Net Calories at end of day

danielled6875

Hi everyone. Just wanted to make sure I'm not confussing myself. I think I am thinking about this too much.
I am supposed to NET 1200 calories/day before working out. When I do workout and gain extra calories, I don't always eat all of them back. When I close out for the day, is my Net calories supposed to be at that 1200 mark? I noticed their are days I am only at 800 but consumed more. So my question is...should i be concentrating on my net calories to be at 1200 or calories consumed at 1200? I hope I didn't confuse everyone.

thanks for your help.

Danielle

EDBENAGLIO

should not let your net get below 1200

kylakesgal

Hi and I'm really curious about that too. I've been here about a week and love it. My calories with exercise today is showing below 900 calories and I'm not hungry. I don't think you should be eating if you aren't hungry should you?

pcmoore

if 1200 is your goal and you exercise and burn 300 then you have 1500 you can eat. I don't always eat ALL my exercise cals but most I've read says you should eat at least 1/2 of them so you should not go below 1350 cals consumed based on this example. Hope that helps

Silky815

I find it hard to get my net calories around 1200.

acknan

bump

ladyhawk00

In general, yes, your net should be at least 1200 (maybe slightly less if you are very small i.e. 5'). Here are some great threads about how MFP works, metabolism and why eating too little will backfire. MUST READS! Good luck to you!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/173853-an-objective-look-at-eating-exercise-calories

kylakesgal

Thanks so much ladyhawk. I read all that and it makes much more sense now:)

danielled6875

thanks everyone...I feel like i am mentally challenged with this

ladyhawk00

Thanks so much ladyhawk. I read all that and it makes much more sense now:)

Quite welcome!

ladyhawk00

thanks everyone...I feel like i am mentally challenged with this

Don't let yourself get overwhelmed. There is a lot to learn when you're trying to eat healthy - it takes time, but it's worth it. Just keep working and it will get easier.

Little_Lisa_Ann

I'm finding this hard as well. I try to consume about 1200 calories per day. I exercise at night, so at the end of the day my net ends up being somewhere around 1000 (sometimes even less). And before I go to sleep I'm not hungry enough to try to make up 200-400 calories, so my net stays as is. I guess this is a bad thing..
What else can I do?

ladyhawk00

I'm finding this hard as well. I try to consume about 1200 calories per day. I exercise at night, so at the end of the day my net ends up being somewhere around 1000 (sometimes even less). And before I go to sleep I'm not hungry enough to try to make up 200-400 calories, so my net stays as is. I guess this is a bad thing..
What else can I do?

On days you know you'll exercise, just add a bit to each meal/snack - 25-50 cals each. And you can have a quick snack after your workout that's nutrient dense - some nuts, or peanut butter, or a protein shake, etc.