Do you guys eat your exercise calories?

julaynem

Do you guys eat your exercise calories or not?

malibu927

If I'm following MFP's goals, yes. If I'm following TDEE, no.

jesikalovesyou

I usually don't, but if I'm really hungry one day, I might eat half back.

FoxyLifter

If I'm getting it off of MFP, I eat back about 50%. If I use a HRM, I eat back 75%.

TheVirgoddess

malibu927 wrote: »

If I'm following MFP's goals, yes. If I'm following TDEE, no.

This. I use TDEE now, so no. But if you're using MFP, it's designed in such a way that you're supposed to (though I only ever ate half).

kkorzeniowska

I dont, but to be fair I may start because after week of training and sticking to the calories I crave for food in the weekends when and I'm constantly hungry. It's annoying....

WeddedBliss1992

no, i don't. i think you'll find everyone is different.

Dariasen

I may or may not. If they are there and I am hungry I will but I also won't try to force myself to eat if I don't feel the need. Of course, I'm still starting out so my burn according to MFP is only 100-200 calories so it comes out to maybe 50-100 extra, not an extream difference.

soccerkon26

I eat almost all of my exercise calories back

elkhunter7x6

I always eat mine back.

Azurite27

I'm in maintenance. I eat back 70-100% depending on the activity and source of estimate. If I don't I lose weight so it is necessary. I did the same while losing.

arditarose

When I first started, yes. But now that I have a years worth of data from logging food and exercise, I find that because I do SO little cardio-MFP basically gives me my TDEE. If I do cardio once or twice a month, it's not worth eating that back, especially because it's steady state and very minimal effort.

DerekVTX

I eat mine back, have from day 1 of my new lifestyle. During the bulk of my weight loss I was diligent to stay within my goals, now I meet my goals somedays and then other days I go over up to maintenance calories. But to be fair I am more concerned with muscle gain at this point. I will probably do another 2lb a week cut for 5 weeks this fall.

drxl34

yup - I follow MFP net calories. Sometimes I don't need to eat as much, but cycling,running, and rock climbing make me hungry! If I didn't my net calories would be in the negatives significantly

sheila2323

Never.

daniip_la

I do, because I eat at a 40% deficit. I eat about 200 calories extra on workout days.

VintageFeline

I eat some of them back. I use an HRM but don't do steady state cardio so the burn isn't to be trusted. Plus I'm generally just not hungry enough to eat them all! I like the buffer so if I have a little splurge one day it all works out in the end. I also pay more attention to weekly intake than daily, again for the same reasons.

PinkDeerBoy

Sometimes. I usually just log my exercise on here to keep track of what I am doing/how long, not really to fond the calorie burn. If I do eat them, I only eat about half since I currently do not own a HRM and I have been told MFP overestimates calorie burn.

Glampinupdoll

Only if I feel like I need them and typically only 1/2 at that

professionalHobbyist

1/2 at most

There are big fluctuations in calorie estimates for similar exercises across different sites

Sued0nim

Every single last yummy one

BUT I never believed the MFP database and always logged half their suggestion (double click on calories)

Now I use my HRM and a fitbit for activity level (last 10 months) and I judge over 6-8 week periods to make sure I'm eating the right amount

I have been at maintenance, since feb, having lost 54lbs but as my weight still currently seems to be dropping so I think I need to up my intake again ...trendweight estimates I'm under eating by about 160 cals per day over 3 months ...I will see if my weight increases over the next few weeks and increase again

californiagirl2012

Every day is different. I don't use the calculator, I pay attention to how I feel. If I need a little more food from exercise I eat a little more, if not I don't.

joanneleblanc1

Not daily - I might "save" them for something special coming up that specific week (ex:like a wedding event). Knowing that I could use them helps me plan better overall.

Sued0nim

joanneleblanc1 wrote: »

Not daily - I might "save" them for something special coming up that specific week (ex:like a wedding event). Knowing that I could use them helps me plan better overall.

Sorry I forgot to say I manage my calories on a weekly basis too

Kalikel

Not usually. When I'm hungry I do.

But if you can eat some or all of them and still lose weight, do it!

accidentalpancake

I tried one, but those guys are scrappy. I try to find some lazy non-exercise calories instead. Less of a fight.

In other words, nope. I don't eat extra directly due to obligation. Only when my body is telling me I need more.

KrisiAnnH

I try to eat 50% of mine back, as mfp is designed for you to eat your exercise calories back. I get my calorie burns from fitnessblender not mfp, but that still means I have no idea how accurate they are. Occasionally I eat less than 50% back but I try and eat the full 50 as I figure my body needs the extra fuel if I've done the workout.

Also the extra calorie allowance can stop me wanting to binge or allow me to have an extra something I couldnt usually. Bear in mind though I am on 1200 cals so if I dont eat back exercise burns I could be dipping into an unhealthily large deficit.

ttttyyyy1

I don't unless I'm hungry and feel the need to refuel

coreyreichle

Partially. I eat 60% of Runkeeper's estimated caloric burn back.

JunoBeachVan

Once I hit my target weight (86 pounds down, 14 to go), then I will start eat a percentage of my exercise calories. But for now, that would defeat the purpose for me.

flrancho

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. It depends on how hungry I am.