How do you set your net calories consumed goal?

67mirunner
67mirunner Posts: 32
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm curious......for those of you that are trying to lose weight.....do you
1) set your net calories consumed goal to the target number of calories you want to eat to lose?
OR
2) set the target number of calories to maintain and as long as you consume less than that number you are good to go?

I ask because on days I run long, I eat far under the target number of calories to lose a pound a week. On days I rest, I end up eating several hundred calories over what I'd need to lose a pound a week, and I DESPISE seeing the number in red. It makes me feel like a failure, but I don't like to yo-yo my calorie goals on a daily basis either, because than the weekly data gets all wonky.

Replies

  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    I set mine with a deficit of 250, and then eat either a little under or a little over most days. I don't have much to lose, and am doing more of a recomp with a slow loss, so that works well for me.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I think you'll get used to the red after a while and it won't bother you so much.. :)

    Know that you're doing well and just let the numbers be as red as they want to be. You're smarter than they are. :)
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    67mirunner wrote: »
    I'm curious......for those of you that are trying to lose weight.....do you
    1) set your net calories consumed goal to the target number of calories you want to eat to lose?
    OR
    2) set the target number of calories to maintain and as long as you consume less than that number you are good to go?

    I ask because on days I run long, I eat far under the target number of calories to lose a pound a week. On days I rest, I end up eating several hundred calories over what I'd need to lose a pound a week, and I DESPISE seeing the number in red. It makes me feel like a failure, but I don't like to yo-yo my calorie goals on a daily basis either, because than the weekly data gets all wonky.

    I've done both, and both work. Ultimately it's personal preference. If seeing red bothers you that much, then eat less so you don't end up in the red, or change your daily calorie goal (but understand what you're changing it to and why).

    Your weekly numbers shouldn't end up wonky. If anything, they should be the best indicator of how you're doing relative to your calorie goals, as the daily ups and downs should balance out.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    I don't like seeing red either. Doesn't work with my goal driven mentality. When I was at that point, I set my calories to the reasonable amount I would be expected to eat on the rest day, and used the weekly view to determine how much I was going to lose a week (aiming for a deficit between 3500 and 7000)
  • 67mirunner
    67mirunner Posts: 32
    Thanks, everyone! I've been using MFP for several years, but am just now coming into the "community." It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only one that hates seeing red.....but, I guess I'll just have to move past that.
  • llUndecidedll
    llUndecidedll Posts: 724 Member
    At first, I didn't like seeing red, but I've noticed that the more time I spend reading the forums, the less aggressive I become when it comes to sticking to my net calories... I don't know if this is a good or bad thing.

    I was going pretty hard and made sure that the day never ENDED in red, but I've slacked off this past month. I think I will try to take the aggressive approach again and just stick with a 1000 calorie deficit a day, not including exercise calories.
  • mymodernbabylon
    mymodernbabylon Posts: 1,038 Member
    I'm not currently trying to lose weight but what I have done in the past is set my calorie goal for my TDEE. And as I tend to go under a bit most days I don't fret about going into the red once in a while. And I'd never go more than 15% under my TDEE - I like my muscles and want to keep them.
  • mymodernbabylon
    mymodernbabylon Posts: 1,038 Member
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    You then manually input what your calories are within the goals section. TDEE works in your weekly exercise averages and then you eat that same amount every single day.
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