A little confused..please help.

SarahL5689
SarahL5689 Posts: 15
edited November 9 in Health and Weight Loss
Sooo I've read alot of posts about eating back the calories that we burn...and I guess I'm just confused as to why we need to do that...I don't really know what I should be doing to get the right amount of weight off per week. Right now I'm losing anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 pds a week..which isn't bad..but when I go for a walk or work out..I don't really eat anything extra..I just eat what I would typically in a day...my calorie intake is set at 1450 but most days I don't even eat anywhere near that...is that bad? My last question is what does the calorie deficit mean? Sorry for all the questions...just need some clarity on alot of this stuff. I don't want to just try and semi succeed I want to excel and get GREAT results and do things the right way..So if any of you have any answers, tips, or other pieces of advice I would really appreciate anything. Thanks ahead of time!!!! ~ Sarah

Replies

  • JodaNord
    JodaNord Posts: 496 Member
    I would say try to eat back your exercise calories, your body burns fuel and needs to be properly fueled to continue to lose fat and gain muscle, which is what really burns fats. Do not go below your BMR, thats the lowest your body needs just to breathe etc, without extra movement of any sort...
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Because MFP doesn't count any of your exercise until you actually do it.

    Here is a quick explanation BMR means Basal Metabolic Rate, this is the number of cals they would feed you in a coma, just to operate your organs. TDEE or "Maintenance Calories" means BMR + more calories to account for your every day activity. To calculate you have to indicate whether you live a sedentary lifestyle, lightly active, moderately active, vigorously active.

    Calorie deficit means the difference between your TDEE/Maintenance and the number you should eat now to lose weight. Recommended deficit amount is 15% to 20% less than TDEE/Maintenance. So if your TDEE was 2,000, then your calorie deficit of 20% would be 400. 2,000-400 = 1,600 goal calories to lose weight.

    Nobody should eat below their BMR. Also, 1,200 calories is the rock bottom minimum that is recommended for health, unless under doctor's orders for a time. However when you set up your profile here at MFP, you put in how much you want to lose, up to 2 pounds a week. When I did that, MFP set me to 1,200 calories. That was below my BMR. If I was really eating 1,200 and then burning 400 in exercise, that means I would net only 800. Way below what is healthy. Your metabolism will stall out.

    Basically MFP doesn't count on you actually exercising, it sets your calories based on how you set up your profile goals assuming you will not, and if and when you do exercise, you need to eat back that amount.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Because MFP doesn't count any of your exercise until you actually do it.

    Here is a quick explanation BMR means Basal Metabolic Rate, this is the number of cals they would feed you in a coma, just to operate your organs. TDEE or "Maintenance Calories" means BMR + more calories to account for your every day activity. To calculate you have to indicate whether you live a sedentary lifestyle, lightly active, moderately active, vigorously active.

    Nobody should eat below their BMR. Also, 1,200 calories is the rock bottom minimum that is recommended for health, unless under doctor's orders for a time. However when you set up your profile here at MFP, you put in how much you want to lose, up to 2 pounds a week. When I did that, MFP set me to 1,200 calories. That was below my BMR. If I was really eating 1,200 and then burning 400 in exercise, that means I would net only 800. Way below what is healthy. Your metabolism will stall out.

    Basically MFP doesn't count on you actually exercising, it sets your calories based on how you set up your profile goals assuming you will not, and if and when you do exercise, you need to eat back that amount.


    ^THIS!^ Perfect explanation.
  • SarahL5689
    SarahL5689 Posts: 15
    Ahhhh okay, now that makes sense...so then I definitely need to step it up...No wonder I feel hungry haha..That's not good. This information is very helpful. Where do I see what my BMR is? I put active..because my job is very physically active...I can walk easily up to ten miles in a shift..and it set my calories at 1450...so I guess I need to be making sure I stay on top of this..the right way. Thank you so much for clearing this up!!!! Very helpful.! :)
  • jogglesngoggles
    jogglesngoggles Posts: 362 Member
    Because MFP doesn't count any of your exercise until you actually do it.

    Here is a quick explanation BMR means Basal Metabolic Rate, this is the number of cals they would feed you in a coma, just to operate your organs. TDEE or "Maintenance Calories" means BMR + more calories to account for your every day activity. To calculate you have to indicate whether you live a sedentary lifestyle, lightly active, moderately active, vigorously active.

    Nobody should eat below their BMR. Also, 1,200 calories is the rock bottom minimum that is recommended for health, unless under doctor's orders for a time. However when you set up your profile here at MFP, you put in how much you want to lose, up to 2 pounds a week. When I did that, MFP set me to 1,200 calories. That was below my BMR. If I was really eating 1,200 and then burning 400 in exercise, that means I would net only 800. Way below what is healthy. Your metabolism will stall out.

    Basically MFP doesn't count on you actually exercising, it sets your calories based on how you set up your profile goals assuming you will not, and if and when you do exercise, you need to eat back that amount.


    ^THIS!^ Perfect explanation.

    Perfect explanation. I just wanted to add something that I had a hard time grasping....I would always think, well then why exercise if I'm just going to eat it back, I asked a trainer this and he told me, exercise is burning off the bad crap in my body ie: fat stores, If I eat it back with good food, I'm replacing the bad with good!!!

    I love your attitude by the way...you will be GREAT!!!
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Here is a BMR calculator and then gives you a chart that will show you your TDEE.

    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

    Then just take your TDEE x 20% to figure out how much less to eat.
  • SarahL5689
    SarahL5689 Posts: 15
    Thank you all SO much...I've just been wondering about this stuff..and feeling dumb for not grasping it. It's good to ask questions...and I really feel like there are alot of intelligent people on here...I guess I was right. :) I just so much want to do this the right way...so I really appreciate all the help!!!
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Perfect explanation. I just wanted to add something that I had a hard time grasping....I would always think, well then why exercise if I'm just going to eat it back, I asked a trainer this and he told me, exercise is burning off the bad crap in my body ie: fat stores, If I eat it back with good food, I'm replacing the bad with good!!!

    I love your attitude by the way...you will be GREAT!!!

    I am totally changing how I think about food, now I am starting to think of it as fuel. Same idea as the trainer. Also paying attention to how I feel after eating. There are a lot of things I could eat for x amount of calories, but is that going to make me feel like crap or help fuel the furnace?
  • bella_babe_86
    bella_babe_86 Posts: 503 Member
    http://www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Thank you all SO much...I've just been wondering about this stuff..and feeling dumb for not grasping it. It's good to ask questions...and I really feel like there are alot of intelligent people on here...I guess I was right. :) I just so much want to do this the right way...so I really appreciate all the help!!!

    I was a little confused at first too, especially when MFP told me to eat only 1,200. I didn't stay there for long. It is a great tool that you can customize, once you understand the basics.
  • Jcdaniels
    Jcdaniels Posts: 22
    http://www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/

    hahahahahahaha

    Thanks for the laugh!
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