Not understanding the "net" calorie thing!

Lisa1971
Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So yesterday my goal was 1300 calories. I worked out and burned 500 calories, which put me at 1800. I ate 1847 calories total. Why then does it say I netted 1347 calories and that I went over by 47?

If I exercise and burn 500 calories then isn't my net 1847? I feel like since I had 1847 I went waaaaay over but it's telling me I only netted 1347.

Ugh. Sorry but this is confusing totome. :( Do I want to "net" 1300 or 1800?

Thanks everyone!

Replies

  • StarryEyed500
    StarryEyed500 Posts: 225 Member
    Net = calories consumed - calories exercised

    You want to net your goal, whether that be 1300 or 1800.
  • Cindym82
    Cindym82 Posts: 1,245 Member
    No, your net still stays at the 1300. So if you burned 500 calories from exercise that gives you 1800 calories of food to eat. If your eat 1847 you minus the 500 burned from exercise and that gives you 1347. MFP sets you up to lose weight without exercise. That's why everyone hraps that you need to eat back your exercise calories.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Think of it as money, and exercise as taxes.

    Your gross income might be $1800, but if you pay $500 in taxes, your net income is $1300. The $1300 is the money you have to pay the rest of your bills.

    So if you ate a total of 1800 calories, then burned 500 through exercise, your body has 1300 calories to do everything else it has to do in a day.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Your goal for that day was 1800 total, and 1300 net.

    Think of it this way... if you earn $1847 and they take out $500 in taxes, you only get $1347 to spend. That's your net pay.

    Net calories means:
    TOTAL calories you ate
    minus calories burned through exercise
  • bella51708
    bella51708 Posts: 47
    And what do you do if your net calories according to MFP is below your BMR? Is that okay? So many people say not to eat below your BMR for health reasons. My BMR is 1889, but MFP has my net calorie goal as 1300 for a 2 pound/wk loss.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Continuing with the money them, though, if you overdraft your bank account by $47, you'll get wholloped with fees.

    But going over your calorie goal by 47 doesn't make one bit of difference. You still have a calorie deficit and you will still lose weight.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    And what do you do if your net calories according to MFP is below your BMR? Is that okay? So many people say not to eat below your BMR for health reasons. My BMR is 1889, but MFP has my net calorie goal as 1300 for a 2 pound/wk loss.

    From what I can gather, that becomes more important as you get closer to your goal weight. You currently have enough to lose to be able to have a 1000 calorie deficit to lose two pounds a week, but when you're within 75 pounds of your goal, it would be good to switch it to 1.5 lbs or 750 calorie deficit, then around 40-50 pounds to 500 calories, etc.
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Ok, thanks so much! I'll try and look at it as money! :)
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    Ok, thanks so much! I'll try and look at it as money! :)

    Just look at "remaining" calories, and eat until they are zero, give or take a few. :)

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