Net calories

mhollencamp102012

So...does anyone have a NET calorie goal daily? I am trying something new this week to see if I can get past this hump....here's my math...
To maintain I should have 1900 a day. To lose 2 lb a week I need a 1000 cal deficit a day. I don't want to eat ONLY 900 calories because I exercise...So I am going to consume 1200 a day and burn 300 a day (its usually closer to 400-450). But 300 would put me at 900 net calories....this should....in theory and on paper give me a 2lb a week loss.....so does anyone else do it this way?

MKEgal

I have a calorie goal & try to eat at that.
Net is worthless because most people underestimate what they eat, and most machines overestimate calories burned.
By ignoring exercise calories, for most people most of the time those errors cancel out.

Is 2 lb a week a reasonable, realistic, healthy goal for you?
Do you have 50 lb or more to lose?
If not, set a more realistic weight loss goal.
With 30 lb or less, 0.5 lb per week would be realistic.
So you could have 1650 calories & lose a reasonable amount of weight, while not starving.

MKEgal

Read sexypants, at least.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10012907/logging-accuracy-consistency-and-youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819925/the-basics-dont-complicate-it/p1

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/872212/youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1

mhollencamp102012

I have 50 to lose to get my BMI at 22.5...so for now 2 a week is realistic.. I know as I get lower it will slow..which I am OK with. I had my calories higher and wasn't moving. I am going to try this for two weeks and see how it goes... If its too much I will add cals or back off some exercise

gilliebee63

MKEgal wrote: »

Read sexypants, at least.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
[...]

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1

This is great advice. Also, your calorie target should not be less than your BMR. You may need to slow your pace if you want to be able to sustain your program and maintain your loss.

mhollencamp102012

gilliebee63 wrote: »

MKEgal wrote: »

Read sexypants, at least.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
[...]

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1

This is great advice. Also, your calorie target should not be less than your BMR. You may need to slow your pace if you want to be able to sustain your program and maintain your loss.

Have not had a loss in a month at higher calories ... This is why I am changing it upfor a couple of weeks

WinoGelato

I'm having a little trouble following you, maybe I need more coffee LOL.

MFP is designed to work with a net calorie goal, meaning that if you put in accurate numbers, an appropriate activity level, and a realistic rate of loss it will give you a target to eat that should help you lose with no exercise. If you do exercise, you should be eating at least a portion of those calories back.

What are your stats (height, weight, desires weight loss, and activity level)? Where did you get that 1900 maintenance level from? Are you logging everything, weighing your food with a digital scale, etc? Someone a love linked some good threads to read to help you get started and set appropriate goals.

That said, no, I don't think it is healthy to net 900 cals. 1200 is usually the lowest recommended for women and even that I feel is too low for many people other than those who are very petite and/or sedentary.

mhollencamp102012

My doctor put me at 1000 a day ... Because I am exercising I upped it to 1200... Before that I upped it to 1500 and was not losing. 1900 is correct for me to maintain...yes I am measuring...weighing. Keeping everything within goal...and exercising. Its all trial and error for everyone... What I was doing when I started was working..now its not so I have to change it up. Guess I should have been more specific in my post...I wasn't asking for advice on my numbers was asking about net calories and what people do with them