Is somewhat confused (help please!)

darkmouzy

So lovely people of mfp I need some help, also I'm writing this before I head out to school so I probably won't get a chance to check in for a while but here goes....

I'm confused as to what net calories are? I've lost 10 pounds and I've been stuck at that number here for the past few days even though I've been doing an hour cardio (zumba daily!) and weight training 3x a week, and on cardio days sometimes i'm doing 2 hours of cardio.

My goal mfp set up for me is 1200 calories. (I'll open my diary here before I leave)

Also I know there are alot of protien shakes on there (2-3 sometimes depending on the day) But that is because I leave for school at 7:00 (usually) and don't get home till around 6 (sometimes later due to my practicum in clinic training to be rmt) and my backpack can only hold so much food without getting squashed by my textbooks.

So I guess my other question is what do you suggest because obviously I'm missing a piece of the puzzle and I'm new to this whole concept.

Thank you!

P.s I will read all the responses as soon as I can!

Cindym82

Mostly because you're eating too little. NEVER go under 1200, that is the min calories to take in esp if you are exercising.

darkmouzy

Yeah more less I'm going to be updating this tonight when I get home (my meals for the day) So should I up my caloric intake then?

AvsFreak

A few days at the same weight is nothing to worry about. Weight loss is not linear. Just water fluctuations and amount of food in the GI tract can affect the scale. If your weight hasn't changed for 3 or 4 weeks, then make adjustments.

Also agree with other poster, 1200 is quite low. 1500 is the minimal daily recommended amount for women. I would up your calories, but stick to whatever new goal you choose for 3 weeks before making changes again. Adjust as needed.

Tatyanne

Hi,

You have a 1200cal goal a day, so never eat less than that. That's a mistake, 'cause your body will "think" that some catastrophe is comming and starts to keep in the small amouts you give him.

Then there is another question: Should you eat your net calories?
I don´t understand much, some people say yes, others say no, and others say (half of it, yes)...
Conclusion i got was: You should try to eat the "darkmouzy's Daily Goal" calories.

That's what I'm doing (My daily recommended calories amount is 1220 cal), if someone believe's i shouldn't please correct me

Kisses,
Tatyanne

darkmouzy

So from what im gathering and from what someone messaged me, i should intaking 1200 (or more depending on what happens) my goal is 1200 and excersise will take away from that so with excersise included i must be at 1200 lol is this thinking correct?

captkirkyota

1200 is the suggested calories based on the activity level you put in your info and is what it suggests you eat if you DO NOT exercise. Any additional calories you burn will increase the min cals you are supposed to eat, so if you look at goal, then consumed, then exercise, they will subtract your exercise calories from your eaten cals to tell you your "net" cals. The best way to look at it is to add the calories you burn on top of your 1200 minimum and eat that much.
IE
1200 goal, your heartrate monitor tells you that in 45 min of running or whatever you burned 350 cals. You should then eat for that days minimums, 1550 in calories.
Because if you'd eaten, say 600 cals by the time you exercised, subtract the 350 and you have eaten a "net" calories of 250 calories. 1200-600= 600 calories left to eat for the day. 600 eaten - 350 burned in extra calories = 250 "net" calories consumed for the day OR 600 + 350( cals burned form exercising) = 950 MORE calories you have to eat that day for your minimums.
Hope this does not confude you even more.

darkmouzy

This clears everything up for me thank you so much captkirkyota!!

captkirkyota

This clears everything up for me thank you so much captkirkyota!!