Total Calories versus Net Calories

mysterysilk
mysterysilk Posts: 49
edited December 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, so at the moment, my daily allowance is 1340. I normally burn between 400 and 700 at the gym each time, and I go basically every day. Now, I'm a little confused on this part... should I keep my total calories at 1340 or under, or my net calories at 1340 or under?

Replies

  • whudafxup
    whudafxup Posts: 10
    i'm confused about this too, but keep in mind you have a BMR (basic metabolic rate) which is what you would burn if you sat around and did nothing all day, so that might be something MFP kinda just calculates into your diary for you. personally for me i like to see my net calories NEGATIVE lol ;p
  • mysterysilk
    mysterysilk Posts: 49
    Isn't that not safe?

    and anyone else know?!
  • jzaz903
    jzaz903 Posts: 306 Member
    Okay, so at the moment, my daily allowance is 1340. I normally burn between 400 and 700 at the gym each time, and I go basically every day. Now, I'm a little confused on this part... should I keep my total calories at 1340 or under, or my net calories at 1340 or under?

    You want your net calories to be around 1340.
    If you're using MFP or a cardio machine at the gym for your burn calculations, I recommend you only eat about half- they tend to overestimate. You may want to invest in an HRM for more accurate numbers.

    To the other poster- you never want to see your net calories negative. Ever. You need to fuel your body for what it noally does and for whatever workouts you're doing as well.
  • Martina_Who
    Martina_Who Posts: 172 Member
    I am sticking to(mostly!) 1200kcal per day. I dont want to use any of the calories I burn doing exercises unless I have to.
    I would never go negative in the calories though, I imagine that would slow down your metabolism and wreck your body!

    you need 3500kcal loss to lose 1lb of weight.
    so the recommended daily intake of kcal for a woman is 2000 so I'm eating 800kcal less
    So 800kcal per day * 7days = 5600 which is around 1.5lb of weight which is perfect weight loss I think per week!
    Then anything I burn through exercising I can use for weekend treats or maybe extra loss to 2lb/2.5lb per week!

    Thats my 2cents anyway!! :-)


    I have an underactive thyroid gland though which can wreck your body as happened in my case so I'm happy with any weight loss and I know it'll be slow. I've finally got my medication right for it so I'm only starting to lose weight after struggling for years and years.
  • dollipop
    dollipop Posts: 379 Member
    i'm confused about this too, but keep in mind you have a BMR (basic metabolic rate) which is what you would burn if you sat around and did nothing all day, so that might be something MFP kinda just calculates into your diary for you. personally for me i like to see my net calories NEGATIVE lol ;p
    That is retarded.
  • mysterysilk
    mysterysilk Posts: 49
    So, as long as I'm staying around 1340 calories a day, and if I've exercised, it's okay if, let's say, my net calories are like 700 or something, if I've worked out...
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Here is the best thing you can do for yourself. First only go to the gym 6 days. Try to dedicate 3 days to cardio and 3 to heavy weight training (can only do 8-12 reps) and second, put your settings at moderately active as compared to sedentary. This way, you don' t have to play the net vs gross calories game.
  • Fit_Forever25
    Fit_Forever25 Posts: 313 Member
    I have same case as yours
    but I never worry about the net calories
    the only thing is you should never eat less than 1200 a day even when you haven't moved at all
    but I burn 500~700 calories on a good day and always have net calories under 1200 or even less than that most of the days..
    Do not worry about net calories just make sure you stay green and do not eat less than 1200 ( to avoid starvation) but do not eat when you are not hungry just to up your calories.
    I always try to stick to 1300-1400 even on the days when I workout because thats how you lose..
    the more calorie deficit you create the more you will lose..
  • DeeVanderbles
    DeeVanderbles Posts: 589 Member
    So, as long as I'm staying around 1340 calories a day, and if I've exercised, it's okay if, let's say, my net calories are like 700 or something, if I've worked out...
    As another posted said to NET around 1340, that would mean if you work out and burn 600 calories, you should eat back about 300. You never want to net much lower than your BMR or your body could go into starvation mode and you won't lose weight at all. At the very very least you should be netting 1200 per day, the minimum most bodies require to function daily.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
    i'm confused about this too, but keep in mind you have a BMR (basic metabolic rate) which is what you would burn if you sat around and did nothing all day, so that might be something MFP kinda just calculates into your diary for you. personally for me i like to see my net calories NEGATIVE lol ;p
    That is retarded.

    The BMR stuff (as it pertains to food intake) is pretty much nonsense but maximizing your deficit to lose weight isn't retarded, it's common sense. Some people want faster results and are content at low intake and don't believe their metabolism is a fragile flower that will shatter in a short period of low calories. I'm not advocating exercising your butt off but it's a choice adults can make. It doesn't mean they're stupid or have an ED.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    i'm confused about this too, but keep in mind you have a BMR (basic metabolic rate) which is what you would burn if you sat around and did nothing all day, so that might be something MFP kinda just calculates into your diary for you. personally for me i like to see my net calories NEGATIVE lol ;p
    That is retarded.

    The BMR stuff (as it pertains to food intake) is pretty much nonsense but maximizing your deficit to lose weight isn't retarded, it's common sense. Some people want faster results and are content at low intake and don't believe their metabolism is a fragile flower that will shatter in a short period of low calories. I'm not advocating exercising your butt off but it's a choice adults can make. It doesn't mean they're stupid or have an ED.

    But time and time again, are people starting to realize that huge deficits don't work. How many threads do you see are exactly like that, especially, if you aren't obese?
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    So, as long as I'm staying around 1340 calories a day, and if I've exercised, it's okay if, let's say, my net calories are like 700 or something, if I've worked out...
    As another posted said to NET around 1340, that would mean if you work out and burn 600 calories, you should eat back about 300. You never want to net much lower than your BMR or your body could go into starvation mode and you won't lose weight at all. At the very very least you should be netting 1200 per day, the minimum most bodies require to function daily.

    Actually, there is no scientific proof that netting below your BMR will cause an issue or even slow down your metabolic rate.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/638520-eating-below-your-bmr
  • Meg_78
    Meg_78 Posts: 998 Member
    MFP already sets you at a deficit to lose weight unless you are set to gain or maintain. So you should not NET less than 1200, 1200 is the minimum an adult should eat...if you are set at 1200, and exercise 500 without eating back your work out calories, you are only eating 700 calories and that is unhealthy. Either reset your activity level to higher, or eat back your calories. Its not that difficult a concept to understand really.
  • _stephanie0
    _stephanie0 Posts: 708 Member
    i'm confused about this too, but keep in mind you have a BMR (basic metabolic rate) which is what you would burn if you sat around and did nothing all day, so that might be something MFP kinda just calculates into your diary for you. personally for me i like to see my net calories NEGATIVE lol ;p
    That is retarded.

    this.

    NET what MFP suggests... in my opinion NEVER net below your BMR.
    ugh i feel like im wasting my breath anyways.

    just eat, and eat exercise calories ffs okay?

    :)
  • Mesi13
    Mesi13 Posts: 10
    Bump.
  • elysium4cindy
    elysium4cindy Posts: 1
    Starvation mode is a myth. It only happens if you go for weeks without eating. There are numerous scientific studies conducted on this.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    i'm confused about this too, but keep in mind you have a BMR (basic metabolic rate) which is what you would burn if you sat around and did nothing all day, so that might be something MFP kinda just calculates into your diary for you. personally for me i like to see my net calories NEGATIVE lol ;p
    Negative NET cals = out of fuel! :noway: Food is fuel - can't expect your body to function well, at least not for very long, on negative calories.
  • phillipsfan15
    phillipsfan15 Posts: 1
    Can you name one? I am not aware of a single controlled study. I have seen blogs from ppl that no less than my child... But no scientists.
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