Confused? Help with Calorie Deficit & Net in MFP

jamie12z

Hi, I've been using Myfitnespal for a while now but yet I'm confused about how the net works.

My goal is 1200 calories a day
Food I plan to eat by tonight is 1200 calories
But I exercised and burnt up to 771 calories and my net right now is -53
My Remaining is 1253 calories...

Am I doing this all wrong?
I'm so lost.
Is my net supposed to be a certain number? Is it supposed to be 0?

kharmacat

If your diary were public, it might be easier to see what's going on ... But "Your Daily Goal" is your Net. Base goal calories (1200) + what you burned in exercise = Net. So if you burned 771 calories today, your "Net" Daily Goal should now be 1971 calories.

Did you log all 1200 calories you plan to eat today? If so, your "remaining" should be 771.

Hope this helps ...

jamie12z

Hi Kharmacat,
I just made my diary public! My "remaining" is now 993. Am I supposed to eat 993 more calories in order to reach my goal? If I ate 1200 today, and my remaining was 771, do i still have to consume 771 calories of food. THANKS SO MUCH. I understand this a little better

editorgrrl

Your net calories are the food you've eaten minus your exercise calories. You should eat 1,971 calories today to net 1,200.

Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

jamie12z

Hi editorgrrl, thanks!!