Calorie Intake to Calories Burned - a Burning Question!

heresmyinsidevoice
heresmyinsidevoice Posts: 311 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, now tell me if I'm understanding this right. In my Goals section, MFP is calculating for me what my net calories should be to reach my weight loss goal as 1200cals. Now, it says underneath it that this number is based on this: 1200 = Net calories consumed = Total calories consumed MINUS Calories burned. So...is this saying that I should actually be eating OVER this amount somewhat during the day (for example, say1350cals), then doing exercise that utilizes the extra calories consumed...so 1350 - 150 = 1200? Is that right?

Replies

  • erzsebet_1560
    erzsebet_1560 Posts: 166
    Yes...well..this is a highly debated topic. Most people will say you should not go below 1200 NET. So if you burn 500 calories, eat 1700 calories.
  • rhan90
    rhan90 Posts: 26 Member
    The way I do it, based on what lots of other people have said, is on a day with no exercise, I eat 1200 calories. If I workout and burn 300 calories, I eat 1500. The extra calories I eat are usually worked into my diet in the form of a pre workout snack and a post work out shake/snack (although you can put them wherever you like). You have the basic idea right, for most people it is fine to eat 1200 on a day without exercise. Some people need more. I personally have mine set to lose one pound a week, which gives me 1410 calories net per day. I stopped losing weight on 1200 net after a few months, so after having a browse through the forums I decided to try increase it a little and it's working again :)

    Keep in mind that pretty much everyone here is speaking from their own experience (including myself) and that what works for one person may not work for the other. IMHO, starting off netting 1200 calories (so 1200 + any exercise calories) is probably a good start and then see how you go :smile:
  • heresmyinsidevoice
    heresmyinsidevoice Posts: 311 Member
    Thanks everyone for your help! This makes sense to me then. Lately I've been working off calories from my 1200 that I've been eating, so I have been going on starvation mode without really understanding that's what I've been doing. Oops. Not gonna do that anymore!
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