I have a question about myfitnesspal. - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

luvinit · 10-13-2011, 12:40 AM

I noticed when I started logging my exercise that it added calories to my total allowed for the day. I thought that when I entered my activity level my average exercise was included in this. Should I lower my "activity level" to not include my workouts?

Thanks!

TheLindsy · 10-13-2011, 12:46 AM

You average exercise is what you do daily. So like if you are a waitress or salesman it would be different than if you worked in a call center. So its about the average calories you burn BEFORE you workout.

Hope that helps!

indiblue · 10-13-2011, 12:46 AM

This is something I don't like about MFP! It encourages you to "eat back" the cals burned.

I work at a computer all day so I put my activity level as "sedentary." I do log my exercise, but only for the minutes, not the calories. I don't try to "eat back" the calories burned unless it's a super hard workout (running for 45 mins+) and I want to add in an extra 100-200. I never try to eat all the way up to the goal they give me by adding in my exercise cals.

This is just what I do, I try to be conservative about assuming the number of calories burned each day, to be on the safe side

jayohwhy · 10-13-2011, 12:58 AM

It does that, but I ignore it and focus on the total calories consumed instead of the total that includes my exercise calories

luvinit · 10-13-2011, 01:04 AM

Thanks all that makes more sense. I'm new to it and I really liked having the numbers to look at (already tallied!) but was shocked to see so much added on.

naynajay0526 · 10-18-2011, 08:43 AM

I hated this at first too. Ill eat 1200 calories a day, and then i run on the treadmill for 20 minutes, and elliptical for 45 minutes. by the time i put in all my info it tells me I need to eat another 1200 calories! lol so I dont pay attention to it anymore.

I also noticed, that when i use my iphone app I cant lower the calories to "1200" because it suggests "1560" to me. Online, however on a computer you can enter manually how many calories you want daily.. so that's what I did and now when i got to my app it shows 1200 instead of 1560! I also love how you input your daily info and it says "If everyday were like this you'd weigh xxx in 5 weeks!"

add me if you'd like! "youarewhatyoueat86"