Just started exercising yet I gained weight.. So discouraged.

LivingtheLeanDream

ps the cardio is great for burning calories but introduce some weight lifting/strength training/interval training as when you build muscle the calorie burn lasts all day rather than just in the moment. Also any time I had a stall I did interval training again, tightened up the food logging and the scales moved in the right direction.

latina0514

ceoverturf wrote: »

latina0514 wrote: »

Do you 'eat' the extra calories given for exercise?

In theory, yes.

The problem is that it's difficult to accurately measure how many calories you burn doing exercise, so it's often recommended to only eat a portion of them back (rather than all of them) to account for errors in calculating.

I've been eating most of them back so it's good to know. I also use a fitbit that does tracking but I'm not sold on how accurate it is. I will definitely be more cautious about eating the extra exercise calories. Thanks.

DarbiB

latina0514 wrote: »

ceoverturf wrote: »

latina0514 wrote: »

Do you 'eat' the extra calories given for exercise?

In theory, yes.

The problem is that it's difficult to accurately measure how many calories you burn doing exercise, so it's often recommended to only eat a portion of them back (rather than all of them) to account for errors in calculating.

I've been eating most of them back so it's good to know. I also use a fitbit that does tracking but I'm not sold on how accurate it is. I will definitely be more cautious about eating the extra exercise calories. Thanks.

I think you're on the right track about being cautious with your fitbit extra calories. I've had mine since September (and I LOVE IT), but it can definitely be generous. I have a desk job and I'm very competitive, so for me, my fitbit is more of a motivational tool (ie I have to beat my friends in 7-day steps), rather than a truly accurate calculation tool.