negative calorie?

jurbi
jurbi Posts: 25 Member
edited November 29 in Health and Weight Loss
Is it bad to have a negative net calories?? So say my screen looks like this.
1350 goal / 129 food-291 excercise = -162 net
«1

Replies

  • macgurlnet
    macgurlnet Posts: 1,946 Member
    At the end of the day, you should see a 0 on the right side of the equal sign. Throughout the day, it really doesn't matter. But by the time you go to bed, you should be pretty close to 0.

    ~Lyssa
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    So I shouldn't try to have a deficit?? If I got it close to 0 wouldn't I just be maintaining my current weight?
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    So I shouldn't try to have a deficit?? If I got it close to 0 wouldn't I just be maintaining my current weight?

    Your goal, assuming you got it from MFP, already has a deficit built into it.
  • macgurlnet
    macgurlnet Posts: 1,946 Member
    Not necessarily.

    When you set up your profile on MFP, you should have been asked for some information - like current weight, goal weight, and desired rate of loss (ie: lose 1lb/week). Then, MFP gives you a number to eat that factors in the deficit already.

    You do not need to exercise, but can do so if you have the time/want the health benefits/want to eat more. You should log your exercise and eat at least some (25%-75%) of the calories back.

    ~Lyssa
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited January 2016
    jurbi wrote: »
    So I shouldn't try to have a deficit?? If I got it close to 0 wouldn't I just be maintaining my current weight?

    Only if you set your weekly goal to maintain:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    f243be5436819895e81c84fda3eb7173.png

  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    Oh I set my goal as my BMR so that I eat the same amount of calories each day and not eat back any exercise calories at all..
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    Oh I set my goal as my BMR so that I eat the same amount of calories each day and not eat back any exercise calories at all..

    If your goal is your estimated BMR, then eating this will put you at a deficit. You will be burning more calories through daily activity and through exercise.
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    Ok!! I just don't want to eat too few calories for my body to start storing it!!!
  • 3bambi3
    3bambi3 Posts: 1,650 Member
    I checked out your diary. What are you doing for exercise? On friday, you have 16 hours of exercise logged.
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    I'm wearing a step counter and heart rate monitor so it takes off calories based on my everyday activity plus I go on walks/runs with my kids.. At the end of the day it automatically puts the days worth of calories burned as a total.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    I'm wearing a step counter and heart rate monitor so it takes off calories based on my everyday activity plus I go on walks/runs with my kids.. At the end of the day it automatically puts the days worth of calories burned as a total.

    The total calories you burned during the day or the ones that put you above and beyond the activity level you selected?

    If it is the total number of calories you're burning, then you're double-dipping. MFP assumes that you will burn some calories through daily activities and these are already accounted for in your goals. You only want to eat back the ADDITIONAL calories you burn.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    So I shouldn't try to have a deficit?? If I got it close to 0 wouldn't I just be maintaining my current weight?

    If you told MFP you wanted to lose weight, then the deficit is built in already. MFP gives you a calorie goal before exercise, because some people won't do any exercise.
  • 3bambi3
    3bambi3 Posts: 1,650 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    I'm wearing a step counter and heart rate monitor so it takes off calories based on my everyday activity plus I go on walks/runs with my kids.. At the end of the day it automatically puts the days worth of calories burned as a total.

    I'm seeing them as individual entries for general cardio. There are 5 separate entries for Friday and many more for Saturday/Sunday. How have you set it up? I have a fitness band that will say a total for the day, so "Fitbit calorie burn: 250" or "Misfit calorie burn: 350".
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    Right, I'm actually going off of what my garmin is saying and it breaks it down by telling me what is my resting calories and what is my extra calories, it separates it for me. The numbers are a little different but even my garmin is saying that there is a negative calorie and my calorie goal is my BMR..
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    On my garmin screen it says something like this
    129 consumed-338* active = -209 net
    *Active=total calories-BMR calories
  • 3bambi3
    3bambi3 Posts: 1,650 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    On my garmin screen it says something like this
    129 consumed-338* active = -209 net
    *Active=total calories-BMR calories

    Okay, so for Friday, what did it say?
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    1489 consumed-905 active=584 net
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.

    I thought that was Basal metabolic rate? Basically resting calories burned
  • happyfeetrebel1
    happyfeetrebel1 Posts: 1,005 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    Ok!! I just don't want to eat too few calories for my body to start storing it!!!

    Your body won't store fat
    because of too few calories consumed. Your nutrition goals won't be made if you under eat, but the whole "starvation mode" thing is a myth. :)
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    3bambi3 wrote: »
    jurbi wrote: »
    On my garmin screen it says something like this
    129 consumed-338* active = -209 net
    *Active=total calories-BMR calories

    Okay, so for Friday, what did it say?

    1489 consumed-905 active=584 net
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.

    I thought that was Basal metabolic rate? Basically resting calories burned

    Yes, resting calories. So, what your body needs to burn to function while at rest
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bmr_calculator.htm
    Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post-absorptive state (meaning that the digestive system is inactive, which requires about twelve hours of fasting).

    The release of energy in this state is sufficient only for the functioning of the vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain and the rest of the nervous system, liver, kidneys, sex organs, muscles and skin.
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.

    I thought that was Basal metabolic rate? Basically resting calories burned

    Yes, resting calories. So, what your body needs to burn to function while at rest
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bmr_calculator.htm
    Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post-absorptive state (meaning that the digestive system is inactive, which requires about twelve hours of fasting).

    The release of energy in this state is sufficient only for the functioning of the vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain and the rest of the nervous system, liver, kidneys, sex organs, muscles and skin.

    Right, thats why I used that as my calorie goal, and I am using my garmin for burned calories but using mfp to log how many calories i'm eating, I have mfp connected to my garmin account so it automatically adds my calories eaten.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    edited January 2016
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.

    I thought that was Basal metabolic rate? Basically resting calories burned

    Yes, resting calories. So, what your body needs to burn to function while at rest
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bmr_calculator.htm
    Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post-absorptive state (meaning that the digestive system is inactive, which requires about twelve hours of fasting).

    The release of energy in this state is sufficient only for the functioning of the vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain and the rest of the nervous system, liver, kidneys, sex organs, muscles and skin.

    Right, thats why I used that as my calorie goal, and I am using my garmin for burned calories but using mfp to log how many calories i'm eating, I have mfp connected to my garmin account so it automatically adds my calories eaten.

    Wait, all those entries of Aerobics - are you starting your Garmin to record an activity and it is transferring over as aerobics?
    If so, what exactly are you doing?

    To address the one above - MFP doesnt figure BMR, it figures NEAT - non exercise activity thermogensis.

    ETA - which Garmin are you using?
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.

    I thought that was Basal metabolic rate? Basically resting calories burned

    Yes, resting calories. So, what your body needs to burn to function while at rest
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bmr_calculator.htm
    Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment, in the post-absorptive state (meaning that the digestive system is inactive, which requires about twelve hours of fasting).

    The release of energy in this state is sufficient only for the functioning of the vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain and the rest of the nervous system, liver, kidneys, sex organs, muscles and skin.

    Right, thats why I used that as my calorie goal, and I am using my garmin for burned calories but using mfp to log how many calories i'm eating, I have mfp connected to my garmin account so it automatically adds my calories eaten.

    Wait, all those entries of Aerobics - are you starting your Garmin to record an activity and it is transferring over as aerobics?
    If so, what exactly are you doing?

    To address the one above - MFP doesnt figure BMR, it figures NEAT - non exercise activity thermogensis.

    ETA - which Garmin are you using?

    LOL i have 4 kids to keep up with and a house to clean and a LOT of walking/running around.. i rarely sit still! I'm not a slow person, when i do things i do things quick and it raises my heart rate.. and i'm using the vivofit

  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.

    I thought that was Basal metabolic rate? Basically resting calories burned

    Yes, resting calories. So, what your body needs to burn to function while at rest

    No, what your body needs to maintain your weight if you don't move at all other than bodily functions (like the heart beating). Nothing to do with minimum requirements in any other way and your body doesn't know what its BMR is (and neither do we, it's an estimate).

    BMR doesn't really matter, the deficit from TDEE does, and should not be too aggressive. For some a good way to avoid an overly aggressive deficit is to aim for BMR or a little above, but for someone sedentary and with a lot to lose eating under BMR can be reasonable and fine and for some, who are quite active, eating BMR might be overly aggressive.
  • jurbi
    jurbi Posts: 25 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.

    I thought that was Basal metabolic rate? Basically resting calories burned

    Yes, resting calories. So, what your body needs to burn to function while at rest

    No, what your body needs to maintain your weight if you don't move at all other than bodily functions (like the heart beating). Nothing to do with minimum requirements in any other way and your body doesn't know what its BMR is (and neither do we, it's an estimate).

    BMR doesn't really matter, the deficit from TDEE does, and should not be too aggressive. For some a good way to avoid an overly aggressive deficit is to aim for BMR or a little above, but for someone sedentary and with a lot to lose eating under BMR can be reasonable and fine and for some, who are quite active, eating BMR might be overly aggressive.

    ok this explains perfectly what i have been trying to ask!! so since i'm not sedentary i should eat back only a portion of my extra calories lost.. aiming for maybe a bit higher than my BMR? so if my estimated BMR is 1350 maybe i should aim for 1500-1600 calories per day and letting the rest be deficit?
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    3bambi3 wrote: »
    jurbi wrote: »
    On my garmin screen it says something like this
    129 consumed-338* active = -209 net
    *Active=total calories-BMR calories

    Okay, so for Friday, what did it say?

    1489 consumed-905 active=584 net

    What does it say your total calorie burn was and for what activity (# of steps plus any other activity)?

    Normally you assume about 1.5xBMR=TDEE for someone lightly active with no additional exercise. If BMR is 1350, that would give you around 2025 (as an estimate), which is about 675 above your BMR. So this seems consistent with you being lightly active and then adding another 230 calories or so, either from some exercise or additional walking (for a TDEE of the day of 2255). That seems reasonable enough, and if you ate 1489 would not really be a negative net. It seems to indicate (if correct) a deficit of 905--close to 2 lb/week. With a BMR of only 1350 that could be a little more aggressive than you want.

    It gets confusing since MFP and the device are using different methods and subtracting different numbers.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    OP I think you might want to start over with how you have this all set up. If you enter your stats in MFP (height, weight, activity level, and your goal (how much are you trying to lose total and how fast do you want to lose it - 1lb/week) then MFP will provide you a calorie goal with a deficit built in.

    Then if you sync your Garmin with MFP and let those two systems determine how active you actually are and what kind of exercise adjustments you should get from your actual activity, you should be in good shape to trust those recommendations.

    I use a FitBit and have found it to be very accurate for my calories burned (from exercise and total from all activity) and used it with MFP to lose the weight and am now maintaining trusting those two.

    Setting your calorie target to your BMR, as others have said, is not a good number to go with as it is far less relevant than your TDEE. Your Garmin estimates your TDEE, and so between that and having accurate info in MFP, you should get a much more reliable number.

    Also looking at your diary it doesn't look like you are using a food scale, while not necessary, it highly contributes to accuracy in logging.

  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    jurbi wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    jurbi wrote: »
    kr1stadee wrote: »
    If you're using MFP correctly, your BMR is your "bare-minimum requirements" -- what your body needs for daily functions.
    When you're setting up, you tell MFP what you want to lose and what your activity level is. That will give you a deficit.

    If you're going with the Garmin tracker, use that.

    I thought that was Basal metabolic rate? Basically resting calories burned

    Yes, resting calories. So, what your body needs to burn to function while at rest

    No, what your body needs to maintain your weight if you don't move at all other than bodily functions (like the heart beating). Nothing to do with minimum requirements in any other way and your body doesn't know what its BMR is (and neither do we, it's an estimate).

    BMR doesn't really matter, the deficit from TDEE does, and should not be too aggressive. For some a good way to avoid an overly aggressive deficit is to aim for BMR or a little above, but for someone sedentary and with a lot to lose eating under BMR can be reasonable and fine and for some, who are quite active, eating BMR might be overly aggressive.

    ok this explains perfectly what i have been trying to ask!! so since i'm not sedentary i should eat back only a portion of my extra calories lost.. aiming for maybe a bit higher than my BMR? so if my estimated BMR is 1350 maybe i should aim for 1500-1600 calories per day and letting the rest be deficit?

    Yeah--that makes sense to me. See how you lose on that and then adjust if you are losing faster/slower than you want. It seems like you are quite active during the day so I would eat back some.
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