Net Calories HELP! :)

kellxbelle09

Hello! I am very new to this site (like as of yesterday haha)... I have been using the LoseIt app on my iPhone for a few weeks and I constantly find myself googling questions and it always takes me to these message boards so I figured I'd give it a shot! I am most
confused about total vs. net calories and am now concerned I may not be eating enough. Here are my stats:

Female
Age: 24
Height: 5'2
Weight: 136lbs
Goal: 110lbs
BMR: 1422

I exercise 4-5x a week, combining cardio with strength training: 45 mins cardio, 25 minute strength/conditioning DVDs that incorporate cardio as well. I use a Polar HRM with a chest strap that says I burn between 500-800 calories per workout. I am eating between 1400 and 1700 healthy calories a day and have noticed my net calories are anywhere between 600 and 1,000 calories every day. The scale has not budged an ounce in weeks!

I know your body requires a minimum of 1200 calories a day to perform basic functions, so I guess my question is regarding whether those 1200 are required from total calories (I.e. only food calories) or if my net calories needs to be 1200 every day. If I burn 800 calories in a workout, do I need to have consumed 2,000 calories that day?

The deficit/net thing is totally throwing me off! Any input would be appreciated!

Thank you for reading this

karenhray7

The difference between the calories you are eating and the net cal MFP gives you is what you've burned through activity. Some people swear by eating these calories back, some say don't do it. Since you're not losing anything, I would try eating some of those calories back. So yes, on a day where you burn lets say 500 calories with activity, try adding back at least half of those.

And just out of curiosity, where did you get the 1200kcal is the required minimum? Last time I checked, 1200 was simply a guideline for women's caloric intake.

kellxbelle09

Thank you for the response! I am going to up my calories a bit and see if that works. In regards to the 1200, everything I have read has said to not fall below 1200 calories a day or your body will enter into 'starvation mode,' based on information from the National Institute for Health. I was just curious as to whether this was total calories before exercise, but I think you're right about adding more exercise calories back into my diet.

chooselove

In regards to the 1200, everything I have read has said to not fall below 1200 calories a day or your body will enter into 'starvation mode,' based on information from the National Institute for Health.

Starvation mode is such a bunch of bull. But read this, I think you'll find it helpful. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

Also, I am 5'2", yay for shrimpy girls! We're cute!

kellxbelle09

thank you for sending me that post! very insightful and makes a lot of sense.

and yayy for mini people! at 5'2 we are very fun-sized!