Net Calories

ruby142
ruby142 Posts: 39 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
OK so I'm sorry if this is gonna sound stupid but I gotta ask. If my daily goal is 1300cal and I exercise and burn 500cal than it will increase my daily goal to 1800 that I know. Now my question is should I be in taking 1800/day or stay at 1300? I'm a bit confused and just wanna make sure I'm doing this right.

Replies

  • stronglikebull
    stronglikebull Posts: 402 Member
    you want to take in 1800 total because if you burn 500, that leaves you with 1300 net, which is what mfp has calculated for you to lose weight :)
  • wildboar1
    wildboar1 Posts: 88 Member
    1800.

    But realize the human body rapidly becomes adapted to exercise so after the first few times, you're not going to be burning 500 calories. I would've halve that number honestly.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I would stay at 1300 and see how you do. Are you losing weight? How do you feel?

    If you are exercising very vigorously and consistently, you may in time want to go up a higher, but do it gradually. If you meet the 1300 limit you probably are eating more than 1300 because of the inherent inaccuracy in these calculations.
  • ruby142
    ruby142 Posts: 39 Member
    i've only been doing this for 5 days and I just weighed myself today and I lost half pound but i did eat 1800 for the last couple days and i felt like I ate too much if that makes sense today though I only ate 1300 and I was hungry all day....
  • ruby142
    ruby142 Posts: 39 Member
    Goal Food Exercise = Net
    1330 1343 - 522 821

    am I doing this right??
  • ruby_red_rose
    ruby_red_rose Posts: 321 Member
    In my experience, weight loss isn't always exact science. What I do is play with calories eaten and exercise so that I am not hungry but I still lose. If I were you, I would try eating 1400, 1500, 1600 etc for a couple of weeks at a time and see which one yields the best results. Figuring it out for myself was the best thing I have done because I have lost 57 lbs so far, and have not at all starved in the process.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,979 Member
    Check the FAQ, we've got you covered. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/457-unofficial-mfp-faq

    Short answer - yes, eat the exercise calories.
  • thepanttherlady
    thepanttherlady Posts: 258 Member
    If you eat 1300 calories but burn 500, you would net 800 calories for the day.

    For a lot of us, the idea is to eat to lose. If you're weighing your food and are confident the calories burned is accurate, I would say eat the 1800. If you have any doubt as to calories in or calories out, then eat most of but not all your exercise calories.
  • thepanttherlady
    thepanttherlady Posts: 258 Member
    Goal Food Exercise = Net
    1330 1343 - 522 821

    am I doing this right??

    Yes. Eat more.
  • ruby142
    ruby142 Posts: 39 Member
    In my experience, weight loss isn't always exact science. What I do is play with calories eaten and exercise so that I am not hungry but I still lose. If I were you, I would try eating 1400, 1500, 1600 etc for a couple of weeks at a time and see which one yields the best results. Figuring it out for myself was the best thing I have done because I have lost 57 lbs so far, and have not at all starved in the process.

    Congrats on the 57lbs that's awesome. I at first thought of doing that too but I figure I ask on here first ...thank you :smile:
  • ruby142
    ruby142 Posts: 39 Member
    Goal Food Exercise = Net
    1330 1343 - 522 821

    am I doing this right??

    Yes. Eat more.

    Thank you :)
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    Personally, I only eat half of my exercise calories unless I'm having one of those days that I want to eat everything.

    Unless you're using a HRM (which isn't always accurate anyways) you may be overestimating how much you burn during exercise.
  • tryinghard71
    tryinghard71 Posts: 593 Member
    I have lost 7 inches in my waist eating back almost all my exercise calories. If I don't eat them back I don't have energy to work out. That is working for me but I know for everyone it's not the same.
  • tryinghard71
    tryinghard71 Posts: 593 Member
    I also use a HRM with chest strap to get the most accurate calorie burn.
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