Should we "eat up" the exercise-calories?

linux40
linux40 Posts: 127 Member
edited November 11 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all :)
I`m new here, but so happy I joined in...Totally motivated, and already lost 2 kilos this week, hurray ;)

But I was just wondering...when I exercise, I understand I then have some extra calories to eat up....This is great for the days I want an extra treat, but is this really needed? Wouldn`t I loose even more weight if I didn`t "eat up" the exercise-calories...or what?
Hopefully someone can explain this to a beginner, please ;)

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    edited January 2015
    The winner gets to eat the most and still lose weight. Remember, most eat half, due to overestimations in burns.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,207 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    The winner gets to eat the most and still lose weight. Remember, most eat half, due to overestimations in burns.
    Yes this. To answer your question, yes you lose more weight by not eating back your calories.

  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    The winner gets to eat the most and still lose weight. Remember, most eat half, due to overestimations in burns.

    ^This. I don't eat mine because I don't trust the burns, but do as I say, not as I do.

  • ChesKrieg
    ChesKrieg Posts: 24 Member
    Why bother exercising then? Don't eat your gains!
  • linux40
    linux40 Posts: 127 Member
    Thanks for explaining, guys, this is totally understandable! Will not eat them up, then, unless I`m really craving ;)
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    linux40 wrote: »
    Thanks for explaining, guys, this is totally understandable! Will not eat them up, then, unless I`m really craving ;)

    No, do eat them, especially if you're really working in the gym. Eat at least half. Especially if you're working on a progressive exercise regimen. You'll need the fuel for your body.

    I'm older and only work so hard in my workouts. I can get away with not eating back my calories for now. I might not as time goes on and my trainer has me progress to heavier weights. I'm also not sure how much I burn at cardio, so I err on the side of caution. Don't be me. You're younger and probably working harder. EAT!

  • linux40
    linux40 Posts: 127 Member
    ChesKrieg wrote: »
    Why bother exercising then? Don't eat your gains!

    I haven`t exercised all week, but still lost 2 kilos....So I guess exercising will speed up the process even more..?...and I´ll lose weight no matter if I exercise or not?..It seems like it. So far, that is. ;)
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    ChesKrieg wrote: »
    Why bother exercising then? Don't eat your gains!

    Exercise is for health, fitness, strength.

    Yes OP, logging and eating back your exercise calories is how this site is designed to be used. Fast weight loss doesn't always mean better weight loss.

    Please read.....
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    ChesKrieg wrote: »
    Why bother exercising then? Don't eat your gains!

    For your health and to help the deficit.
  • linux40
    linux40 Posts: 127 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    ChesKrieg wrote: »
    Why bother exercising then? Don't eat your gains!

    Exercise is for health, fitness, strength.

    Yes OP, logging and eating back your exercise calories is how this site is designed to be used. Fast weight loss doesn't always mean better weight loss.

    Please read.....
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1

    I agree , exercising is good for us anyways!
    Thanks for great info and for the link. So helpful! :)

  • linux40
    linux40 Posts: 127 Member
    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    linux40 wrote: »
    Thanks for explaining, guys, this is totally understandable! Will not eat them up, then, unless I`m really craving ;)

    No, do eat them, especially if you're really working in the gym. Eat at least half. Especially if you're working on a progressive exercise regimen. You'll need the fuel for your body.

    I'm older and only work so hard in my workouts. I can get away with not eating back my calories for now. I might not as time goes on and my trainer has me progress to heavier weights. I'm also not sure how much I burn at cardio, so I err on the side of caution. Don't be me. You're younger and probably working harder. EAT!

    Thanks for explaining, I`m kind of confused, this is new to me, still learning. Will eat half of it, that`s a good rule.

  • wolfruhn
    wolfruhn Posts: 3,025 Member
    edited January 2015
    Yes I do eat them, and I'm still losing weight at a decent speed. Using some of them for a bit of extra protein to help repair and build muscles. More muscle mass helps increase calorie burn and help tone, so all good. Well that's just my opinion anyway. Good luck! :)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    ChesKrieg wrote: »
    Why bother exercising then? Don't eat your gains!

    Because you need to fuel your workout. and MFP gives you a calorie goal assuming you don't workout. a larger deficit can lead to a larger % of your weight loss coming from lean muscle, not the fat you are trying to lose.

    Ask yourself, do you want to lose weight, or lose fat?
  • wolfruhn
    wolfruhn Posts: 3,025 Member
    +1
  • MarkJCherry
    MarkJCherry Posts: 9 Member
    Eat back some because you need additional fuel - and like erickirb said, you don't want the losses to come from muscle - but the less you eat back the more you'll burn off
  • lisaw19855
    lisaw19855 Posts: 165 Member
    I eat back if it drops me below about 1300 calories for that day, my goal is 1730 x
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    The real answer is: it depends. What does it depend on? How many you burn. What your non-exercise calorie deficit is. What your actual calorie target is. A few more things.

    Basically, don't eat them all back unless you have a very scientific way to estimate the actual burn. Eat some back if you are hungry, if your net goes under 1200, if you are losing too fast (more than 2 lb a week over a few week's time), if you don't have energy, if you just feel kind of generally yucky. Eat none back if you are losing at a safe rate and you are not hungry (the rarest of the scenarios and usually happens to people who do a few light workouts).
  • trina1049
    trina1049 Posts: 593 Member
    MFP is designed so that you eat back your exercise calories. As other posters have said, eat about half to two-thirds of those calories to allow for inaccuracies in counting your exercise burn. You need to eat the exercise calories to fuel your body for exercise and daily living. Losing weight too fast is not healthy or sustainable for the long term. You have to be patient and let the process work. There are no quick fixes; it will take time to lose weight and you need to be OK with that or you won't be successful long term.

    On days that you don't exercise eat your full MFP calorie allowance on days that you do exercise eat your calorie allowance plus half to two-thirds of your exercise calories. You will see a steady loss over time. Don't worry about the daily or weekly fluctuations, they're normal. Look for a steady downward trend over time. How much time it takes depends on your personal weight loss goals.

    Check your MFP settings and don't automatically select a two pound loss as that may be too aggressive depending upon how much weight you have to lose. Check this site out to figure out your BMR (Basic Metabolic Rate) and your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) and go on from there. scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    Good luck with your weight loss journey!
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    ChesKrieg wrote: »
    Why bother exercising then? Don't eat your gains!

    They aren't gains. They add to your deficit. Meaning if your deficit is 500 calories, then burning 200 calories creates a 700 calorie deficit if you don't consume them back. You SHOULD be consuming them if you do net method (MFP default).
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