Should I eat back my exercise calories?

ajc1309

This is something I'm confused about. I eat around 1200 cals a day and I exercise for 30 minutes on an exercise bike and burn 200 cals (according to the bike). I log the exercise so MFP gives me and extra 200 cals for the day making my goal go up to 1400. So should I be eating those extra 200 to get to 1400 or no? So far I haven't been eating them back, well sometimes I go over 1200 a little... from 10-80 cals over.

Kalikel

Eat them back. See how it goes. If you don't lose, try eat back half of them.

pmm3437

At least eat the additional protein, which is muscle sparing/conserving when in a deficit. Calories is a personal preference, and most will tell you to eat some, but not all, because exercise burns are inaccurate.

If you have a ways to go, it wont be as critical. If you are close to goal weight, I would be more likely to eat them, cause you need the energy to fuel your workouts, and you don't have the spare in storage anymore.

TeaBea

This is how MFP is designed. Some people can't exercise....so they eat 1200 and lose. You choose exercise so you can eat 1400 and lose.

1200 is MFPs lowest default minimum. Going over a hundred here and there won't make much difference. Many women start higher than 1200 (they just lose more slowly). Slow weight loss helps your body retain more lean muscle. It's all individual preference.

SezxyStef

I equate it to gas in a car.

Your car (body) has 3/4 of a tank of gas let's say...you drive to a place and it burns half a tank of gas...do you try to drive back home with what is left...nope...do you put in 1/4 of a tank and try to drive home...nope...you put in enough gas to get back home...

that is calories burned from exercise...gas in your car.