Uggggh so confused about this!

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Ok, I am still confused about this so I hope someone can clarify for me. I have stalled out on my weight loss, and I am so frustrated. Today I worked out and burned 810 calories doing cardio X, I ate 1250 calories, but MFP says I should eat 2010 calories, leaving me a difference of -760 calories. If I contunue to average 1200 calories a day, while working out shouldn't I lose weight? I am busting my *kitten* and no results. I need help. : (

Replies

  • BlueObsidian
    BlueObsidian Posts: 297 Member
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    The problem is, if you are burning 810 calories in a workout and only eating 1250, that only leaves your body 440 calories to function. Everything your body does requires energy. The target MFP sets for you already includes the deficit needed to lose weight, so even if you eat all your exercise calories you will still have a deficit. You need to eat more and give your body the fuel it needs!
  • missfluffyuk
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    How long have you been at it? Your ticker says you've only lost 1lb.

    If you've been doing it for a while, then your body could be going into starvation mode if you're eating too little. Maybe try increasing your calorie intake for a few seeks and see what happens.
  • Daphnemomof9
    Daphnemomof9 Posts: 130 Member
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    I'm sure I don't have the info you need, I'm heavy and have just started on this journey. How long have you been on it. Are you new to exercise? How long have you been eating and exercising like this? Someone must have an answer with more info. That's lots of variables. :sad: I'd like to hear what others have to share too.

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  • DawnDawn2011
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    It is weird because the last time I lost weight was Thanksgiving, and I ate a lot! It was mostly Turkey and mashed potatoes, and I avoided the pies, but I lost like 5 pounds, then I started cutting back again and gained weight!
  • DawnDawn2011
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    I'm sure I don't have the info you need, I'm heavy and have just started on this journey. How long have you been on it. Are you new to exercise? How long have you been eating and exercising like this? Someone must have an answer with more info. That's lots of variables. :sad: I'd like to hear what others have to share too.

    I have been exercising for 18 years, ever since my daughter was born. I started out doing light cardio and worked my way up to Tae bo and weight lifting. I guess I have been on a diet forever. Lol, but I am frustrated with not being able to drop at least 10 pounds. I should be able to drop 10 pounds easy, but it seems to be the hardest thing in the world!
  • Leigh2778
    Leigh2778 Posts: 57 Member
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    You're not eating enough. Try to stick to the calorie goal MFP gives you. If you burn 800 calories exercising, you're going to need to fuel your body for that.
    After doing that for a bit, if it doesn't make a difference (though it should), make sure that your tracking numbers are correct-that you're entering all the food you eat, that the calories are accurate and that the calorie burn is as accurate as possible.
    Good luck!
  • lisapr123
    lisapr123 Posts: 863 Member
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    I agree that you're probably not eating enough. Every time I have tried to watch what I eat, I end up watching too closely and not eating enough. At first, I lose, then I don't. Then when I stop watching what I eat, the weight comes off. I exercise a lot too, and the weeks I take a couple rest days are always the best. Eat more, make healthy choices, and the weight will drop.
  • inge88
    inge88 Posts: 184 Member
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    Another vote for eating more! You dont have to eat ALL your exercise calories back, but eat at least half of them. You will feel so much better AND you will start losing weight (maybe not in the first week, but stick with it for 2-3 weeks and it will start). I understand it's scary, but there is a thread on here called something like 'People who lost MORE by eating MORE', search for it and see how other people go.
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
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    The leaner you get, the more difficult it will be to lose the weight.

    Having said that, going in to more of a caloric defecit is not the answer. Try eating back most of your exercise calories and understanding that it will take a little time to shift those last few pounds.

    It sounds like you are getting the exercise you need (assuming your version of weightlifting doesnt involve pink weights :P), you are just not giving your body enough fuel.

    If you continue doing high intensity cardio and weight lifting, you might not see a big shift in the number on the scale, but your body may be slowly reshaping as you add muscle (only if you eat more though... you're never going to build or even maintain you lean mass on such a big deficit).
  • Heidi64
    Heidi64 Posts: 211 Member
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    Yes, eat more!!! If you ate 1200 calories a day, but did not exercise, you would lose weight. Now you are adding in the exercise, so you need to add in the fuel.
  • DawnDawn2011
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    Thank you everyone for all the great advice, I am going to add some more healthy calories to my diet and see if that makes a difference. : )
  • SimplyShanRunning
    SimplyShanRunning Posts: 885 Member
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    SIMPLE you must eat your exercise calories :flowerforyou: or try to at least
  • HonkyTonks
    HonkyTonks Posts: 1,193 Member
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    Exercising means you need to eat more.

    Green numbers = eat
    Red numbers = stop eating
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
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    Here is a post of mine from another similar thread:

    OK. I'm gonna give this a shot. I am an avid lifelong athlete. I have never been overweight, however, I used to eat too few calories (without knowing it), and a couple years ago, I actually GAINED weight bc of having slowed my metabolism to the point that every little extra treat I ate caused a weight gain, even though overall my calories were too low. THIS DOES HAPPEN.

    It is also the reason so many fat people stay fat. They restrict their calories so low, slow their metabolisms, binge (even a little), gain weight, restrict more . . . . and so on and so on. But they are still fat.

    It is also the reason most people can't lose that last 10-20 lbs. For real.

    1. MFP has a deficit built in. Let's say you're trying to lose 1 lb/ week. That is a 500/day deficit from your BMR (the amount of calories your body needs to complete basic functions.

    2. You exercise and burn 500 calories. Now you are at a 1000 deficit. If you eat back those 500 exercise calories, you refuel your body and you still have a 500 deficit for that 1 lb loss. If you DON'T eat back those calories, you have too little fuel. This is bad. This is too much of a deficit for basic functions. If you do this for a long time, you will STOP LOSING WEIGHT. Why? bc your metabolism will slow down -- it's like a brownout--not quite enough electricity to make the whole city (your body) run, so it has to slow down some things. You will probably start being tired a lot, your skin and hair might start to look worse, and you might even gain weight. But you might NOT be hungry -- your body is getting used to fewer calories. That's bad.


    That's when you start to gain weight. Let's say you're running along, eating 1200 calories a day, and exercising 400 calories a day, so net is 800. You're losing, you think this is great. You keep doing it, but after a while you stop losing. hmmmmm. One weekend you go out to a special event and have a slice of pizza and a beer. 1 slice of pizza and 1 beer. So you ate maybe 2000 calories that day and exercised off 400, so net 1600. BOOM! You gain 3 lbs! What?!

    Next, you freak out and restrict yourself down to 1000 calories a day and work out extra hard, burning 500 calories. Great, netting 500 now. You don't lose any weight, but you sure feel tired. Better get some red bull.

    Are you getting the picture?

    EDIT: When you work out, you need fuel. Food is fuel. If you don't eat back those exercise calories, you will not only have a big calorie deficit, you will have an ENERGY deficit. Remember, the calorie deficit for weight loss is built in when you use MFP. Exercising basically earns you more calories because you must refuel.
    --

    There are many people who will tell you not to eat exercise calories. Before you take their advice, you might want to see whether they are at goal, have EVER been at goal, or have ever been able to maintain at goal. If anyone says to you 'THE LAST TIME I LOST WEIGHT", just stop listening right there.

    Ask some athletes whether or not they replenish their bodies with food equal to the calories they burn. Ask people who are fit and have achieved and maintained a healthy weight for some years. Don't ask people who count walking across a parking lot as exercise.

    Here's an interesting case study about how to stay fat while consuming only 700 calories a day. Take a moment, you'll be glad you did:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

    blessings.
  • mightn
    mightn Posts: 35
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    Dawn,

    Read the excellent post above from SleepyTexan and then when you have a spare 30 minutes, please read the 4 excellent posts from this link

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10665-newbies-please-read-me-2nd-edition

    This answered all my questions because what you are worried about is a constant issue on this site. The explanations from this link explain everything perfectly.

    Good luck. You have the perfect attitude so will succeed for sure :)
  • Dexy_
    Dexy_ Posts: 593 Member
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    Please eat more! NET 1200, don't just eat 1200!!