Calories to lose weight and body fat

[Winter]

Hi Everyone,

For some reason I am confused on counting calories to lose weight. If I figure out that to lose weight I need to eat 1400 calories a day is that Net calories after a work out?

So if I eat 1400, work out and burn 400 calories do I eat 1400 or 1800?

I am considering tracking body fat loss at home. BFFM book talked about the accu-measure skin fold test. Anyone use this or have another pretty easy, accurate method to use.


Thanks Everyone!!

 

[jennifermaria]

Usually it's referring to the total (unless it specifically stated net of exercise).

 

[RapidBreath]

I hope this sort of answers your question

How I track calories is as follows (probably no different than anybody else)

1. use a bmr calculator to find the minimum. You need to know your height/weight/age.
2. add how many calories you burned during your workout according to your heart rate monitor
3. subtract the deficit you want to see. For me thats usually a 500 calorie deficit.

Let me give you today's example:

1. bmr is 1583
2. 380 calories burned during my walk this morning + bmr= 1963
3. subtract my desired deficit of 500 calories= 1963-500= 1463

Does that make sense? I hope it does. I prefer to get to my deficit by exercise alone, but sometimes that just doesn't happen.