Accuracy of myfitness pal daily calorie goal

[monsterkitty]

My coach has me tracking my diet so I have been using my fitness pal. I'm wondering about the accuracy of the daily calorie goals it gives you. For example, I have eaten 823 calories so far, but it says I need to eat another 3,150 because of my 2:30 hour bike ride and my 90 swim! Yesterday I took in 1,250 calories and had 1,175 remaining after my 1:20 run and 30 min bike.

Does this sound accurate? If so, how can I eat that much? I would be eating all the time!!

 

[plutolovr]

First of all, make sure you wear a heart rate monitor to get a true accurate reading of your calories burned. This varies greatly with how good in shape you are. I know it takes a lot for me to burn calories.

Second, if you're trying to lose a lot of weight then stick with your regular calorie goal and don't eat back your exercise calories. If you're trying to maintain, then eat your burned calories every day.

 

[KaLyn]

I just eat my daily recommended intake (1,200) and I don't eat back what I exercise off. So if I eat my 1,200 and burn 400 working out, then that's a net of 800 and I leave it at that unless I am super hungry, which hardly ever happens.

As the PP mentioned, without a HRM you really have no idea how many calories you are burning when working out. Because of this, you could end up over eating if you are trying to eat those calories back.