Help? Maybe a stupid question..

Ashley2733

Ok, so MFP says I should be eating 1280 calories a day, ok, that's fine. So then I work out and it was I have like 400 calories "left" now do I eat those back ? Or do I leave them there to be able to lose weight ? I'm confused on this? Any advice or help would be much appreciated.

rankinsect

If the workout calories were 100% correct, you'd eat them all back so you lose at your intended rate (which doesn't factor in exercise).

Some people eat only a portion back since calorie estimates are often inflated, particularly on exercise equipment.

kathrynjean_

The number that MFP gives you (1280) already has a deficit built in. So if you eat that amount every day, you should lose whatever you set your goal to (1 lb a week, 0.5 lbs a week, etc.)

If you get "extra" calories through exercise, the idea is to eat those back.

As a note, the MFP exercise database tends to give very inflated burns, so most people recommend eating half of the calories back (e.g., 200 of the 400 for 1480 total cals). This is especially important for you to eat back some exercise cals because 1280 is so low - and depending on your stats - likely not sustainable or healthy.

leanjogreen18

I'm on 1250 calories (I cycle them) and I don't eat my exercise calories back. I use them because I don't weigh/measure my food only eyeball and I use them for occasional times I go over my calorie goal for the day.

I have a ton of fat storage to burn as fuel
I only walk when exercising
I have plenty of energy so far and my hunger is manageable.

If any of the 3 above change I will reevaluate.

Ashley2733

Thank you all for your replies. Makes sense now that you guys broke it down for me. Thanks again !