Is anyone eating back most of their exercise calories?

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Replies

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    I know they probably aren't perfect, that's why I tweak them based on what my machine says and Runkeeper says. And I try to leave some gap in there. You can look at my diary and see that some days I have 200-300 left.

    Just so you are aware machines are known to be over by about 25-75% as well...can't guarantee those.

    I used my HRM on the treadmill once (steady cardio) and I got a number that was 20% higher than the treadmill in the end. And my home bike estimates match my HRM 100%.

    So no, all machines don't always overestimate calorie burn.
  • 2snakeswoman
    2snakeswoman Posts: 655 Member
    I don't. I like to keep my calories consistent; it's easier to form a habit that way. I'm early in the process, though, and notice after hard work that I feel extra-hungry, so I do eat extra when I feel that way. Unfortunately, I didn't finish logging that day.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    I know they probably aren't perfect, that's why I tweak them based on what my machine says and Runkeeper says. And I try to leave some gap in there. You can look at my diary and see that some days I have 200-300 left.

    Just so you are aware machines are known to be over by about 25-75% as well...can't guarantee those.

    I used my HRM on the treadmill once (steady cardio) and I got a number that was 20% higher than the treadmill in the end. And my home bike estimates match my HRM 100%.

    So no, all machines don't always overestimate calorie burn.

    where did I say "all machines overestimate"

    I said machines are known to be over.

    and does your HRM have a chest strap?
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    I know they probably aren't perfect, that's why I tweak them based on what my machine says and Runkeeper says. And I try to leave some gap in there. You can look at my diary and see that some days I have 200-300 left.

    Just so you are aware machines are known to be over by about 25-75% as well...can't guarantee those.

    I used my HRM on the treadmill once (steady cardio) and I got a number that was 20% higher than the treadmill in the end. And my home bike estimates match my HRM 100%.

    So no, all machines don't always overestimate calorie burn.

    where did I say "all machines overestimate"

    I said machines are known to be over.

    and does your HRM have a chest strap?

    Polar 4 so yes.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    I know they probably aren't perfect, that's why I tweak them based on what my machine says and Runkeeper says. And I try to leave some gap in there. You can look at my diary and see that some days I have 200-300 left.

    Just so you are aware machines are known to be over by about 25-75% as well...can't guarantee those.

    I used my HRM on the treadmill once (steady cardio) and I got a number that was 20% higher than the treadmill in the end. And my home bike estimates match my HRM 100%.

    So no, all machines don't always overestimate calorie burn.

    where did I say "all machines overestimate"

    I said machines are known to be over.

    and does your HRM have a chest strap?

    Polar 4 so yes.

    and that's fine but I didn't say "all machines over estimate"...however there are a lot of cases where they are over estimates and when people finally figure it out they are ticked.

    http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/your-exercise-equipment-lying-you-about-calories-youre-burning
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    When I started on this site, I knew nothing about weight loss/exercise calories/BMR/TDEE/macros, or much of anything else related.

    I used this site exactly as it was spitting out numbers for me. I lost 70ish pounds in total, using the numbers MFP generated, AND eating every single calorie "earned" by exercise. This worked fine for me. It requires using verified food entries - but it worked and continues to work for me now nine years later.

    I don't understand all the debate around it, but maybe because I just followed directions and it worked. ::dunno::

    I think the most important thing is daily records. Accurate daily records. Control what you can, like food logging. Get a month's worth of data and then adjust up or down by 100 calories for the next month if you aren't getting the expected results.
  • jandsstevenson887
    jandsstevenson887 Posts: 296 Member
    When I started on this site, I knew nothing about weight loss/exercise calories/BMR/TDEE/macros, or much of anything else related.

    I used this site exactly as it was spitting out numbers for me. I lost 70ish pounds in total, using the numbers MFP generated, AND eating every single calorie "earned" by exercise. This worked fine for me. It requires using verified food entries - but it worked and continues to work for me now nine years later.

    I don't understand all the debate around it, but maybe because I just followed directions and it worked. ::dunno::

    I think the most important thing is daily records. Accurate daily records. Control what you can, like food logging. Get a month's worth of data and then adjust up or down by 100 calories for the next month if you aren't getting the expected results.

    Thank you! This is exactly what I was hoping. It seems like it can work.
  • becca1380461
    becca1380461 Posts: 25 Member
    I agree with cmriverside! This site is a tool to help us do what RD's have been doing for ages using pencil and paper! Measure your calories in and calories out. If that is what you use it for then you're going to be successful. Do your best to accurately log EVERYTHING (soda, coffee creamer, little bites here and there) and you're going to do great! Early on I found my will power kicking in and not eating something because I didn't want to have to log it! HA! I used that little inconvenience as a reason to say no!

    I do eat back my exercise calories. I make it a point to over estimate calories consumed (1.5 pieces of bacon when I only eat 1) especially on calorie dense food like nuts (serving size is 28 grams but I measure to 25 nad yes I weigh my food). Then I underestimate my calories burned. If I run a mile at 5.5 mph on the treadmill I'll use that time (11min/mile) and put it into MFP at 5.0MPH. Or I usually swim a 2700 work out in 1hr 15 min but I put in a minute per 50meters and log 57 minutes instead and the lowest intensity. I wait table so MFP says I should set my activity at Active but I instead set it at lightly active. I've lost 22 lb (a little more than my 2lb/week goal) and still have a long way to go but it would be A LOT harder with out the MFP site and the tools they provide!

    For my weight (currently 222) MFP's calories burned are higher than what the the treadmill says (set at calories for 150lb person). It takes a lot more calories to move 72 extra pounds and MFP accommodates that well!
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    I eat back all of my excercise calories but I only log
    Total Cals Burned - ((Total Pre Excericse TDEE Cals / 1440 ) * Excercise Minutes)
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,171 Member
    I usually eat back most of mine.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    I agree with cmriverside! This site is a tool to help us do what RD's have been doing for ages using pencil and paper! Measure your calories in and calories out. If that is what you use it for then you're going to be successful. Do your best to accurately log EVERYTHING (soda, coffee creamer, little bites here and there) and you're going to do great! Early on I found my will power kicking in and not eating something because I didn't want to have to log it! HA! I used that little inconvenience as a reason to say no!

    I do eat back my exercise calories. I make it a point to over estimate calories consumed (1.5 pieces of bacon when I only eat 1) especially on calorie dense food like nuts (serving size is 28 grams but I measure to 25 nad yes I weigh my food). Then I underestimate my calories burned. If I run a mile at 5.5 mph on the treadmill I'll use that time (11min/mile) and put it into MFP at 5.0MPH. Or I usually swim a 2700 work out in 1hr 15 min but I put in a minute per 50meters and log 57 minutes instead and the lowest intensity. I wait table so MFP says I should set my activity at Active but I instead set it at lightly active. I've lost 22 lb (a little more than my 2lb/week goal) and still have a long way to go but it would be A LOT harder with out the MFP site and the tools they provide!

    For my weight (currently 222) MFP's calories burned are higher than what the the treadmill says (set at calories for 150lb person). It takes a lot more calories to move 72 extra pounds and MFP accommodates that well!

    This kind of made me chuckle. You are building in an error factor that isn't measurable...but that's what works for you. For me, it made sense to just use the numbers that were spit at me (after verifying food data.) Otherwise, I'm just still making stuff up.

    I will say that there is a lot of room for fudging numbers if you have a lot of weight to lose, and those numbers really have to tighten up when you get within 10-15 pounds of your goal. It's easy to lose weight when you are holding a lot of extra weight, but it gets much trickier when you get close to goal.

    When I got close to goal, I knew my numbers. I knew my numbers because I had used the same sources for eight months. When I was close to goal, I switched to eating XXXX number of calories a day and adding 200-300 on days I exercised 60 minutes. I don't log any exercise that isn't an hour's worth. I just call it "daily activity" if it isn't planned exercise. Those numbers continue to work for me, but I have been at the same weight (+- 10 pounds) for nine years now. It takes some amount of experimentation, and again - meticulous logging - over time.

  • MamaMc3
    MamaMc3 Posts: 213 Member
    I use Fitbit to track all my exercise, and let it post the adjustment to MFP. If I am hungry, I eat the calories back. On workout days, I can usually tell that I need to eat a little more because I feel too fatigued if I don't.
  • Terpnista84
    Terpnista84 Posts: 517 Member
    No. I eat a set 1,500 calories regardless of activity.
  • Afura
    Afura Posts: 2,054 Member
    Machines lie, and MFP tends to over exaggerate for most of us, as the results are generic, and don't take your effort into account. I usually try to eat about 50-75% back.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Because I am and it still seems to be working. I had no idea that I shouldn't be before coming on the boards. I have my activity set to lightly active and I eat back most (somedays all) of my exercise earned calories and still seem to be losing. Am I alone?

    When I did the MFP method I did...that's how you account for that activity with MFP.
  • StacyChrz
    StacyChrz Posts: 865 Member
    If it ain't broke, don't fix it. When u stop losing, decrease the amount of cals consumed

    I think this sums it up perfectly! You need to do what works best for you. I eat back most if not all of my exercise calories ( I do have a fitbit and I think it's pretty accurate) and I have had great success.
  • RWClary
    RWClary Posts: 192 Member
    Because I am and it still seems to be working. I had no idea that I shouldn't be before coming on the boards. I have my activity set to lightly active and I eat back most (somedays all) of my exercise earned calories and still seem to be losing. Am I alone?

    I always did and still do, but you must find that perfect zone when it comes to estimating calorie intake vs calories burned. Just relying on MFP numbers like it's stone-written truth can stifle progress with some.
    Early in my journey, I was over estimating exercise calories and underestimating food calories and wondering why I could not lose weight.
    I found my zone, and all went smooth after that.
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I usually eat back all or most of them.