Question about Net Calories

Dancerten

I just joined today, so I'm not quite sure how this works... When you earn extra calories by exercising, are you supposed to eat that much more or is it alright to just stay at your original caloric goal?

For example: My Daily Goal today was 1200 calories. I just got back from the gym and logged 20 minutes on the stair climber for a total of 460 calories burned. Now my Daily Goal is shown as 1660. Do I have to eat those extra 460 calories that I burned? Any info would be appreciated )

Mindful_Trent

The general MFP program is that yes, you are supposed to eat exercise calories back. The reason for this is that the deficit to lose weight is already built into what you eat, before exercise is even considered. Most people have their goals set at 2 lbs/week, which is a 1000 calorie deficit. It's not generally recommended to go beyond this, so exercise calories would push you into an unhealthy deficit.

Since you're at 1200, you may not actually burn enough on a daily basis to get the 1000 calorie deficit even if you set your goal to 2 lbs/week... go to your goals page and look at what it says your deficit is. If it's under 1000, then whatever the difference is between that number and 1000 is, then you could burn without eating back and still be at a safe deficit. Anything over that, however, you should try to eat back (at least most of it).

Example: if your deficit on your goals page is 600, then you could burn 400 by exercise and be at a 1000 calorie deficit (on track for 2 lbs/week). However, if you have a superstar exercise day and burn 700, then you'll want to eat your normal 1200 plus the 300 extra.

Feel free to send me a private message if you want any more info. I'm happy to help.

imarlett

The idea is you are suppose to eat back what you burn. I always look at it as I can eat those calories if I want to or if my body tells me I really need to.

Dancerten

Thanks! That makes sense now, I really appreciate the quick feedback )