Net calories

haileeyyy_
haileeyyy_ Posts: 9
edited February 3 in Health and Weight Loss
I recently joined MFP and I'm still confused as to what net calories are? I know it's my food calories minus my exercise but does that mean its my total calorie intake for the day?
Thanks

Replies

  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Let's pretend MFP sets you a goal of 1350 calories everyday. If you do ZERO exercise, and you eat 1350 calories, your NET is 1350 calories.

    Then, on another day you exercise and burn 258 calories doing it. You eat 1350 calories. 1350-258= 1092 NET.

    That being said, the way MFP is designed, when you add your exercise, MFP will then tell you you've earned more calories to eat. You should eat these calories to fuel your body for the extra work you're doing.

    So mathematically it would look like this: 1350-258= 1092 ; 1092+258=1350 NET.

    So in the end you want you NET to be as close to goal (after exercise, if you do) as possible. Your goal is exactly that, your goal. Always get there. Don't undercut too much. A bigger deficit will be counterproductive.
  • FitStelley
    FitStelley Posts: 38 Member
    Basically, more exercise means more food/calories. The less you exercise, the less calories you get. My net goal is 1520 per day, but I usually get to eat 1800-2000 because of my activity.
  • haileeyyy_
    haileeyyy_ Posts: 9
    So if I eat 710 calories during the day then exercise off 438 calories and my net equals 272 calories, 272 is the amount of calories I took in that day right? Sorry if I'm being annoying :(
  • RoyBeck
    RoyBeck Posts: 947 Member
    So if I eat 710 calories during the day then exercise off 438 calories and my net equals 272 calories, 272 is the amount of calories I took in that day right? Sorry if I'm being annoying :(

    That's correct although worrying low.
  • haileeyyy_
    haileeyyy_ Posts: 9
    Ok, thanks for your help. I think I understand it more now :)
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    So if I eat 710 calories during the day then exercise off 438 calories and my net equals 272 calories, 272 is the amount of calories I took in that day right? Sorry if I'm being annoying :(

    Yes, that is your NET. But it's not recommended to go below 1200 calories, NET. You'll be treading dangerous territory if you eat too low. It's not sustainable at all and it'll make you very unhappy, very quickly.

    Eat some caloric dense foods, like nuts, peanut butter, cheese, greek yogurt, etc.

    If you're only netting 272 calories, tht's all the calories your body has to function on. It takes alot more than 272 calories to maintain lung function, heart beating, cell growth, digestion, brain activity, etc.

    In short, do your body a favor and ALWAYS aim to net above 1200. Calories are fuel for your body. You need them, of course, in moderation.
  • bacitracin
    bacitracin Posts: 921 Member
    It's like your net income. you take your gross or total income, subtract your taxes, and BAM. Net.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    So if I eat 710 calories during the day then exercise off 438 calories and my net equals 272 calories, 272 is the amount of calories I took in that day right? Sorry if I'm being annoying :(

    That's correct....but extremely dangerous. Eat some friggin' food. You do realize that your body burns calories just keeping you alive right? In fact, most of the calories you burn in a day are burned just keeping you alive. The average female burns around 1400-1500 calories just breathing. Netting so few calories, you do not give your body anything to work with...eventually bad things will happen like your hair falling out, your body consuming it's own muscle and organs, etc. Eat.
  • Justsimply67
    Justsimply67 Posts: 18
    I am so glad the OP asked this question. I did not understand the net calorie thing at all. I understood how they got the number just not what it indicated. I thought I was supposed to have a negative number. I workout a lot and was so hungry trying to keep my net in the negative. I didn't get it and could only focus on the fact that I was starving....lol. Time I read this and understood I went to make and eat egg whites with veggie cheese on a thin everything bagel; then I came back to post this. I was/am so happy!! These were a rough few days. Thank you all.
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