New and Confused?

gingersnaps828
gingersnaps828 Posts: 86 Member
edited November 2024 in Introduce Yourself
Hi,

I'm new to MFP. I have been a member for just a few days, and I'm very confused about the whole "net" calories thing. After reading some comments stating you should never go below 1200 net calories and you should always net at least 1200 cal/per day, after you enter your food and exercise, I don't understand. If, for example, after I enter my food and exercise and my net calories is 1200, shouldn't I eat more to eat up those calories I earned from exercise, and then when I do my "net" calories would go down because I am eating them? Why would I want that number to stay so high? Aren't I earning extra calories from activity so I can (and should) eat more calories? I don't know that I would ever be able to have a day where my end number (or "net calories") would be 1200 or more.

Can someone please help explain this to me in "newbie" terms so I can understand. Maybe I am doing something wrong or completely missing something.

Also, since I am new I am looking for friends to offer support, encouragement and motivation! Please add me and I'll do my best to do the same for you :)

thanks
ginger

Replies

  • ahubbard134
    ahubbard134 Posts: 61 Member
    Short answer: Yes, you should eat some/all of your exercise calories back . MFP Already calculates a deficit for you when it gives you a calorie goal.

    Longer answer: Netting under 1200 calories every once in a while isn't going to throw you straight into starvation mode, BUT it is a.) Difficult to sustain without being hungry all the time, and the whole point is to make new, sustainable, healthy habits
    b.) Difficult to get all the nutrients you need, and could have medical complications, so a doctor should really supervise any diet that nets under 1200

    Edit: "Net" means after adding food calories and subtracting exercise calories, so if you sit in your pajamas and watch tv all day, and eat 1200, you're netting 1200. If you burn 400 calories on a 2 hour run, then eat 1600 calories, your net is still 1200, since you "ate back" those exercise calories.
  • gingersnaps828
    gingersnaps828 Posts: 86 Member
    Thank you so much! :)
    And that's kind of what I thought, but the way a comment was posted on my home page it said "you should never net less than 1200 cal/day" which to me means she's saying your "leftover" calories shouldn't go under 1200 , and that didn't make sense to me as I thought she was saying don't eat that leftover cal, or at least make sure you have a net of 1200 leftover.

    I tend to way overthink things! :)

    But what you're saying makes total sense. Thank you for clarifying :)
  • Lovinmama
    Lovinmama Posts: 38 Member
    Thank you so much! :)
    And that's kind of what I thought, but the way a comment was posted on my home page it said "you should never net less than 1200 cal/day" which to me means she's saying your "leftover" calories shouldn't go under 1200 , and that didn't make sense to me as I thought she was saying don't eat that leftover cal, or at least make sure you have a net of 1200 leftover.

    I tend to way overthink things! :)

    But what you're saying makes total sense. Thank you for clarifying :)


    Sorry I confused you, I worded it wrong but I ment what ahubbard134 said. I ment you shouldn't net under as in if you eat 1000 cal burn 500 NET 500 thats not good. But if you eat 1500 burn 300 NET 1200 thats good :) You should eat some of those burn calories back. I sometimes struggle witht his and dont eat enough cals back. you DONT want 1200 cals left over! Sorry to have worded it confusingly!
  • gingersnaps828
    gingersnaps828 Posts: 86 Member

    Sorry I confused you, I worded it wrong but I ment what ahubbard134 said. I ment you shouldn't net under as in if you eat 1000 cal burn 500 NET 500 thats not good. But if you eat 1500 burn 300 NET 1200 thats good :) You should eat some of those burn calories back. I sometimes struggle witht his and dont eat enough cals back. you DONT want 1200 cals left over! Sorry to have worded it confusingly!


    It's not your fault. Seriously. I am easily confused and I'm new to all this so I just didn't understand it and it's no fault of yours or anyone else's. I kind of figured that's what you meant but am the type of person who has to be sure :) Thanks for the add so now we can support eachother and I can ask you questions more directly if I need to :)
    Ginger
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