net calories?

cculver78
cculver78 Posts: 9 Member
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
I know what net calories means. I did a ton of exercise today, more than usual, and my net calories for today are only about 120. It is about 12:30 here, so I have a snack and dinner left.

One time I didn't eat enough food and MFP yelled at me for not reaching 1200 and some stuff about starvation.

My question: is the 1200 calorie requirement for NET calories, or is that only for total food I have eaten? I dont want to eat too little and wind up hosing my metabolism or something.

I'm kinda new to this exercise thing so I could use some helpful suggestions from others.

Thanks!!

Replies

  • alexia_faith
    alexia_faith Posts: 32 Member
    I get yelled at from time to time too

    1200 Food is what it wants

    Its best to get your net to 1200 tho

    I did what you did and ate like 1200 for food but had a net at 200 ish when i exercised - you lose weight but then your metabolism catches up and you stop losing it
  • Shweedog
    Shweedog Posts: 883 Member
    NET calories are the amount of calories you consume minus the amount burned through exercise. You want to allow yourself at least 1200 calories on top of anything burned through exercise.
  • Christie81
    Christie81 Posts: 88 Member
    Read this, it should help explain it all :)http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    The program wont yell at you as long as you eat 1200 total. BUT.

    BUT 1200 is, in fact, a net requirement.

    BUT you are male, and for men it should actually be 1500 or more, NET.


    Try to 1) plan to eat more earlier - spread your extra calories over the day instead of limiting to just 1 or 2 meals and 2) Consider whether such a heavy burn as you can't eat back the calories to a safe and healthy level is worth the time you spent burning them, maybe a smaller workout would suit your loss better, at least for now.

    It won't kill you to be under a day here or there (just like a day over isn't the end of the world), BUT it is important to consistently ensure you are fueling your body enough that it can handle the stresses you put on it.

    Best of luck,
    ~Gonks
  • TiDinzeo
    TiDinzeo Posts: 309
    I would think that it's net calories, because that number (which I'm not sure of the validity of as everyone's different but everyone seems to be quoting it as some magic number) is minimum calories you take in per day, then if you burn some with exercise, surely then you should take those away. That's just my thought though. I'm not a nutrition specialist.
  • lilybug13
    lilybug13 Posts: 154
    1200 is total not net.
  • andyj1984
    andyj1984 Posts: 76
    I think the fact it says "you have earned xxx calories from exercise today" (or words to that effect) kind of gives the game away. I'm new to this, but having read dozens and dozens of posts about exercising, then eating back the calories, net calories, etc, I know its the right thing to do. Though for the record I have only been eating back about 2/3rds of my exercise calories this week, since I'm not totally convinced the numbers MFP gives for exercise are correct (need a HRM). I don't think losing weight is a quick process, and it probably shouldn't be if its going to be safe. They way I'm looking at it is "ten years of abuse to my body, if I can get fit and healthy in one year, then that is rather amazing!".
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    1200 is total not net.

    No 1200 is the least amount you should have net. so if you burn 400, the minimum you should get is 1600 (1200+400) Like a previous poster said, 1500 NET if you are a male.
  • RaeannePemberton
    RaeannePemberton Posts: 382 Member
    i always try for 1200-1500 net. i am proud to say that i am almost at a year of maintaining over 100 lbs lost, and in that time i have learned a LOT about what works, what works "fast" and what works long term. in the long run, you do not want to lose fast... and you want to maintain a healthy metabolism. eating under 1200 net is damaging and can cause issues (thyroid, among other things).
  • cculver78
    cculver78 Posts: 9 Member
    Thanks, that is exactly what I needed to know. Go by the net number.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    I would think that it's net calories, because that number (which I'm not sure of the validity of as everyone's different but everyone seems to be quoting it as some magic number) is minimum calories you take in per day, then if you burn some with exercise, surely then you should take those away. That's just my thought though. I'm not a nutrition specialist.

    Just to clarify- 1200 is just the lowest base net number they give- it's a general guideline so people don' t go too low. But you are right everyone is different. To get a more individualized number to use as your "minimum guideline", it's best to search your BMR and try to be within 50 cals +/- of that number.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    http://www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/
This discussion has been closed.

Categories