Negative Net Calories okay?

ichoose2believe · August 2014

First background:
F, 30, 310lbs (as of this morning)

Now MFP says to eat about 2070 calories per day. I have been trying to do better about eating healthy so I have been averaging about 1500-1700 per day but I only walked about 1 mile total per day at work (to and from the car) but my body is use to this so I don't really count it. However, my son started school and I walk him to school each morning its about 2 miles round trip. MapMyWalk says that I have burned 500-600 calories each morning. So now my net each day (including my walk to the office) is 1000 or less. Is this okay? I want to make sure I am not doing more harm than good. I was not planning on eating back my calories since you never really know if calories burned is truly accurate.

RGv2 · August 2014

You're right about the exercise calories. Most members start at eating back 50% and adjusting from there due to the calories burned is just an estimate.

With that said, you're probably OK now getting away with such a low caloric intake because you have so much stored energy in your body. As you get closer and closer to your goal weight, however, you will want to start getting closer and closer to netting your goal caloric intake as you won't have the stored energy in your body anymore and will need that fuel from proper nutrition/intake levels.

smarionette · August 2014

I would go ahead and eat back a portion of the calories (1/2 - 2/3rds), and honestly eat closer to the 1700 than the 1500. You say you want to be better about eating healthy, so go ahead and look at nutrient dense foods for snacks here and there.

One thing I see a lot of people do is say "omg I'm so full! I can't eat any more!" with a diary of 6 cups of raw spinach and a chicken breast. Of course you can't eat more, you filled up with raw spinach! Eating like that can be very hard to maintain, and you don't really get all the nutrients you need. Build variety into your diet now and you'll never feel deprived, and likely be less prone to a binge.

missiontofitness · August 2014

I would eat back some.
For starters, use a food scale so that you are getting your food logs as accurate as possible. Then try to eat back at least 1/2 to 1/3 of your exercise cals so you net a healthy amount.
Netting under 1,000 consistently is going to do more harm than good. I find I get very grumpy if I net too little, and that's because my body doesn't have enough fuel.

ichoose2believe · August 2014

I eat normally. Had Proats and a banana before walking and yogurt and almond granola afterward. Lunch is pretty balanced (protein, carbs, veggies and fruit).
I will just keep an eye on it. I had one day last week at 1500 but most days were mid 1600. I do indulge (learned that one the hard way last time) hell monday I had mcdonalds (it fit my macros and that is what I wanted) and still came in under.

Thanks for the help everyone. Just wanted to make sure since I haven't "had" to walk like this before.

ivette52490 · September 2014

I have the same problem too. I am exercising so much i am netting negative, but I am not sure how to eat the meals I do to keep up with the net calories. Today I ran nine miles and I am already halfway through the day and I am so far away from netting positive. I usually eat raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, and some multigrain carbs and lean proteins. Anyone can suggest other high caloric food that is low on trans fat? Before I run these long distances I try to carb load during the week, but these days when I run the distance it is so hard to get into the positive net.

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage · September 2014

I have the same problem too. I am exercising so much i am netting negative, but I am not sure how to eat the meals I do to keep up with the net calories. Today I ran nine miles and I am already halfway through the day and I am so far away from netting positive. I usually eat raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, and some multigrain carbs and lean proteins. Anyone can suggest other high caloric food that is low on trans fat? Before I run these long distances I try to carb load during the week, but these days when I run the distance it is so hard to get into the positive net.

I think this is a runner's issue. I have the same problem on my long run days. Today I will be doing 16km and burning minimum 1,200 cals and there's no way I will eat even half of that back. I just think of it as a bit of a buffer for the rest of the week

Either that, or there's always wine.

ChrisM8971 · September 2014

I have the same problem too. I am exercising so much i am netting negative, but I am not sure how to eat the meals I do to keep up with the net calories. Today I ran nine miles and I am already halfway through the day and I am so far away from netting positive. I usually eat raw vegetables, fruits, nuts, and some multigrain carbs and lean proteins. Anyone can suggest other high caloric food that is low on trans fat? Before I run these long distances I try to carb load during the week, but these days when I run the distance it is so hard to get into the positive net.

How about fats like olive oil? Oily fish is also calorie dense and good for you.

The best way to keep a check on how accurate your burn calories are is your weight loss. If you were netting negative every day then you would be looking at a loss of say 4 lbs per week.

I would definitely try with the calorie dense foods, especially if you don't have too much weight to lose because your body will not have enough fat stores to satisfy all of its energy requirements so will turn to LBM instead

Mr_Knight · September 2014

However, my son started school and I walk him to school each morning its about 2 miles round trip. MapMyWalk says that I have burned 500-600 calories each morning.

That's a significant over-estimate. 310 lbs * 2 miles * 0.35 -> ~215 extra calories burnt.

Negative Net Calories okay?

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