I don't log every exercise

xxnemodinoxx600
xxnemodinoxx600 Posts: 445 Member
edited November 21 in Fitness and Exercise
i do not log every exercise I do and I was wondering if it's a bad thing and messed with data. The reason I do not log every exercise is because it adds more calorie intake and I try to only eat the calories I am given for the day. Sometimes I'm over 100 calories because one item may be a bit to high. And I always log my snacks because I want to try to burn those unhealthy calories. Does anyone else do this, does anyone think it's effective? I am on my first week of working out.

Replies

  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    The calories deficit you are given is intended to be counted as is, and if you exercise, those calories need to be eaten back. At least half of them. You will be under too far for calorie deficit otherwise, and will burn lean muscle as well as fat.
  • paris458
    paris458 Posts: 229 Member
    I dont log all my exercises either. I guess looking at a few people might say, well you eat over a little somedays but I those days I worked out.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    MFP gave you a calorie deficit BEFORE exercise. That way people who can't exercise, still lose weight.

    The calorie burns provided are often "generous." Instead of not logging them, perhaps adjust the calorie burns down by 50%. Then eat those calories back. People who are more active...require more FUEL.
  • professionalHobbyist
    professionalHobbyist Posts: 1,316 Member
    Lifting is pretty crazy to log.

    I have never logged it

    I do log bike rides
  • AsISmile
    AsISmile Posts: 1,004 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    MFP gave you a calorie deficit BEFORE exercise. That way people who can't exercise, still lose weight.

    The calorie burns provided are often "generous." Instead of not logging them, perhaps adjust the calorie burns down by 50%. Then eat those calories back. People who are more active...require more FUEL.
    This

    If it is a lot of cardio you do not log, you should start doing it. Your defecit is calculated before exercise, and the callorie goal you need to have net at the end of the day.
    1200 calories food - 300 calories exercise = net 900 calories (too low)
    1500 calories food - 300 calories exercise = net 1200 calories

    The recommendation is to now be under net 1200 calories for health reasons. You can get a nutrient deficiency which could possible cause hairloss among other things.
  • xxnemodinoxx600
    xxnemodinoxx600 Posts: 445 Member
    AsISmile wrote: »
    TeaBea wrote: »
    MFP gave you a calorie deficit BEFORE exercise. That way people who can't exercise, still lose weight.

    The calorie burns provided are often "generous." Instead of not logging them, perhaps adjust the calorie burns down by 50%. Then eat those calories back. People who are more active...require more FUEL.
    This

    If it is a lot of cardio you do not log, you should start doing it. Your defecit is calculated before exercise, and the callorie goal you need to have net at the end of the day.
    1200 calories food - 300 calories exercise = net 900 calories (too low)
    1500 calories food - 300 calories exercise = net 1200 calories

    The recommendation is to now be under net 1200 calories for health reasons. You can get a nutrient deficiency which could possible cause hairloss among other things.

    Usually it's only 5 min of cardio but my mom is getting me one of those fitness trackers from misfit for my early birthday since I want to lose 5 pounds before my birthday and she is getting one too. Also this way it would be more accurate because there's some stuff I don't know how to log, because it all depends on the person.

  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Eating far fewer calories than your body burns may allow you to lose weight faster but it comes with a cost. When we consistently eat too far under our maintenance calories our bodies freak out and think we're starving and won't have access to food any time soon. Rather than take all of the energy it needs from stored fat it'll start breaking down muscle for fuel especially if you aren't using those muscles in an aggressive way. So what you end up with at the end is a higher body fat percentage (since you lost lean muscle mass) and a slightly lower metabolism. If you then put some of that weight back on (and aren't lifting heavy weights) it's going to be all fat. Then your body fat percentage will be even higher and it'll be even harder to lose weight the next time around.

    Rather than trying to lose weight really quickly in an unhealthy way, eat at a reasonable deficit and consider strength training with heavy weights to maintain muscle mass. It may take a little longer but you'll be happier with the results and it'll be easier to maintain your goal weight when you reach it.
  • xxnemodinoxx600
    xxnemodinoxx600 Posts: 445 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    Eating far fewer calories than your body burns may allow you to lose weight faster but it comes with a cost. When we consistently eat too far under our maintenance calories our bodies freak out and think we're starving and won't have access to food any time soon. Rather than take all of the energy it needs from stored fat it'll start breaking down muscle for fuel especially if you aren't using those muscles in an aggressive way. So what you end up with at the end is a higher body fat percentage (since you lost lean muscle mass) and a slightly lower metabolism. If you then put some of that weight back on (and aren't lifting heavy weights) it's going to be all fat. Then your body fat percentage will be even higher and it'll be even harder to lose weight the next time around.

    Rather than trying to lose weight really quickly in an unhealthy way, eat at a reasonable deficit and consider strength training with heavy weights to maintain muscle mass. It may take a little longer but you'll be happier with the results and it'll be easier to maintain your goal weight when you reach it.

    Thank you, my main goal is to get rid of stomach and thigh fat and turn that into muscle.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    Eating far fewer calories than your body burns may allow you to lose weight faster but it comes with a cost. When we consistently eat too far under our maintenance calories our bodies freak out and think we're starving and won't have access to food any time soon. Rather than take all of the energy it needs from stored fat it'll start breaking down muscle for fuel especially if you aren't using those muscles in an aggressive way. So what you end up with at the end is a higher body fat percentage (since you lost lean muscle mass) and a slightly lower metabolism. If you then put some of that weight back on (and aren't lifting heavy weights) it's going to be all fat. Then your body fat percentage will be even higher and it'll be even harder to lose weight the next time around.

    Rather than trying to lose weight really quickly in an unhealthy way, eat at a reasonable deficit and consider strength training with heavy weights to maintain muscle mass. It may take a little longer but you'll be happier with the results and it'll be easier to maintain your goal weight when you reach it.

    Thank you, my main goal is to get rid of stomach and thigh fat and turn that into muscle.

    Welcome! Keep in mind that fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two completely different things and it's nearly impossible to shed fat and build muscle at the same time. It's also much, much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle so the best time to start working on the muscle part is now so you can keep more of what you already have.

    Since we can't pick and choose which areas to lose fat from, what you really want to do is lower your body fat percentage overall. That's the only way to reduce the fat in your stubborn areas. The best way to do that is to lift heavy weights while eating at a slight calorie deficit. So trade some of your cardio time for weight lifting (2-3 times per week with a rest day in between each session) and make sure that your calorie deficit isn't too large (.5 pound per week or less). You will lose weight more slowly but you'll like the way you look a lot better when you get there.
  • xxnemodinoxx600
    xxnemodinoxx600 Posts: 445 Member
    I can't really afford to buy any weights or a gym membership :/
  • xxnemodinoxx600
    xxnemodinoxx600 Posts: 445 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    SueInAz wrote: »
    Eating far fewer calories than your body burns may allow you to lose weight faster but it comes with a cost. When we consistently eat too far under our maintenance calories our bodies freak out and think we're starving and won't have access to food any time soon. Rather than take all of the energy it needs from stored fat it'll start breaking down muscle for fuel especially if you aren't using those muscles in an aggressive way. So what you end up with at the end is a higher body fat percentage (since you lost lean muscle mass) and a slightly lower metabolism. If you then put some of that weight back on (and aren't lifting heavy weights) it's going to be all fat. Then your body fat percentage will be even higher and it'll be even harder to lose weight the next time around.

    Rather than trying to lose weight really quickly in an unhealthy way, eat at a reasonable deficit and consider strength training with heavy weights to maintain muscle mass. It may take a little longer but you'll be happier with the results and it'll be easier to maintain your goal weight when you reach it.

    Thank you, my main goal is to get rid of stomach and thigh fat and turn that into muscle.

    Welcome! Keep in mind that fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two completely different things and it's nearly impossible to shed fat and build muscle at the same time. It's also much, much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle so the best time to start working on the muscle part is now so you can keep more of what you already have.

    Since we can't pick and choose which areas to lose fat from, what you really want to do is lower your body fat percentage overall. That's the only way to reduce the fat in your stubborn areas. The best way to do that is to lift heavy weights while eating at a slight calorie deficit. So trade some of your cardio time for weight lifting (2-3 times per week with a rest day in between each session) and make sure that your calorie deficit isn't too large (.5 pound per week or less). You will lose weight more slowly but you'll like the way you look a lot better when you get there.

    I can't really afford weights or a gym membership.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    SueInAz wrote: »
    Eating far fewer calories than your body burns may allow you to lose weight faster but it comes with a cost. When we consistently eat too far under our maintenance calories our bodies freak out and think we're starving and won't have access to food any time soon. Rather than take all of the energy it needs from stored fat it'll start breaking down muscle for fuel especially if you aren't using those muscles in an aggressive way. So what you end up with at the end is a higher body fat percentage (since you lost lean muscle mass) and a slightly lower metabolism. If you then put some of that weight back on (and aren't lifting heavy weights) it's going to be all fat. Then your body fat percentage will be even higher and it'll be even harder to lose weight the next time around.

    Rather than trying to lose weight really quickly in an unhealthy way, eat at a reasonable deficit and consider strength training with heavy weights to maintain muscle mass. It may take a little longer but you'll be happier with the results and it'll be easier to maintain your goal weight when you reach it.

    Thank you, my main goal is to get rid of stomach and thigh fat and turn that into muscle.

    Welcome! Keep in mind that fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two completely different things and it's nearly impossible to shed fat and build muscle at the same time. It's also much, much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle so the best time to start working on the muscle part is now so you can keep more of what you already have.

    Since we can't pick and choose which areas to lose fat from, what you really want to do is lower your body fat percentage overall. That's the only way to reduce the fat in your stubborn areas. The best way to do that is to lift heavy weights while eating at a slight calorie deficit. So trade some of your cardio time for weight lifting (2-3 times per week with a rest day in between each session) and make sure that your calorie deficit isn't too large (.5 pound per week or less). You will lose weight more slowly but you'll like the way you look a lot better when you get there.

    I can't really afford weights or a gym membership.

    Start with body weight exercises or resistance bands. There are plenty of examples of them on the internet available for free. :smile:
  • pmm3437
    pmm3437 Posts: 529 Member
    I only log steady state cardio that I can get a decent deficit from a heart rate monitor.

    Lifting or incidental activity above sedentary I ignore. The only potential error in your data this can cause is that you lose more than you expect from the MFP calcs, which is only an estimate anyway.
  • xxnemodinoxx600
    xxnemodinoxx600 Posts: 445 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    SueInAz wrote: »
    SueInAz wrote: »
    Eating far fewer calories than your body burns may allow you to lose weight faster but it comes with a cost. When we consistently eat too far under our maintenance calories our bodies freak out and think we're starving and won't have access to food any time soon. Rather than take all of the energy it needs from stored fat it'll start breaking down muscle for fuel especially if you aren't using those muscles in an aggressive way. So what you end up with at the end is a higher body fat percentage (since you lost lean muscle mass) and a slightly lower metabolism. If you then put some of that weight back on (and aren't lifting heavy weights) it's going to be all fat. Then your body fat percentage will be even higher and it'll be even harder to lose weight the next time around.

    Rather than trying to lose weight really quickly in an unhealthy way, eat at a reasonable deficit and consider strength training with heavy weights to maintain muscle mass. It may take a little longer but you'll be happier with the results and it'll be easier to maintain your goal weight when you reach it.

    Thank you, my main goal is to get rid of stomach and thigh fat and turn that into muscle.

    Welcome! Keep in mind that fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two completely different things and it's nearly impossible to shed fat and build muscle at the same time. It's also much, much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle so the best time to start working on the muscle part is now so you can keep more of what you already have.

    Since we can't pick and choose which areas to lose fat from, what you really want to do is lower your body fat percentage overall. That's the only way to reduce the fat in your stubborn areas. The best way to do that is to lift heavy weights while eating at a slight calorie deficit. So trade some of your cardio time for weight lifting (2-3 times per week with a rest day in between each session) and make sure that your calorie deficit isn't too large (.5 pound per week or less). You will lose weight more slowly but you'll like the way you look a lot better when you get there.

    I can't really afford weights or a gym membership.

    Start with body weight exercises or resistance bands. There are plenty of examples of them on the internet available for free. :smile:

    I use the sworkit free app. I try to do all of them but I always find myself doing stretching and every other day light warm up cardio which has running in place, jumping jacks and all of that. Since I have the free app, I can only have 3 custom workouts but I'm never to sure what to put in there.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    SueInAz wrote: »
    SueInAz wrote: »
    SueInAz wrote: »
    Eating far fewer calories than your body burns may allow you to lose weight faster but it comes with a cost. When we consistently eat too far under our maintenance calories our bodies freak out and think we're starving and won't have access to food any time soon. Rather than take all of the energy it needs from stored fat it'll start breaking down muscle for fuel especially if you aren't using those muscles in an aggressive way. So what you end up with at the end is a higher body fat percentage (since you lost lean muscle mass) and a slightly lower metabolism. If you then put some of that weight back on (and aren't lifting heavy weights) it's going to be all fat. Then your body fat percentage will be even higher and it'll be even harder to lose weight the next time around.

    Rather than trying to lose weight really quickly in an unhealthy way, eat at a reasonable deficit and consider strength training with heavy weights to maintain muscle mass. It may take a little longer but you'll be happier with the results and it'll be easier to maintain your goal weight when you reach it.

    Thank you, my main goal is to get rid of stomach and thigh fat and turn that into muscle.

    Welcome! Keep in mind that fat doesn't turn into muscle. They are two completely different things and it's nearly impossible to shed fat and build muscle at the same time. It's also much, much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle so the best time to start working on the muscle part is now so you can keep more of what you already have.

    Since we can't pick and choose which areas to lose fat from, what you really want to do is lower your body fat percentage overall. That's the only way to reduce the fat in your stubborn areas. The best way to do that is to lift heavy weights while eating at a slight calorie deficit. So trade some of your cardio time for weight lifting (2-3 times per week with a rest day in between each session) and make sure that your calorie deficit isn't too large (.5 pound per week or less). You will lose weight more slowly but you'll like the way you look a lot better when you get there.

    I can't really afford weights or a gym membership.

    Start with body weight exercises or resistance bands. There are plenty of examples of them on the internet available for free. :smile:

    I use the sworkit free app. I try to do all of them but I always find myself doing stretching and every other day light warm up cardio which has running in place, jumping jacks and all of that. Since I have the free app, I can only have 3 custom workouts but I'm never to sure what to put in there.

    I don't know that app but you'd want to focus on strength moves like pushups, squats, planks, etc. for your 2 to 3 times per week strength workouts. You can still do jumping jacks, running in place, etc. on the days you aren't doing strength. The nice thing about body weight exercises is that many of the moves can be adjusted until you can do the full move. If you can't do a full pushup, do them from your knees, etc.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,687 Member
    I also don't log every exercise.

    I have thought about carrying a pedometer around with me to count every step, but I'd rather not. I'll count the actual walks I go on, but not every time I get up for a very brief walk/stretch around the building. And I don't count walking around the grocery store, or doing housework, or wandering about the yard taking photos, or walking up and down the halls of my uni trying to find my class ...

    Sometimes I count stairs ... sometimes I don't.

    And I usually estimate a bit low when I walk, hike, cycle, etc.

    When it comes to eating, sometimes I eat all my exercise calories back, but more often than not, I'll eat maybe 50% of them back. I do find I have to eat some of them back or I'm too hungry.
  • Katzedernacht
    Katzedernacht Posts: 266 Member
    I don't log my weight lifting cos...it just doesn't really even show,it's just 0 ¬¬ and yes I know it's really hard to calculate so,well, I will log the tiny cardio I do when I do it. Although numbers shown here seem kinda big.

    I don't think eating exercise calories back is good ,cos those are supposed to be accounted for in your ehmm what's it called TDEE thing,right? or am I being silly?
  • loulamb7
    loulamb7 Posts: 801 Member
    I don't think eating exercise calories back is good ,cos those are supposed to be accounted for in your ehmm what's it called TDEE thing,right? or am I being silly?

    That's true if you're using TDEE, but MFP calculations are NEAT, and exercise is not accounted for.

  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    I don't log my weight lifting cos...it just doesn't really even show,it's just 0 ¬¬ and yes I know it's really hard to calculate so,well, I will log the tiny cardio I do when I do it. Although numbers shown here seem kinda big.

    I don't think eating exercise calories back is good ,cos those are supposed to be accounted for in your ehmm what's it called TDEE thing,right? or am I being silly?

    MFP doesn't use TDEE as noted above, but it does inflate calories burned, so you should eat back about half of calories burned once you log them.
  • mathandcats
    mathandcats Posts: 786 Member
    I don't log my exercise, but I also manually increased my calorie goal based on observed rate of loss. I guess I essentially do TDEE, but with trial and error.
  • miriams76
    miriams76 Posts: 138 Member
    I don't usually log my dancing (or if I do I reduce the time) because I think MFP really overestimates calories burned with that. All other exercise is logged.
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