Net calories question?

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fernwehwanderlust
fernwehwanderlust Posts: 26
in Health and Weight Loss
Whats the difference between eating, say 1500 calories, exercising and burning off 250 calories and eating them back, and eating 1500 calories and not exercising? Arn't you eating the same amount of calories anyway over the day, but just exercising? The only difference I see is the benefit of exercising.

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  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
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    the difference is that if MFP gave you 1500 calories you are already in your deficet to lose the weight you want and if you exercise you are in a bigger deficet...

    yes you may lose faster but it's not in a healthy way and if you don't eat your calories back and you "net" under 1200 how will you fuel your next workout? and if you do it on a regular basis how are you going to live on so few calories.
  • snappingosprey
    snappingosprey Posts: 28 Member
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    Whats the difference between eating, say 1500 calories, exercising and burning off 250 calories and eating them back, and eating 1500 calories and not exercising? Arn't you eating the same amount of calories anyway over the day, but just exercising? The only difference I see is the benefit of exercising.

    Yes, your net calories are the same in both conditions.

    MFP uses a method known as NEAT which is a non-exercise method of calculating calories. It assumes no exercise and gives you a calorie goal that is already at a deficit based on your weight loss goals (and personal information). When you do exercise you are supposed to ("required") to eat those calories back per NEAT. Not some, but all, those calories.

    Exercising and not eating those calories back will put you further below you daily calorie deficit. This is not necessarily unhealthy, though it depends on your weight loss goal and MFP's established calorie deficit. For example, if your goal is to lose 0.5 pounds a week yet you exercise and don't eat those calories back, you'll lose more than that 0.5. If its 1lb, 1.5lbs, 2lbs great. If its more than 2 lbs a week, that is generally not considered healthy.

    Sticking to your calorie goal and not exercising is fine as well, especially if your goal is just weight loss. Many folks like the weight loss plus the benefits of exercise, so we eat our calories back.

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