900 calories - NET , is that really low?

MissBabyJane
MissBabyJane Posts: 538 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I usually eat around 1200 calories a day, but when I exercise my net is 900. Should I eat more to make them 1200 or at least half of my exercise calories? I know there is countless topics, but I really don't get the "net" calories thing

Replies

  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    calories consumed - calories burned through exercise = net

    If you exercised some off, eat some back. Try not to be below 1200 net at the end of the day. Unless you are very very small, that is already probably too low.
  • MissBabyJane
    MissBabyJane Posts: 538 Member
    I'm 19 years old female, 165 cm/53kg
  • Justagirl1978
    Justagirl1978 Posts: 64 Member
    Yes, it's really low.
  • lisaabenjamin
    lisaabenjamin Posts: 665 Member
    Everyone burns calories just by being alive - even if you sat in a chair all and did nothing all day, you would still burn calories because your body uses them up just by doing things like breathing, talking, thinking, beating your heart and all that stuff. On "average" (and there really isn't such a thing as an "average" person), a woman will burn around 2000 calories and a man 2500 calories just sitting and doing nothing. So in theory, if you sat and did nothing, and ate 2000 cals a day, you would stay the same weight. (I should stress that everyone is different! My approximate daily burn - you might see this referred to on MFP as your TDEE - is around 1850 for example. Google TDEE Calculator to work out yours).

    The net calorie goal that MFP sets for you (in your case 1200) is what you need to aim for to lose weight at the rate you specified. You could do nothing and eat 1200 calories and lose weight. I should add that there are lots of people who think that 1200 cals a day is hard to maintain, so you can go a little higher if you like!).

    But, as well as eating 1200 a day, if you exercise as well (which is good for your health, your heart, fat loss, muscle tone etc), you'll burn even more calories, which means your body might not have enough to function properly. Eating too little might cause more rapid weight gain, but it's also really unhealthy and you'll feel tired, moody, depressed, more prone to illness and injury etc. So, you need to "eat back your exercise calories". If you're aiming to net 1200, and you burn 300 through exercise, then you get to eat 1500 cals that day.

    And you can enjoy those extra cals because you earned them! :-) Hope that explains it.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    At 5' 4" and 116 lbs why are you looking to lose weight?
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    At 5' 4" and 116 lbs why are you looking to lose weight?

    Seriously?
  • MissBabyJane
    MissBabyJane Posts: 538 Member
    Everyone burns calories just by being alive - even if you sat in a chair all and did nothing all day, you would still burn calories because your body uses them up just by doing things like breathing, talking, thinking, beating your heart and all that stuff. On "average" (and there really isn't such a thing as an "average" person), a woman will burn around 2000 calories and a man 2500 calories just sitting and doing nothing. So in theory, if you sat and did nothing, and ate 2000 cals a day, you would stay the same weight. (I should stress that everyone is different! My approximate daily burn - you might see this referred to on MFP as your TDEE - is around 1850 for example. Google TDEE Calculator to work out yours).

    The net calorie goal that MFP sets for you (in your case 1200) is what you need to aim for to lose weight at the rate you specified. You could do nothing and eat 1200 calories and lose weight. I should add that there are lots of people who think that 1200 cals a day is hard to maintain, so you can go a little higher if you like!).

    But, as well as eating 1200 a day, if you exercise as well (which is good for your health, your heart, fat loss, muscle tone etc), you'll burn even more calories, which means your body might not have enough to function properly. Eating too little might cause more rapid weight gain, but it's also really unhealthy and you'll feel tired, moody, depressed, more prone to illness and injury etc. So, you need to "eat back your exercise calories". If you're aiming to net 1200, and you burn 300 through exercise, then you get to eat 1500 cals that day.

    And you can enjoy those extra cals because you earned them! :-) Hope that explains it.

    Wow, I get it! Thank you!!!
    At 5' 4" and 116 lbs why are you looking to lose weight?

    I'm not trying to lose any more weight - maybe just 1 kg to get or to maintain. I know that 1200 is pretty low, but I feel good when I eat like that :(
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    Even if you were only "lightly active," you'd need like ~1700 to maintain.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Even if you were only "lightly active," you'd need like ~1700 to maintain.
    This. If you "like the way you eat" try making small changes to add in more calories. You can add in nutrient dense foods that are also calorically dense. Like avocados, nuts, nut butters, cheeses, full fat dairy, etc.

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