Net calories

Turtle003
Turtle003 Posts: 133 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Can someone explain to me the concept of net calories? My daily goal is 1210 and I eat about 1400 - 1500 a day. After working out I get between 600 - 900 extra calories per day depending on what workout I do. At the end of the day I have net calories left...should I be eating those? I have only been tracking on MFP for 4 days and I'm still new to counting calories...I was on WW and did great with the points system (lost 53lbs). I'm nervous about eating too many calories a day; but feel 1210 is too low for me. Any advice would be helpful.

Replies

  • LadyIntrepid
    LadyIntrepid Posts: 399 Member
    Yep -- you should be eating your calories back to meet your net calorie goal.
  • Larisonlj
    Larisonlj Posts: 426 Member
    Some will say yes eat the net calories and some will say no what's the point.

    The truth is, MFP has already restricted your calories to 1210, that is your daily goal. So if you start with 1210 and work out burning 300 you now need to eat 1510 to be at breakeven (which is still a defeceit of your normal calorie intake.
    Otherwise if you eat only the 1210 and burn 300 you're actually only taking in 910 calories a day and that is NOT healthy.
    Your body can't truly function well on that few calories, you burn more than that just existing, breathing, etc.
    You may lose some weight at first but then you body will go into starvation mode and hold onto EVERYTHING and your metabolism will get messed up.
    The more you build muscle, the more you will need to eat to supply energy to those muscles. What may have been 1210 will become over 1500 or even more depending on your activity and type of work.
    Lots of good information on this site. Read, research, and you'll find what fits you.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    The system is designed with a deficit built into your net calorie goal. If you add exercise, you take away calories, so it increases. To keep the deficit the same as you asked, you eat the exercise calories back.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    YES....eat them!!
  • Turtle003
    Turtle003 Posts: 133 Member
    Wow! 147lbs lost...way to go! Thanks for all the replies...but do I eat the Net calories or the remaining calories? They are different numbers.
  • rn00karen
    rn00karen Posts: 2
    Hi, I too am confused with the net calorie concept and believe your post helped me. I also lost over 50 lbs on WW twice and am using MFP to help me lose the extra 10 I want to be under goal. I am going to friend you so perhaps we can support and learn with each other. OK
  • tadpole242
    tadpole242 Posts: 507 Member
    Wow! 147lbs lost...way to go! Thanks for all the replies...but do I eat the Net calories or the remaining calories? They are different numbers.
    you eat until your net calories are the same as you day calories
    1200 - 300= 900(net), you eat until you get that 900 back up to 1200(net) I rarely eat all my extra calories back as there are just too many.
    Some days MFP wants me to eat 3500 calories, to have a net of 2041.
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