Confusion.. Net vs Gross Calories and Macro Nutrient Goals

rainbowxelephant
rainbowxelephant Posts: 71 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So let me start by saying I completely understand that when I set my NET calories on MFP, it's the number of calories I've eaten, minus the calories I've burned in exercise. I completely get that, this is irrelevant to my question.

So, my calorie intake goal is 1780 - 1980, with my net calories set to 1380. So my macros are set according to a percentage of 1380 calories, when I'll actually be trying to eat closer to 1800 a day. Will the amount of macros in grams change when I add exercise like the calorie count does, or should I set my counter to 1800 so that I have the number in grams per percentage of 1800 that I want to be consuming? It does change the macro count pretty drastically.

Help? Thanks!

Replies

  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    when you log exercise and your calories go up, the macros adjust to reflect the higher amounts
  • TriLifter
    TriLifter Posts: 1,283 Member
    Will the amount of macros in grams change when I add exercise like the calorie count does, or should I set my counter to 1800 so that I have the number in grams per percentage of 1800 that I want to be consuming? It does change the macro count pretty drastically.

    Yeah, it changes it quite a bit, which is why I have my diary set up to 2200 cals and enter my exercise as 1 cal burned. This way, my protein goal doesn't jump around all over the place depending on how much I work out that day.
  • sheltrk
    sheltrk Posts: 111 Member
    Yes, if you add exercise to your diary, the macro goals (grams of protein, carbs, fat, etc.) will be scaled up according to the percentage of calories you need to consume to reach your calorie intake goal for the day.

    Example:
    If your net goal is 1380 with 30% protein, initially you will see (1380 calories)(30%)(1 gram protein / 4 calories) = 104 g for your protein goal. If you add in 400 calories of exercise, your new calorie intake goal will be 1780, therefore MFP will calculate that you need 134 g of protein to reach your protein goal.
  • rainbowxelephant
    rainbowxelephant Posts: 71 Member
    Perfect, thank you! I may consider going with setting my goal to what I plan to consume anyway so that it stays consistent but I'm glad to know the macros adjust according to calories burned

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