Here's why I don't eat back my exercise calories.

curvygirl77

I eat back mine, honestly I don't really diet

---

my eating habits are not great and I should really focus on my diet but I don't. ---Anyway to answer your question yes I do eat back mine because I have a huge appetite. Honestly, you will hear many opinions on this site and you will need to pick and choose what works for you. Some people will say watch your macros, eat more protein (which is hard), do this do that and truthfully it may not work for you. last year, around this time I was about 180 ---as two weeks ago I was 144---and I always eat back my exercise calories----people are different and what work for some may not work for others. So far I have been really lucky where exercise has been the key for getting in shape because my diet is crappy

taunto

I just did my first ever search on MFP. "Rude people on MFP" wow, over 50 pages! NICE

Good god, get over it. I find it hysterical that YOU of all people are calling other people mean and rude and bullies when you made a post with the SOLE purpose to call someone else unattractive. Get off your high horse, already.

I also posted many links for the OP to look at.

And btw, I've had many new users PM and FR me with their thanks to my posts on the forums.

You always post good with good sense, but unfortunately there will always be people who either don't understand basic logic or science or both, and who attack the voices of reason.

While I agree with what you said, I say


Screw that, she's a bully with all that flaunting of common sense

Barbellgirl

To those of you who disagree with me, ok. I sincerely hope if you ever start a forum topic you are treated with more respect. I am so incredibly tired of the rhetoric here. Apparently its OK to give advice in rude, condescending tones and its also ok to point out how redundant and stupid someones topic is. I feel so bad for new people actually looking for help, because unfortunately the people who've been around a while have this strange inability to be polite.

^ This. It's unfortunate that good information is often lost amidst pages and pages of bickering. Too many 'thought police' on this site.

Rilzy

Geez. Just think of all the calories people are burning from getting worked up on this thread. Might even be room for a cookie... unless we don't eat back those calories :happy:

mheebner

wow...seems to be some hangry people on this thread.

I personally eat very little to zero exercise calories back. I figure I have about 100 lbs of 'stored energy' to tap into before I need to worry about replacing spent energy.

I also underestimate my calories burned.

taunto

Geez. Just think of all the calories people are burning from getting worked up on this thread. Might even be room for a cookie... unless we don't eat back those calories :happy:

I read somewhere that while experiencing nerd rage, cookies become calorie free.

Caelrr

Wow, that first poster was really rude!!

I don't exercise as much as I should.
I'm also not very strict on my diet.
You're not supposed to consume the calories you lost exercising if you're trying to lose weight.
So it really just depends on what your goal is.
The months I'm REALLY strict with my diet, I definitely wouldn't eat back the calories I worked so hard to lose!!
I usually don't exercise, though. Lol.
I work two jobs that require CONSTANT speed walking with 6lbs-12lbs carried in my arms nearly the entire time.
I wish I had an office job, or something much more sedentary.
If I did, I would be much more enthusiastic about actual exercising.
My legs hurt way too much to do anything outside of work. It's sad, really.

RobP1192

If i'm cutting, i don't eat back exercise calories. If i'm bulking, i do eat back exercise calories. If i'm maintaining, i don't exercise.

deksgrl

How refreshing, an openly obvious troll!

SanteMulberry

I am eating at maintenance for the next month or so. Therefore, I DON'T eat my exercise calories back (I am trying to burn off fat, so why would I want to do that?). If I ate my exercise calories back, I MIGHT gain muscle, but then, again, I might be pretty much the same place as I am now (since it is notoriously difficult to gain muscle beyond initial gains, and I am not working out at the level it will likely take to add much more). I'll see how this works. If/when I go to a calorie deficit again, I will eat my exercise calories back. I have been doing my current plan for the past month and I am noticing more of a change in my body composition than when I was on a plateau a few months back. My biggest problem is that I tend to under-eat and my fat burning mechanism wants to go to sleep. Sometimes, it is important to change things up.

Rilzy

If i'm cutting, i don't eat back exercise calories. If i'm not bulking, i do eat back exercise calories. If i'm maintaining, i don't exercise.

What? Can you explain this to me unless it was a type ... but if you are not bulking and you're not maintaing ...aren't you cutting?

deemar54

I always log my exercise calories.. But I use my phone. Apparently, that's not showing up on here. My phone app reflects a walk from earlier this afternoon, but it doesnt show up on here for some reason. However, I do consistently log. Since 06/10/2013 I have gotten married, tended to a dying grandmother, and then attended said grandmother's calling hours and funeral. Logging kind of went to the wayside during that time period due to just plain stress and I am just now picking back up. IF you want to read my diary go back to the beginning of June and start there.

SoViLicious

I have been reading lot of controversy on why one should or should not eat back their exercise calories. I have also been reading the entire spectrum of response, from those who believe if one does not eat back their exercise calories they will shrivel up into nothing and blow away as dust particles in the wind to those who believe that eating back your exercise calories will cause you to not lose any weight at all.


Here's my take. I MOSTLY elect not to eat mine back. *gasp* (cue the waste away to dust crowd here.) However, before that bunch starts spraying me with sealant to keep me together before the next wind comes, allow me to elaborate. If I have a particularly brutal workout, and I am ravenously hungry that day then sure, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will eat back and not feel bad about it in the least. Most days, this doesn't happen. I am actually less hungry on days I have especially trying workouts than on my rest days. Now, on days where I run/walk/use the elliptical or stationary bike for 30-45 minutes I will not eat my calories back. I tend to believe MFP overestimates caloric burn in cardiovascular exercise and I feel like eating them back at the point where the calculated burn is somewhere around 500, or less that eating them back could be counteractive to what I'm trying to do. I honestly believe that if one is hungry then one should eat. Starvation is not necessary when making a lifestyle change.

So. Do you eat back your calories that you burn while exercising? Why or why not? I am interested in opinions on this one and how well eating them back or not works for you.

So you say you've read all the controversial threads on MFP, still want to believe what you want to believe (even though that is not using the system the way it is intended) and now you want even more feedback? Were the thousands of threads ALREADY on the subject not enough responses for you?

I don't know why you're even asking the question as you've clearly made up your mind to believe what you want to believe.

Sounds to me like you just created this thread because you wanted to post your justification for not eating your exercise calories back. Way to go?

Wow, holy rude. You are completely incorrect. I asked the question because I find the topic interesting and I'm interested as to see what the response is in a more recent thread, so I posted one so I can see what other people say. Quite honestly, I'm not sure why you even bothered to answer if its not something you even wanted to talk about. Also, I don't need to justify why I choose not to eat them back all the time to anyone, because it's my body and I can choose not to do it if I want, and plus.. who would care? As I said, I offered up my take on it to see why or why not people eat back what they burn... not to deal with people who automatically take to the defensive.So really, if you have to be such a jerk, please find another place to do it.

I agree why post if you already made up your mind?

SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants

I just did my first ever search on MFP. "Rude people on MFP" wow, over 50 pages! NICE

Good god, get over it. I find it hysterical that YOU of all people are calling other people mean and rude and bullies when you made a post with the SOLE purpose to call someone else unattractive. Get off your high horse, already.

I also posted many links for the OP to look at.

And btw, I've had many new users PM and FR me with their thanks to my posts on the forums.

The difference between you and I, is that I realized I had hurt someone and apologized directly to them and in forum.

Rilzy

Geez. Just think of all the calories people are burning from getting worked up on this thread. Might even be room for a cookie... unless we don't eat back those calories :happy:

I read somewhere that while experiencing nerd rage, cookies become calorie free.

Oh? Really... I've gone off looking for some legit nerd rage experience - I have a box of Pepperidge Farm Milanos that I'd love to become zero cals.

taunto

I just did my first ever search on MFP. "Rude people on MFP" wow, over 50 pages! NICE

Good god, get over it. I find it hysterical that YOU of all people are calling other people mean and rude and bullies when you made a post with the SOLE purpose to call someone else unattractive. Get off your high horse, already.

I also posted many links for the OP to look at.

And btw, I've had many new users PM and FR me with their thanks to my posts on the forums.

The difference between you and I, is that I realized I had hurt someone and apologized directly to them and in forum.

Make another thread about adini being a bully. Use the full name. And pics too please.

RobP1192

If i'm cutting, i don't eat back exercise calories. If i'm not bulking, i do eat back exercise calories. If i'm maintaining, i don't exercise.

What? Can you explain this to me unless it was a type ... but if you are not bulking and you're not maintaing ...aren't you cutting?

Oh thanks, it was a typo. I'm glad you were paying attention!

ksimmons19

I just did my first ever search on MFP. "Rude people on MFP" wow, over 50 pages! NICE

I just did a search too. "People are too sensitive" another 50 pages. And oh yeah, aren't you the one who called someone unattractive yesterday?

taunto

Geez. Just think of all the calories people are burning from getting worked up on this thread. Might even be room for a cookie... unless we don't eat back those calories :happy:

I read somewhere that while experiencing nerd rage, cookies become calorie free.

Oh? Really... I've gone off looking for some legit nerd rage experience - I have a box of Pepperidge Farm Milanos that I'd love to become zero cals.

Make a thread about men preferring curvy girls over skinny girls. You can eat dem cookies all day baby!

SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants

I just did my first ever search on MFP. "Rude people on MFP" wow, over 50 pages! NICE

I just did a search too. "People are too sensitive" another 50 pages. And oh yeah, aren't you the one who called someone unattractive yesterday?

smh

Barbellgirl

I don't eat mine back. I also don't use the numbers from MFP. I base my caloric intake on calculators like Scoobyworkshop and IIFYM. I chose the setting to match my goal (gain muscle, lose fat) and my exercise level and I don't eat back exercise calories because those are already accounted for. Everyone has different goals and those who have their calories set for something crazy like losing two pounds a week may have to eat back their exercise calories to consume back to their BMR.

In summary, there are different goals and different ways to get to the same place.

Nicoodlenoodle

Bump

ksimmons19

Bump

hahahaha this is the greatest of all. And do I see BACOOOONNNN?

sandropeta

Lmao... I need to read these more often!

Rilzy

If i'm cutting, i don't eat back exercise calories. If i'm not bulking, i do eat back exercise calories. If i'm maintaining, i don't exercise.

What? Can you explain this to me unless it was a type ... but if you are not bulking and you're not maintaing ...aren't you cutting?

Oh thanks, it was a typo. I'm glad you were paying attention!

I try my best

cubsgirlinny

* bump to read later

SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants

I always log my exercise calories.. But I use my phone. Apparently, that's not showing up on here. My phone app reflects a walk from earlier this afternoon, but it doesnt show up on here for some reason. However, I do consistently log. Since 06/10/2013 I have gotten married, tended to a dying grandmother, and then attended said grandmother's calling hours and funeral. Logging kind of went to the wayside during that time period due to just plain stress and I am just now picking back up. IF you want to read my diary go back to the beginning of June and start there.

I recently switched from phone to web version. Its a little different. I've heard many people say they eat roughly half back. Honestly, for me Im so used to eating 1470, and since I burn almost 1,000 cals on gym days that like eating 6 squares instead of the 3-4 I normally eat. I usually eat cal rich foods (healthy ones) and/or dont sweat it too much, usually bringing me a few hundred cals over my usual daily amount. I just feel like it would be too much food to eat them all back. But thats just me. I do wonder sometimes though if Id be losing faster if I pushed myself to eat them ALL back. So thats why this topic is interesting to me.

ironanimal

Chugga chugga choo choo...

smash

lausa22

It depends with me. If I burn like 800 calories, I may eat back about 300 of them. Sometimes I don't.
I'm not one of those who work out just to eat more (I see that a lot!) If I'm hungry I'll eat!

sharleengc

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. At first I tried to eat them back but when I burned 400-600 calories, I just couldn't eat that much back. I wasn't hungry. For the most part I exercise and burn 150-200 calories per day and use it as a cushion. I try to keep my calories within my goal minus the exercise and then use my exercise calories as "bonus" if I happen to go over in an area. Like if I just need a little bit more chicken with dinner or I eat early and need a granola bar later. On the days that I do exercise more, I'll eat some of them back but rarely all of them.

I did find that when using MFP estimator compared to my HRM, the numbers remained almost identical for most cardio as long as it was 30 minutes or less. After 30 minutes, the numbers seem to separate quickly.