Eating your Calories Burned?

Jruzer

I eat 100% back. My workouts suffer if I don't, @KSH86 's reply notwithstanding.

ETA: I don't use MFP or machine values for my burn estimates, however. Over time I've developed what I believe are fairly good estimates of the various exercises I do. YMMV.

winram11

Don't do it. It's a trap.

rperkins524

I don't eat my calories burned. I put them on a pedestal and admire them because I don't like to exercise much, lol. I make my calorie deficit by eating a small amount of calories (1200)

missomgitsica

If I'm hungry, yes. If I'm not, then no. Sometimes I eat back half. I just play it by ear.

beatua1

I have a fitbit charge HR and set my mfp settings to sedentary and then let my fitbit adjust calories for me, so I do often eat a pretty significant portion of my calories back. I typically walk about 12000 steps including moderately vigorous cardio most days and resistance training 3 days a week. I also calculated my average TDEE based on my BMR and activity level to make sure it is not widely out of alignment with what my fitbit is telling me.

The reason I bring this in is it will depend based on what your logging philosophy is.

RGv2

pepper456 wrote: »

RGv2 wrote: »

pepper456 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, I know it's best not to eat them back, just wanting a general idea of what others are doing.

I wouldn't say that....It's dependent upon the individual, their goals, and how much they work out. Say if I didn't, there would be days where I would net less than 1K calories per day. I wouldn't say that's optimal or "best".

You are correct......it's dependent upon the individual....and for me I don't need to eat them back at this point. Not yet at least. Until my workouts get longer and stronger, I PERSONALLY don't need to eat them.
Thanks for you reply.

Just clarifying the blanket statement, as for many it's quite important.

Jruzer

Not to derail, but I'm curious:

For those who DON'T eat exercise calories, how much exercise are you doing? I don't mean those of you doing TDEE, I mean those who follow the MFP method and ignore exercise.

As I said, I DO eat mine and I estimate I burn 600-900 kcal per day in intentional exercise, sometimes more.

Liftng4Lis

pepper456 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, I know it's best not to eat them back, just wanting a general idea of what others are doing.

Not true. MFP is designed TO eat them back, just remember the burns are often overestimated, so a portion of them would be best.

MakingMyDreamsComeTrue2015

I try not to eat back my exercise calories.

SoDamnHungry

I exercise specifically to eat those calories.

veganbaum

KHS86 wrote: »

Doing 30 min on the elliptical and then going
"Oh, now I can eat this delicious white bread with nutella!" is not gonna get you to where you want to go.

It's all in your head, you aren't dying just because you did a little exercise, your body is not gonna collapse if you don't eat 'em back.

You have a goal to lose weight, then set a realistic daily calorie plan, and stick with it, everything burned is just something to get you to where you want to be, faster.

Don't look for excuses to eat more.. Stick to the plan.

Individuals can, of course, do whatever they like. However, MFP's "plan" is designed for you to eat your exercise cals.

And, faster isn't always better.

MFD7576

I think NDJ told me once that if you eat them back, youre doing a better job rebuilding after exercise. The bonus calories back will translate into food for your sore muscles. I may be paraphrasing and/or giving false information though

veganbaum

pepper456 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, I know it's best not to eat them back, just wanting a general idea of what others are doing.

It's not "best" not to eat them back. It's best to fuel your body appropriately for your level of activity, whatever that may be.

MFP already gives you a deficit. If you are logging accurately, you should be losing weight based on your goal as provided. Larger deficits can lead to "diet" fatigue, frustration, lack of appropriate nutrition, less energy for workouts (which may mean less effective workouts), and more loss of muscle mass than one may have lost otherwise. If you do a leisurely stroll for half an hour, meh, you can probably take the extra burn and be okay. If you do a half hour run, it's probably a good idea to eat at least half of those.

disasterman

I got predictable results by eating back approximately half my exercise calories. I chalk this up to underestimating calories in and overestimating calories out.

steph2strong

I do very high intensity exercise for at least an hour a day and eat back every calorie I burn. Never had an issue with it, and I would not be able to sustain my exercise if I didn't.

5512bf

My exercise calories are high, last week was 8209 and so far this week 6563, all calculated by a HR monitor. Not eating those calories back would limit my ability to properly fuel for the next workout and marathon training. There are days when i'll run 1500-1800 calories, and with a 1400 calorie daily total I'd be net negative for the day.

Mr_Knight

pepper456 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, I know it's best not to eat them back...

That doesn't work as a blanket statement. It really really depends on the person, and their context.

hugheseva

I also find that the basic MFP setting for sedentary, light activity, etc is based on work types, not true activity. For example, I have a sedentary job but do very heavy exercising (weights and cardio) 5-6 times a week. The 1200 calories are just not enough to fuel my exercise regimen. I realized - actually my body did - that I must eat more to lose the weight otherwise the muscles are consumed and fat stays. I don't drop any weight when I under eat.
I have also noticed that the cardio exercises on MFP are way over-estimated. For 30 mins of elliptical it calculates 375 calories lost. In fact, it is only 205-220.