Calorie Deficit v. Calories Consumed...help!

jlaurena
jlaurena Posts: 60
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone! Here is my dilemma: I am supposed to consume 1400 calories on a regular day.

When I work out, I end up with about 2400 burned calories for the day, so reaching my goal calorie deficit of -1000 is not a problem.

However, on days when I don't workout, my burned calories for the day is only about 1800!

Does this mean I should only eat 800 calories that day, or stick to my usual 1400? MFP would tell me to stick to the 1400, but on Fitbit it will say I have "failed" for the day if I go over 800.

Thanks for your help!

~Jes

Replies

  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    It's really not healthy (or sustainable) to net below your BMR. Ignore your fitbit, make sure you get enough food, just the right kinds!
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Hi everyone! Here is my dilemma: I am supposed to consume 1400 calories on a regular day.

    When I work out, I end up with about 2400 burned calories for the day, so reaching my goal calorie deficit of -1000 is not a problem.

    However, on days when I don't workout, my burned calories for the day is only about 1800!

    Does this mean I should only eat 800 calories that day, or stick to my usual 1400? MFP would tell me to stick to the 1400, but on Fitbit it will say I have "failed" for the day if I go over 800.

    Thanks for your help!

    ~Jes

    I do not recommend making going under your BMR a part of you weight loss routine. Instead, be happy that you still have a 400 calorie deficit.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Why not just average over a week. Day to day is not so critical as overall.

    Also, isn't a deficit already built in to the 1400?
  • raystark
    raystark Posts: 403 Member
    Why not just average over a week. Day to day is not so critical as overall.

    Also, isn't a deficit already built in to the 1400?

    Yep. That should be the case in both MFP and Fitbit.
  • ccarre81
    ccarre81 Posts: 134 Member
    hum... I don't understand your calculations. You want a -1000 deficit per day? Your MFP number of 1400 already accounts for a deficit (based on pounds you set to lose per week). You should at least eat 1400 worth per day, if you burn let's say 400 calories in a day, I recommend you eat between 1600-1800 calories total.
  • jlaurena
    jlaurena Posts: 60
    thanks! all in all, i just want to lose weight and it's not working. i'm eating lower carb, getting exercise, eating clean, and i can't seem to budge. I think i'm messing up the calorie intake/outtake but i'm not sure.
  • ccarre81
    ccarre81 Posts: 134 Member
    thanks! all in all, i just want to lose weight and it's not working. i'm eating lower carb, getting exercise, eating clean, and i can't seem to budge. I think i'm messing up the calorie intake/outtake but i'm not sure.

    you can add me if you like, my diary is almost always completed.
  • jlaurena
    jlaurena Posts: 60
    thanks! all in all, i just want to lose weight and it's not working. i'm eating lower carb, getting exercise, eating clean, and i can't seem to budge. I think i'm messing up the calorie intake/outtake but i'm not sure.

    you can add me if you like, my diary is almost always completed.

    Will do! Seems like you know what you're doing!
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    The Fitbit goal doesn't give you any floor. MFP gives a floor of 1200.

    Others will have their own idea but if you ask me, I would eat above 1200 and keep my deficits at or below 1000/day average (or 7000/week if that's easier to think of). So if you burn 1800 some days, eat 1200 (deficit = 600). If you burn 2400 the next day, and you're comfortable eating 1200, eat 1200 (deficit = 1200). Average deficit for the two days = 1800/2= 900, which is under 1000. But if you workout 5 days a week, that's a 1200 calorie deficit 5 days a week, and will probably be uncomfortable, and will suggest you should only have a 500 calorie deficit the remaining two days to stay under 7000/week deficit.

    It's not that important. Don't lose more than 2 lbs/week. Don't eat under 1200. Listen to your body.
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