccrdragon Posts: 3,374 Member
    edited August 2023
    Not in this app... the calorie goal set by the app does not include deliberate exercise.
  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,838 Member
    edited August 2023
    If you put gas into your car to see you through the week, and then you make some additional journeys, you might need to put more gas in.

    A 500 calorie deficit before you do any exercise, and then you burn 400 in a workout and eat back 400, is still a 500 calorie deficit.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Unlike other sites which use TDEE calculators, MFP uses the NEAT method (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), and as such this system is designed for exercise calories to be eaten back. However, many consider the burns given by MFP to be inflated for them and only eat a percentage, such as 50%, back. Others are able to lose weight while eating 100% of their exercise calories.

    https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032625391-How-does-MyFitnessPal-calculate-my-initial-goals-
  • zebasschick
    zebasschick Posts: 1,067 Member
    all that being said, i find MFP adds a lot more calories for activities than i burn, so i tend to eat back from none to 1/3 of my MFP exercise calories, mostly as protein.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,740 Member
    If I eat 1200 calories then burn 500 it's the equivalent of eating only 700 total for the day, which for most would be seriously underfueling. That level of calories wouldn't be sustainable for very long. Either I'd feel starved and then eat too much, or I'd have no energy so wouldn't be able to do much exercise, or I'd get sick. In any case, I wouldn't be able to keep it up very long. OTOH, if I eat 1700 after burning 500, I would have energy to exercise the next day, I'd have more variety in my meals, and I would enjoy life a lot more while still achieving my goal of losing a pound a week.

    As said, you need to be cautious about determining how many calories you actually burn exercising. For me, the numbers that MFP gives for walking and running generally work, while the calories that it gives for stationary bike are higher than what my watch gives me. My TM is way off (it assumes I weigh more than I do, I think). Many sources, including MFP include the basic calories that you burn just for existing in the exercise calories, so many people eat a percentage of their calories back, but not all, unless their personal calorie burn is higher than average.
  • zebasschick
    zebasschick Posts: 1,067 Member
    edited August 2023
    spiriteagle99 wrote: »
    If I eat 1200 calories then burn 500 it's the equivalent of eating only 700 total for the day, which for most would be seriously underfueling. That level of calories wouldn't be sustainable for very long. Either I'd feel starved and then eat too much, or I'd have no energy so wouldn't be able to do much exercise, or I'd get sick. In any case, I wouldn't be able to keep it up very long. OTOH, if I eat 1700 after burning 500, I would have energy to exercise the next day, I'd have more variety in my meals, and I would enjoy life a lot more while still achieving my goal of losing a pound a week.

    As said, you need to be cautious about determining how many calories you actually burn exercising. For me, the numbers that MFP gives for walking and running generally work, while the calories that it gives for stationary bike are higher than what my watch gives me. My TM is way off (it assumes I weigh more than I do, I think). Many sources, including MFP include the basic calories that you burn just for existing in the exercise calories, so many people eat a percentage of their calories back, but not all, unless their personal calorie burn is higher than average.

    i was undereating and over-exercising, and i was weak, couldn't sleep, and i couldn't think clearly at all. i thought long covid had returned, but turned out it was just not enough fuel and too much intense exercise.
  • Lynnrushton
    Lynnrushton Posts: 2 Member
    Thank yall!!!!! This was great!

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