Confused about net calories.

sdavis484
sdavis484 Posts: 160 Member
edited February 2020 in Health and Weight Loss
If my net calorie reduction for the week is 1600, that's only a half a pound per week loss? Or has mfp already put the loss you selected into the calculations and you should have consumed 1600 calories more?

Replies

  • puffbrat
    puffbrat Posts: 2,806 Member
    I don't entirely understand what you wrote.

    If you went through the guided setup and selected to weight, then the daily calorie goal MFP gives you already has the appropriate deficit built into it.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,454 Member
    https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032625391-How-does-MyFitnessPal-calculate-my-initial-goals-
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    edited February 2020
    You were 1600 calories under your goal? Then you should lose 1/2 lb more than what you put in as your weight loss target. (All things, being equal, which they're probably not.)

    Or were you 1600 calories under maintenance? If that's the case, then you should lose 1/2 pound.

    Based on what you wrote, I think you mean the first one.

    Or in other words, weight loss is already baked into your goal calories.
  • serindipte
    serindipte Posts: 1,557 Member
    MFP's calculations already account for the deficit you've chosen. If you've said you want to lose a pound a week, and it says to eat 1500 calories, that means your maintenance calories are 2000 and you are supposed to eat the 1500. Net calories are what you've eaten of your goal, less your exercise calories. Depending on how accurate your exercise calories are, you are meant to eat back 50-100% of those calories, too.
  • sdavis484
    sdavis484 Posts: 160 Member
    Last week. I was only eating 50% exercise calories but I think I will change to eating all
  • sdavis484
    sdavis484 Posts: 160 Member
    edited February 2020
    Don't know why pic is like that so if I am eating the correct cals for my plan, the difference of net and weekly cals should be zero
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,303 Member
    Your very bottom number, the one that is less than 1200... would probably be better for your long term to have that number at a minimum of 1200
  • serindipte
    serindipte Posts: 1,557 Member
    Looks like your Monday was extremely low. If that one had been higher, you'd be more in line with where you should be.

    Your net average should be near your MFP goal, yes. It doesn't have to be exact.
  • sdavis484
    sdavis484 Posts: 160 Member
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Your very bottom number, the one that is less than 1200... would probably be better for your long term to have that number at a minimum of 1200

    Do you think it would be closer to 1200 if I ate back more exercise calories?
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    sdavis484 wrote: »
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    Your very bottom number, the one that is less than 1200... would probably be better for your long term to have that number at a minimum of 1200

    Do you think it would be closer to 1200 if I ate back more exercise calories?

    Yep. If you do what we talked about yesterday, you should come in at a net around your base MFP goal :)
  • georgeinagreen3950
    georgeinagreen3950 Posts: 1 Member
    I need help please. I’m looking at my net calories and it just doesn’t make sense to me. Today for instance, I have hit my goal of eating 1420 calories but “earned” an extra 319 due to exercise. My net calories is sitting at 1091... what does this mean? I always have between 3-400 calories remaining every day. Should I be eating those calories too? Please help! X
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    georgeinagreen3950 wrote: »
    I need help please. I’m looking at my net calories and it just doesn’t make sense to me. Today for instance, I have hit my goal of eating 1420 calories but “earned” an extra 319 due to exercise. My net calories is sitting at 1091... what does this mean? I always have between 3-400 calories remaining every day. Should I be eating those calories too? Please help! X

    You may want to start your own thread, but yes -- MFP is designed for you to eat back the calories you burn through additional exercise so that your NET calories are at your goal.

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