Question about "net" calories
 

sorry but i think i put my previous thread in the wrong section

Hello everyone :)

Sorry but i have a question i am very confused about "net" calories i guess.
I am trying desperately to lose 40 pounds overall, but would very much like to lose as much fat and weight before christmas comes (so about 1 month!)

i have been trying to eat an estimate of 1,200 calories (estimated because it is very difficult for me to count accurately ) and plus that i have been doing fasted cardio in the morning (so i run for 20-30 minutes on an empty stomach) and then at the evening/night i do the insanity dvds - which, according to my heart monitor, burns a total of 600 calories or so.

so does this mean that i should actually be eating 1,800 calories, to account for that burn, and be down at 1,200? or do i purely eat 1,200, and the burn would take me down to a "net" of 600 and help? i am a little confused. the insanity health nutrition guide told me to eat alot and i feel like it is too much and i want to lose weight not get fatter

That is a lot of exercise - 1200 isn't enough fuel for your body. If 1800 feels like too much, shoot for somewhere in the middle... 1600 or so.

However, why do you say it's difficult for you to count accurately?

i live in a third world country and alot of my food is fresh prepared and cooked by someone else and we dont really have good scales here so i have to "eyeball" everything :)

Net calories are whatever you have eaten, minus your exercise. In your case, you are only netting about 600 due to 1200(eaten) - 600(burned).

Your NET should never go below 1200. If you continue eating so little, not only will your weight loss stall, but your body will start to have issues. Calories provide energy but also with that comes vitamins and minerals that our bodies NEED to function. From our brains to our heart and organs - we need those calories to run at our best!

I am your height and started at your weight. I personally lose best when I NET 1300-1400 calories.

Oh, okay i will try that, thankyou very much :)
no wonder im not losing anything !