[butterflyangels]

I'm relatively new to the diet thing, and very new to the calorie counting thing, and while I know that this is a ymmv thing, I'm confused over one thing: should my calorie goal be XXXX calories before factoring in my excercise, or should my calorie goal be the net calorie count?

To make myself clearer, I naturally eat ~1000-1100 calories, but I also run on the elliptical for about 4 miles, which, according to thedailyplate, is burning up about 600 calories, which brings my net down to ~ 400-500 calories a day.

So, should I be focused on the calories consumed, or the calories netted? I'm going to the doctor in a little over a month for my yearly physical, and I want to make some more progress before I go- and I don't want to screw myself over in the meantime.

[mescelestus]

you are eating way too little. the general consensus is that no one should eat less than 1200 calories a day...especially with the amount you are exersizing. you should be eating more like 1400. btw you are not netting that amount of calories because your body burns a lot of calories by just operating, and doing any activity. i hope i helped...good luck!

[chick_in_the_hat]

1200 is the minimum regardless of whether or not you exercise because it's generally considered the least you can take in and still get the noutrients your body needs. How long have you been at 1000-1100? I would suggest going up to at least 1200 ASAP.

The exercise you do will contribute to creating a calorie deficit so you can still lose weight. It might be slow going - you are getting inot the healthy range where the pounds come off slower.

Are you doing any kind of weight training? Building muscle will help boost your metabolism.

[eilla05]

You should be consuming at least 1200 calories after you exercise. So once its all said and done for the day you should have least eaten 1800 calories per day on the days you exercise. 1200 calories is the minimum anyone should eat.

You will probably find that you wont lose weight eating the way you eat right now. Your body needs a set number of calories in order to even do daily function such as make your heart pump. You should check out a BMR calculator to find out what the number is for you. I did one for your height and weight with 25 for the age and the BMR was 1643 calories per day.

If you keep eating so few calories your body will go into starvation mood and hang on to every ounce of fat in your body until you feed it. Eating more will prob make you loose more.

Good luck!