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Is final net calories between 1000-1150 okay?

BeeRod527
BeeRod527 Posts: 104
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Most of the time, my net calories are within that range. I rarely ever go over and if I do, I usually follow with a day that goes under to match the over day.

Anyway, is that okay to go no more than 200 net calories with your calorie goal for the day? Note that this is after exercise and eating most of the calories back, not a "rest day".

Another question is that if you get close to your net calorie goal for the day, does that make the weight loss progress slower? I had my weight goal at 2 a week but losing between .5-1 pound a week.

Serious answers only, not sarcastic ones I've been getting around here about net calories.

Replies

  • JesaGrace
    JesaGrace Posts: 799 Member
    Are you still getting your net calories for the week? It's seems to me like you're zig zagging your calories and as long as you're getting the calories you need for the week, you should be fine.....but if you work out pretty intense then that might not be enough....
  • spyro88
    spyro88 Posts: 472 Member
    It sounds a bit low to me, my net calorie goal is 1350 and I nearly always hit that. I would be starving if I didn't. But if you're exercising too and eating those calories back maybe it's okay...
  • epj78
    epj78 Posts: 643 Member
    I am not one that is all military about eating back exercise calories. It's just not my experience that it hurts you not to eat them back - I know others have other experiences.

    So, my questions to you would be:

    How do you feel?
    How do you feel the next day?
    Are you still losing weight?

    Listen to your body - it knows best. Be aware how you feel that day and the next day. Do what is best for you! We aren't robots so everyone is different. You are aware you are under, so that is a good start! Now, just see how your body reacts to it. Mine is just fine being under net calories most of the time - but if I'm hungry the next day, I eat some of them back (as long as it is real hunger and not my normal boredom hunger).
  • bry_all01
    bry_all01 Posts: 3,100 Member
    That seems really low, especially for days you are working out.

    Since you are eating your exercise calories, consider increasing your calories by 200 calories and see if adjusting helps you get the weight to come off.
  • psychmz3
    psychmz3 Posts: 55 Member
    As long as you are exercising, then those net calories would be fine. If not, it seems a bit low but I don't know your stats.
  • psychmz3
    psychmz3 Posts: 55 Member
    I am not one that is all military about eating back exercise calories. It's just not my experience that it hurts you not to eat them back - I know others have other experiences.

    Exactly. I don't eat them back either. I don't log my exercise so I can see what I've actually eaten for the day. Been losing weight at a healthy steady pace.
  • aj_rock
    aj_rock Posts: 390 Member
    You don't seem to be doing it all the time, so once in a while it's fine.
  • treehugginpam
    treehugginpam Posts: 1,129 Member
    It looks like you & I are close to the same weight, and I have to eat WAY more calories than that if I want to see a decent loss. I started out doing what you're doing -- my goal calories was 1400 and my net wound up being between 1100 - 1200 after exercise. I was losing weight very slooooooooowly or hardly at all, and then I ran across one of those free "how many calories should you eat to lose weight" calculators on the internet and I realized I was eating way too few calories. Try this one:

    http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

    I bumped my calories up and started losing much more quickly. Now I've realized that if my net goes too much below 1500 it's hard for me to lose anything, especially if my sodium is high. I try to eat between 1700 - 2000 calories per day, making my net usually around 1500 - 1700, and I've been losing 2 pounds a week.

    Also another interesting thing -- on the days I eat more calories (2000 - 2200), I always have a big loss the next day. Always! So zig-zagging calories is a good thing. :smile:

    Good luck!
  • BeeRod527
    BeeRod527 Posts: 104
    Okay let me clear this up for everyone. My net calories goal is set at 1220! After I work out, I eat a good portion of the calories back but leave between 100-200 net calories at the table. To give you an idea, here's how I've been in the past week.

    Wednesday
    Total Calories: 1650
    Calories left: 291

    Thursday:
    Total Calories: 1659
    Calories left: 102

    Friday:
    Total Calories: 1310
    Calories left: 88

    Saturday:
    Total Calories: 1620
    Calories left: 58

    Sunday (did not work out that day):
    Total Calories: 1202
    Calories left: 18

    Monday:
    Total Calories: 1606
    Calories left: 149

    Tuesday:
    Total Calories: 1522
    Calories left: 255

    Also most of the time after my last meal, I'm not hungry. I drink plenty of water throughout the day and usually eat something, even small, every 2-3 hours. The past week was very quiet compare to the week before which is constantly between 1700-2000 calories a day and 1 cheat day on a rest day.
  • 3ricaAnn
    3ricaAnn Posts: 288
    Try drinking alot more water, getting more fiber and getting to 1200 net everyday for a week. I just recently started doing this and lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks. If it works for you it will give you a good jump start. You can look through my diary if you want to see some options for food.
  • BeeRod527
    BeeRod527 Posts: 104
    Try drinking alot more water, getting more fiber and getting to 1200 net everyday for a week. I just recently started doing this and lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks. If it works for you it will give you a good jump start. You can look through my diary if you want to see some options for food.

    I just said I drink plenty of water throughout the day! I drink between 8 to 12 glasses! And in the beginning I lost about 6 pounds but I'm on my 7th week of working out and my weight loss went from 2 pounds a week to only .5 pounds of week, considering I'm following MFP's guidelines.
  • 3ricaAnn
    3ricaAnn Posts: 288
    Try drinking alot more water, getting more fiber and getting to 1200 net everyday for a week. I just recently started doing this and lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks. If it works for you it will give you a good jump start. You can look through my diary if you want to see some options for food.

    I just said I drink plenty of water throughout the day! I drink between 8 to 12 glasses! And in the beginning I lost about 6 pounds but I'm on my 7th week of working out and my weight loss went from 2 pounds a week to only .5 pounds of week, considering I'm following MFP's guidelines.

    I have been doing this actively again since June. And I work out everyday also but making changes can help jumpstart you again. I was just trying to make a suggestion. Maybe 8-12 glasses isnt enough for you, it is actually recommended to drink half your weight in oz of water a day so I should be driniking 78 oz instead of 64. or about 10 glasses.
  • bry_all01
    bry_all01 Posts: 3,100 Member
    Okay let me clear this up for everyone. My net calories goal is set at 1220! After I work out, I eat a good portion of the calories back but leave between 100-200 net calories at the table. To give you an idea, here's how I've been in the past week.

    Wednesday
    Total Calories: 1650
    Calories left: 291

    Thursday:
    Total Calories: 1659
    Calories left: 102

    Friday:
    Total Calories: 1310
    Calories left: 88

    Saturday:
    Total Calories: 1620
    Calories left: 58

    Sunday (did not work out that day):
    Total Calories: 1202
    Calories left: 18

    Monday:
    Total Calories: 1606
    Calories left: 149

    Tuesday:
    Total Calories: 1522
    Calories left: 255

    Also most of the time after my last meal, I'm not hungry. I drink plenty of water throughout the day and usually eat something, even small, every 2-3 hours. The past week was very quiet compare to the week before which is constantly between 1700-2000 calories a day and 1 cheat day on a rest day.


    I was totally thrown off by what you originally stated, saying is 1000-1150 calories ok....Seems like maybe you hit a plateau.

    Plateaus happen, unfortunately, and when they do, that only means that it is time for a change, because your body has grown accustomed to what it was used to doing.
  • BeeRod527
    BeeRod527 Posts: 104
    I was totally thrown off by what you originally stated, saying is 1000-1150 calories ok....Seems like maybe you hit a plateau.

    Plateaus happen, unfortunately, and when they do, that only means that it is time for a change, because your body has grown accustomed to what it was used to doing.

    So I decided to change from 2 pounds a week to 1 pound (in which my net calories goes up to over 1700 calories). Not sure if I can hit 1700 net calories but I'll try.
  • 3ricaAnn
    3ricaAnn Posts: 288

    So I decided to change from 2 pounds a week to 1 pound (in which my net calories goes up to over 1700 calories). Not sure if I can hit 1700 net calories but I'll try.
    [/quote]
    Maybe you should try changing your activity level? I have mine set to sedentarty so for 1 pound a week my net goal is 1460. I just started that goal today and am aiming for 1200 net still but th way if I need the extra it i there. and I can exercise more without going under 1200.
  • BeeRod527
    BeeRod527 Posts: 104
    Maybe you should try changing your activity level? I have mine set to sedentarty so for 1 pound a week my net goal is 1460. I just started that goal today and am aiming for 1200 net still but th way if I need the extra it i there. and I can exercise more without going under 1200.

    My activity level is set on sedentary and brought me to 1220 (when put 2 pounds) and 1400 (with 1 pound). Even if I put "light activity", it's gonna go up to 1700 net calories.
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