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Under calories

ANSWERED

‎01-28-2014 19:09

‎01-28-2014 19:09

Should I be eating more as I burn more? For example, today once I put in my info for my dinner it said that I was in the zone but as the night continued on it has dropped to below or under. Then when I look back at my log it tells me that I have 275 of 1410 left! Please help me understand this.... I get so discouraged when I get confused with this stuff and I really want and need to get it together to be healthy and happy!
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‎01-29-2014 08:05

‎01-29-2014 08:05

The calculation on how many calories you can eat is a fairly simple equation that sometimes gets to be confusing. 

 

Hypothetically, if your body requires 2,000 calories to just stay alive that is your base calorie count.  If you eat 2,000 calories your weight will stay exactly the same.  However, if everyday you eat 500 calories less (1,500) than this you will loose 1lb a week (7 x 500 = 3,500 calorie deficit). 

 

Aiming to loose 1lb a week means, therefore, you are aiming for a 500 calorie deficit every day.  Which sounds easy, but actually for most people takes a lot of focus and determination.  The 500 calories can come from not eating as much, or from exercise.  Lets say you burn 1,000  calories a day working out.  That means your total calories burned is 2,000 (just to stay alive) plus 1,000 (from working out).  Total 3,000.  Since you want to have a deficit of 500 calories that means you can now eat 2,500 calories a day.

 

Hence the mantra 'diet and exercise'.  Its easier to loose weight by doing both - just cutting calories means you may feel hungry and end up snacking here and there.  Just doing exercise means having to workout very hard, every day. 

 

Let me know if its still confusing.  

 

View best answer in original post

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3 REPLIES 3

‎01-29-2014 08:05

‎01-29-2014 08:05

The calculation on how many calories you can eat is a fairly simple equation that sometimes gets to be confusing. 

 

Hypothetically, if your body requires 2,000 calories to just stay alive that is your base calorie count.  If you eat 2,000 calories your weight will stay exactly the same.  However, if everyday you eat 500 calories less (1,500) than this you will loose 1lb a week (7 x 500 = 3,500 calorie deficit). 

 

Aiming to loose 1lb a week means, therefore, you are aiming for a 500 calorie deficit every day.  Which sounds easy, but actually for most people takes a lot of focus and determination.  The 500 calories can come from not eating as much, or from exercise.  Lets say you burn 1,000  calories a day working out.  That means your total calories burned is 2,000 (just to stay alive) plus 1,000 (from working out).  Total 3,000.  Since you want to have a deficit of 500 calories that means you can now eat 2,500 calories a day.

 

Hence the mantra 'diet and exercise'.  Its easier to loose weight by doing both - just cutting calories means you may feel hungry and end up snacking here and there.  Just doing exercise means having to workout very hard, every day. 

 

Let me know if its still confusing.  

 

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‎01-29-2014 11:20

In response to gerrymcd

‎01-29-2014 11:20

This did help a lot!!! Thank you!!!!!! Smiley Wink

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‎04-27-2015 18:20

In response to gerrymcd

‎04-27-2015 18:20

I am new to fitbit and my current weight loss goal is 6 pounds. I have been unable to reach my calorie goal every day since I have started. I am way UNDER the number! I walk at least 15,000-18,000 steps daily and do not each much. My total calories consumed for the day is around 1100. At the end of each day I have lots of calories left in my "budget". I am concerned that I am not losing weight because I am putting my body in starvation mode. It is not intentional! Is there a basic number of calories that a person can eat to ensure that they will be at a healthy level no matter the amount of steps walked? 

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