Still can't figure out burn and deficit

Someone pls explain the burn and deficit thing to me as if you were talking to a kindergartener

I can't understand how the cals and burn meter are tied together. I know stupid but I just can't get my head around it.

My cals are 1400 - 1600 and my burn meter says total estimate 2270 cals????? (imagine my face with a big question mark on it )

My activity is set to light. I can't manage to fit extra activity's into my day, with 2 small kids. So, am I using up these cals (2270) on my own or do I need to do more to lose weight???

Pls explain how deficit comes it to all of this.

Thanks loads

Thanks so much for asking this question.  I thought I was the only one who just couldn't figure it out. 

Looking forward to someone explaining.

Elizabeth

The amount of calories you burn in a day is based on your height, weight, and activity level.  The burn meter uses the information you entered to figure this out.  In addition, if you log exercise, then the amount of calories for that exercise are added to your burn meter.

If you log all of your foods and beverages during the day, then at the end of the day, your deficit will be the difference between the burn meter and the number of calories you consumed.

To lose one pound per week, you need a deficit of 500 calories per day.  This is because you need to burn approximately 3500 calories more than you consume to lose 1 pound.

Many people find that they get better results if they set their activity level to sedentary and then log all of their activities.

I don't find it surprising that people are confused by the tools here as I don't think they are explained very well or the explanations are not in an easy to find place.

Ok let me see if i got this straight. So according to the meters and that I do not consume more than 1700, I should lose weight without any extra activity. Right??? And the number that is constantly changing is the amount of cals used in 24hrs?

I know dumb dumb, but just want to be sure that I'm using the tools right.

Thanks

Hi Anidom,

The number that is constantly changing is what your body is burning involuntarily - such as your heart beating etc.   It also allows for the exercise level you stipulated earlier in the process - light, moderate or whatever. 

When you do exercise over and above your normal day - then you log it and it gets added to your burn meter.  So the calorie deficit will increase. 

Before you do any exercise the calorie meter / burn meter deficit will be based on your weight loss targets whether it be 1lb per week or whatever.  So, yes, you will lose weight without exercise if you do not go over your calorie allowance (or to far under it either as this will slow your metabolism).   It is much simpler to use the total burn figure - as at the end of the day that is what it will be anyway.

So.  To keep on target, one should eat your exercise calories as well - and you probably will want to as your body needs energy.  You can also use this to burn off after indulging a bit much.  It's like a give and take process.

Hope this helps!  I was also a bit confuses until I read the other answer to your post so thanks for posting this! 

Thanks techdog and steph82much.  It's finally clear to me