How important is netting calories- I am confused. - REVISED

MiniMichelle

Hi Everyone,

I am new to MFP and I am getting ready to revamp my life starting Monday. I am planning on taking in 1200 calories a day, then working off 300-600 calories. How important is it for me to eat back those 300-600 calories I burned off by working out? I am reading that you should net 1200 calories (so taking my intake – workout= net) however, I am still confused…. Why do I have to net 1200 calories? Why can’t I just eat 1200 and work out to burn off between 300-600 each day?

Thank you for all your help and support!!!

shaunshaikh

Read the stickies.

Celo24

Because your body will not get enough fuel to function if you are netting only 600-900 calories a day. Read the links in my signature for some more detailed explanations as to why eating those exercise calories is so important. Good luck!

erickirb

Hi Everyone,

I am new to MFP and I am getting ready to revamp my life starting Monday. I am planning on taking in 1200 calories a day, then working off 300-600 calories. How important is it for me to eat back those 300-600 calories I burned off by working out? I am reading that you should net 1200 calories (so taking my intake – workout= net) however, I am still confused…. Why do I have to net 1200 calories? Why can’t I just eat 1200 and work out to burn off between 300-600 each day?

Thank you for all your help and support!!!

very important to eat them back. Otherwise you may not get enough protein or vitamins and minerals. Not to mention eating too little can cause your body to burn muscle, instead of fat, to use as fuel.

Windi38

I'm new to this too, but from what I understand, based on the activity level you put in when you joined, the 1200 calories is a BASE amount your body needs to survive and lose 1 lb a week if you do absolutely no exercise. 1lb a week is what is recommended, so that's how they work it.

any exercise you do, if you don't eat it back, will take out of the absolute minimum your body needs to survive, and while you may lose weight faster in the short term, you will rapidly start to lose energy, feel tired, and generally not be able to keep up the routine you set for yourself.

I have been biking regularly, and walking the dogs, and use about 500-800 calories a day, depending if I bike AND walk the dogs or not, or bike particularly hard one day. And I eat anywhere from 1600-1900 calories a day. My base is 1200. I've lost 6 pounds in 3 1/2 weeks since I really started working out. I haven't changed my eating habits at all, except I'm drinking more water. And I have more energy than ever! So 'eating' back the calories hasn't hurt me at all! In fact, if I tried to stick to 1200 calories and continue to burns as many calories as I have a day, I KNOW i'd feel terrible!

stormieweather

CHeck your goals. You will see what you are estimated to burn every day, not counting fitness exercise. You will see how the deficit is calculated to arrive at your net goal. The idea of eating back your calories is to maintain that deficit, so that you don't increase it to potentially unsafe levels. Our bodies NEED fuel to function!

MiniMichelle

CHeck your goals. You will see what you are estimated to burn every day, not counting fitness exercise. You will see how the deficit is calculated to arrive at your net goal. The idea of eating back your calories is to maintain that deficit, so that you don't increase it to potentially unsafe levels. Our bodies NEED fuel to function!

So Under my fitness goals when it says Net Calories Consumed- 1200/day
Calories burned- From Normal Daily Acitivity- 1860

Is the calories burned what it takes for my body to live each day and by eating 1200 and without working out I would have a 460 deficit naturally??

stormieweather

660 calorie deficit (mine is 460).

1860-1200 = 660 deficit