Double Checking the Net Calories

Ssminey79

Good Evening!
I am new here and I know that there have been a bazillion conversations regarding Net Calories, but for the newbie, I just want to make sure that I understand everything so that I am not undereating or overeating. My Goal Calories is about 1720, and most days I burn at least 400 calories from working out. My understanding is that I subtract my workout calories from the amount that I have eaten, and that is my Net Calories-yes? So this what I have so far at 7:30 this evening:

Goal 1720 Food 1513 Exercise 413 = Net 1110

I know that 1100 is a bit low, so I am going to try to get some more calories in me, but my next question is do I have to "eat up" to 1720 still, or should I just aim for 1200?


Thank you so much!

Jourdan_Rystrom

No no...as long as you put your exercises into the system MFP should automatically calculate this for you.

If your GOAL calories are 1720 and you exercise 413 calories, then you ADD those 413 to the 1720...making the "net" calories even more than your "goal". You are still at your goal...but because you exercises you can add those calories on to your eating calories!!! It really works! I eat ALL my exercise calories and for some reason I'm losing 4 lbs a week lol!

Hope this helps

babygurl1

You get to eat all those extra's you earned them!!

Ssminey79

Ughgh....so I should be consuming 2151 calories-based on my goal and my excercise? That is a lot of food! I'm not even that hungry.

Sorry I am so confused....numbers and me don't get along!

Jourdan_Rystrom

Haha, its all good. Just eat as much as you can (BUT HEALTHILY!). Keep yourself full but still under the daily amount allotted.

Don't worry if you don't eat all of them...but it will help you lose weight because your body doesn't snap into starvation mode and store extra fat!

NightOwl1

Your net calories should be close to 1720. So if you burn 413, according to the site, that means you should be eating over 2000 food calories to burn your desired weight.

I eat back most of my exercise calories, but I'll usually leave a bit of a buffer. I'll make sure that my net calories are over 1200, but if I do a lot of exercise, I'll leave a 100 or 200 calorie buffer between my net calories and my goal calories.

Now if you've set your target low and (1 pound a week or 1.5 pound a week), you might want to consider raising it. Then your net calories will be lower and you won't have to eat as many food calories.

AnnaPixie

You dont have to calculate anything yourself - MFP does it for you.

But yes, your NET cals are correct, but you should be eating near your goal, so you are way under.

Sometimes the terminogy is confusing - The poster above is correct, but using the wrong terms. You DO add your exercise cals to your goal to get your daily allowance, but to get net cals you take them off.

Clear as mud? Don't worry, just look at the figures that MPF give you in your diary. You dont have to do a thing, apart from scream if they go in the red!!! Too much in the green? Eat more!! :bigsmile:

NotAllWhoWanderAreLost

Goal 1720 Food 1513 Exercise 413 = Net 1110

I know that 1100 is a bit low, so I am going to try to get some more calories in me, but my next question is do I have to "eat up" to 1720 still, or should I just aim for 1200?


Thank you so much!

get up to a minimum of 1200 NET (based on your calculation above, you need min. 90 more) but you have wiggle room to eat up to your 1720 goal.

In this example, that would actually be consuming your base of 1720 AND your 413 expenditure to end at 1720 net.

Ssminey79

Hmm...I thought a pound a week was kinda a lot. I really only want to lose about 10lbs, so I was going for 1/2 lb per week. I don't do any calculating (again, numbers and me don't mix at all!!), so I am going by what the website tells me.

Sooo...I guess I will eat some more food

Thanks for all the info! This makes a lot more sense now!

megsta21

Also... I suggest reading these links... they might take you an 30mins to an hour... but it will TOTALLY change your outlook on MFP and also Explain Everything!!! It opened my eyes!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

HealthyishWithMaggieG

I don't worry about doing any calculations and I AM a numbers person. I know I'm allowed 1200 calories a day. If I workout, I'm allowed more. I plug in what exercises I've done and the site calculates it for me. I look to see what it says I have remaining and that's what I eat. Don't worry about NET calories, if you're not a numbers person.