Burn meter...I don't get it...

When I click on 'my account', it shows the eat meter, and I understand that.  Next to the eat meter is the burn meter.  In the top section of the burn meter it read: total estimate 2610 calories, and then under that, written largely in the middle of the burn meter box it says 1479 cal.

What does this mean??  I don't understand how this burn meter is set up....

I don't get it either, but maybe the small number on top means how many calories you burn in one day, and the big number means how many calories you have burned so far today?

 Just a guess.

Mary is exactly right.

If you add activities to your day, those numbers will increase.

I don't get that either.

The EAT meter TOP number shows the number of calories you have selected as your target goal (in your account settings -- you can change it)

The EAT meter BOTTOM number reflects the calories you are logging into your food log.

The BURN meter TOP number is the total estimated calories you burn based on your age, height, current weight, gender, and activity level -- if you set yourself as "sedentary" and then add in your activity calories -- those are added into the TOP number.

The BURN meter BOTTOM number shows how many calories you have burned at the moment you are looking at the meter. This number starts at 0 at midnight, reflects all the calories you burned throughout the night while sleeping, all the calories you burn just by living, and calories normally expended at your listed activity level. When (If) you add in activity minutes -- it will also reflect that added to the total.

If you stay up til midnight you can see both meters switch over to 0

 

I guess you have to stay up until midnight then, 

because the next day I can't locate the previous day's burn/eat meter numbers :(  

You can see the previous days burn meter -- but you don't have to stay up till midnight -- you will zero out.  Just note your burn meter number before you log off at night (some of us keep them in our journals or in our weight log notes).

As far as the eat meter goes -- you can retrieve that by going into your food log and changing the date -- or into your analysis log and changing the date 

How do I change how many calories I want to eat in a day?

The top small number is how many calories your going to burn by midnight, because you burn calories through out the day with out doing anything. so the top number just is a estimate of what your going to burn by midnight. the large number in the middle is the total ammount of calories you have burnt so far in the day. Sorry, I dont know how to explain it any better then that. Hope I helped, I know you got a bunch of different answers, but I believe mine to be correct

I think just by existing, you burn calories.  The meter will give you a time of day it computes by and your body will have burned so many calories to function and stay warm by that time of day.  So, it is saying you burned this many calories today by existing.

The daily total is made by your response to activity level in the profile.

I ran a test where I added activites and it increased the daily total by "almost" that amount that I burned exercising.  I think the difference is that I would have burned say 50 calories anyway by just being.  So the meter will give me the difference of the "extra" stuff I did.

 Janet

 

 

 

You're right - while you're sleeping you burn between 50 and 70 calories (just by 'being).  Years ago a dietician noted that if you take in 720 calories; you're burning (just by 'being), about the same number.  Figure that you've slept 24 hours; you've burned about 700 to 750 calories.

They note that 'sleeping quietly' (on the activities and exercises you select), you burn 67 calories (x) 12 = 804.  The man who suggested using a 700 to 750 calorie diet (this was back in the mid-60's, allowed that once you 'woke up', and started exercising and working, that if you counted the burned calories against the ones you took in while being in an active and awake stage, you could then see what you should eat to MAINTAIN your weight.  After you knew the maintenance number, you could start 'deducting' by either exercising MORE, or eating LESS.

There are negative foods - that means it takes MORE calories to burn the food, than the food (itself) contains.  Most vegetables are 'negative' foods.  Many fruits are 'negative' foods.  All other foods are NOT 'negative'.

The emphasis on putting your plate down; filling 3/4 of that plate with vegetables, is why you hear this so much (now) - because the 1/4 of the plate (usually protein), will result in a 'negative' condition.  That 1/4 you fill, should be protein; be as fat-free and low-calorie as you can make it (if you want to lose).

Sedentary work amounts to about 160 calories burned in an hour.  If you sleep 8 hours (x) 67 = 536 calories burned.  If you work around the house; cooking, etc., you allow about 170 (x) whatever (say 4 hours) = 680 calories.  Adding the housework to the sleep time, you have 12 hours used of the 24 hours.  You have burned about 1216 calories.  Many diets are based on a 1250 calorie diet, so now you have 12 more hours to 'exercise'; how you do that really gauges itself to how rapidly you'll lose the weight, if you're working with a 1250 calorie diet.

That 12 hours is your 'surplus' burn.  Sedentary/sitting/reading, watching t.v., etc., burns about 107 calories an hour (x) 12 (we'll say) = 1284 calories.  This means if you ate 1250 calories; slept 8, worked 4, and 'sat around' the rest of the time, you'd use up that 1284 calories (x) 3 days = 1 pound loss.  That would put you at around 10 pounds/month.

Since this web-site doesn't often show a 1250 recommendation, but rather shows more of a 1400 to 1700 calorie program, it means you'll have to up your exercise and 'busyness' program to another 3 hours.  I'm guessing they motivate us to 'move about more', not only for the weight loss concept, but to keep our bodies flexible and work our heart so it is in better condition.

If you work with the vegetables as your primary food, you'll find it pretty hard to get to the 1700 calorie count (unless you fry everything, rather than steam; broil, or boil).  If you eat the vegetables RAW, it's even better because it's harder to digest them, and you get more of the nutritional value from them in a raw state.  You can't 'gobble' or 'chew' as fast when they're raw - you eat slower, and you feel full longer.

The fruits can be negative; higher in calorie (of course) because of the sugar.  You can get your Vitamin C from tomato juice which has about 2.5 times LESS calories than the orange juice.  If you go with blackberries; strawberries, blueberries, and apples, you'll get the negative burning fruits; low caloried to boot.

The banana gives you the potassium many need; you can also take a supplement for this as well.  The banana has a higher calorie count than the previous fruits I've listed.  I enjoy grapefruit and blackberries mixed - this is what I use daily at breakfast.

The protein side of life is where I follow the turkey, chicken, Tilapia, Snapper, Salmon for 5 meals a day; one day of grapes, cheese, apples, walnuts at dinner rather than a 'hot meal'.  Then one day I allow for pork loin, or filet mignon.

Keeping the red meat 'down' is something I really feel better when I do it.

I don't have a weight problem; never have.  I've maintained my ideal weight for 65 years - these suggestions I've given you have caused this to be a nice reward because I still have clothes I bought 30 years ago, that can be worn comfortably.

I came here to see what to do for my husband's over-weight problem.  I found that my husband was simply not adhering to the diet I'd prepared; he was sneaking chocolate, peanut butter with crackers - having an extra couple of alcoholic drinks, and so I was anxious to see just what the caloric counts on these were.  I was surprised to find out how 'high' the counts were; thus, I figured I'd show HIM where he was failing in keeping his weight under control.

I was so pleased with the ability to calculate my OWN recipes with their 'analyzer'; learn MORE about the healthiest choices, and have the foods list and new recipes, that it is something I come to each day.

I don't fill up my 'meters' because I'm so used to knowing what to eat; how busy to keep, and don't deal with being over-weight, but I still enjoy the other features they offer.  I think this is the 'saving site' for so many people who want to reduce their weight (or gain weight if they're under-weight).

If you'd like to talk with me, I'm sixtyfivealive  - you can probably 'click' my post, and possibly get to my personal journal or account (or whatever they call it).

I think you have a tremendous smile; you look like a happy person, and I'd never guess you for being 205 pounds.  Once you lose the weight you want, you're going to have that great smile (still) - and how happy you'll be because not only will you feel so much better, people are going to see your beautiful smile in a whole new light.

I've got 10 grand-children; 2 great grand-children, and five children (all grown up of course).  When I got my driver's license at the age of 16, I vowed I'd never have to change the weight on the license when I renewed it every 4 years.  So far, I've kept that vow, and I know the reason I've had so much energy in my life, is because I ate properly and stayed at a healthy weight.

I raised my children; was very active in the community and church, and worked as a professional for 36 years before I retired to spend time with my grand-kids.  I still play basketball with the grand-kids just as I did with my own children.  My grown children like it when I take long walks on the beach with them; hike with them, and we travel to places of interest without me getting tired or having to 'quit' and go back to the hotel.  I'm happy to say my children are active; they've kept to a good eating program, and all are slender and successful in their careers.

I think the biggest thing that struck me was:  I never had to take one of my children to the doctor for an illness IN ALL THE YEARS it took to raise them.  I realize (now) that this is something that is somewhat uncommon.  My 47-year old daughter went to the doctor for an in-grown toenail at age 17; never sick.  My 45-year old son had to be taken into the doctor when he injured himself on a skate-board at age 15; never sick.  My 42-year old was taken in for a couple injuries related to foot-ball; never sick.  My 37 and 39 year old sons have never been sick, and believe it or not, no injuries. 

I do believe that making their baby-food (instead of buying it); watching what they ate throughout their growing years, and refusing to let them have candy; pop, or any kind of fatty desserts laid the ground-work for their good health.  Instead of pies and cakes, they had fresh berries (or frozen) with honey on top.  They filled up so much on the vegetables and other foods I prepared for the main course, they were just 'too full' to eat a dessert.

We'd fill the kids stockings with some candy (not all candy); that same candy would still be 'begging' at Valentine's Day when you're supposed to 'replace the candy'.  On Valentine's Day, I'd make my 'healthy bars' (as I called them).  I'd do the cookie dough; plop in raisins, nuts, and figs.  I'd shape them into hearts; thus, this was their 'sweet treat'.  By mid-July, the Christmas candy would ultimately disappear.  When Trick-or-Treat time came, this candy would be sorted; what seemed 'okay', would be kept, and this would last until the Christmas holiday.  In fact, we normally divided up the Halloween candy; took it to my parents - the inlaws, and my children would hand out some of it to their play-mates.

Now, while I got seriously off the 'track' of the meters and calorie burning, I thought if I mentioned these other incidents that are my personal 'history', you could see that we can really PREVENT becoming over-weight, and when we do that we never have to LOSE weight.  I like the prevention process because I see the difficulties my husband is having trying to lose.

Anyway, I might pop a message to you telling you of this comment - possibly you'd like to join my friends list.  I'm not much of a person who likes to add a huge selection of friends; I simply get too involved and spend more time on the computer than I'd like.  I keep too active; have too many interests in my own life, to spend much time 'surfing' (other than to read the news; business, and health articles that interest me).  Because I do keep very interested and 'busy', I don't really think about food (which is why I actually had a problem with being under-weight for months at a time, and would have to eat MORE to make up the deficit for health reasons).

I send my best wishes for a successful 2008 in your goals to lose the weight you want; you'll surely do it now that you've found this site, and supporting people who will encourage you also.  Diane 

 

Thanks everyone for the replies!  I am pretty sure I get it now :-)

Hi All - Just curious -

You arent sposed to burn more calories than you eat are you?

i'm glad you explained the burn meter...it was throwing me for a loop that the numbers kept changing.  my question is...when figuring out my calorie deficit, do i subtract the amount i ate from the amount that is estimated for the whole day?  so for instance, if i'm trying to have a 750 calorie deficit, but i've done some extra-extra exercise today, does that mean i should eat more than the 1550 that is my eating goal?  or if i've eaten more than my 1550 but do some extra exercise, am i still okay if the 750 deficit is there?  i read the calories-in vs calories-out post, but it left me confused and all the  responses from the original poster are blank.  please excuse me if i'm being exceptionally dense...math is not my thing.  :)

is there anyone who can help me with this?

To figure out your day's calorie deficit, you need to subract the top number of your Burn Meter (your day's estimated total number of calories burned) by the bottom number of your Eat Meter (the estimated amount of calories you consumed for the day).

EXAMPLE: If you burn 2500 Calories on one day and want to maintain a 750 calorie deficit, then you should consume 1750 calories.  But the next day you only burn 2300 calories, then to maintain a 750 calorie deficit consume 1550 calories.

okay, good...thank you so much!  i wasn't sure if i understood correctly.

Original Post by undertherainbow:

To figure out your day's calorie deficit, you need to subract the top number of your Burn Meter (your day's estimated total number of calories burned) by the bottom number of your Eat Meter (the estimated amount of calories you consumed for the day).

EXAMPLE: If you burn 2500 Calories on one day and want to maintain a 750 calorie deficit, then you should consume 1750 calories.  But the next day you only burn 2300 calories, then to maintain a 750 calorie deficit consume 1550 calories.

I can not thank you enough. I finally get how it works now.

I am glad it helped. 

Let me know if you have any more questions and I will try and help as much as I can.  :)

Thank you for this too :)

My question is i had a deficit of 3,059 yesterday is that bad? Is it bad to have a high deficit if your truly eating what your supposed to calorie wise, to reach your goal or the recommended goal. My sedentary lifestyle is changing, but i wouldnt consider myself much more active JUST yet.

Original Post by csabo1969:

Thank you for this too :)

My question is i had a deficit of 3,059 yesterday is that bad? Is it bad to have a high deficit if your truly eating what your supposed to calorie wise, to reach your goal or the recommended goal. My sedentary lifestyle is changing, but i wouldnt consider myself much more active JUST yet.

The calorie goal is an estimation that is used to base how many calories you should aim for using the activity level you selected.  The more activities you add, the more calories you should consume.

Since your deficit is extremely high (3xs the healthy range) then I would strongly recommend discussing this with your doctor.  What may be okay for one person is not for another.  A healthy deficit is 500-1000 calories.  This should provide a steady weight loss of 1-2lbs a week.  Anything more should be discussed with a medical professional.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help but I am not a medical professional and cannot advise you to have such a high deficit.  My recommendation would be to decrease your deficit to fall within the healthy range unless you discuss otherwise with your doctor.