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

BeachIron

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.

I do not because I have tried it and gained weight.

Then your numbers are wrong or you're not logging correctly.

TeaBea

I can cope mentally better with the calorie defficit if I eat back my workout calories. I don't binge. I do not have cheat days.
Personally, knowing myself, without eating back calories I would have dropped from MFP months ago. Instead, I dropped over 20 kgs to this point.

Everyone has something that works. Everyone is different. No matter what others may say, I consider eating back calories good for me, mentally. I maybe slowing down myself, but I'll have the treats that I earn throught sweat.

You are preserving muscle mass (by eating your exercise calories back) and your metabolism thanks you. I bet you're not slowing yourself down one bit.

jofjltncb6

WOW! so this is my very first time with MFP and looking at the Forums - this was the first Thread I seen that interested me. So I opened it up and read the post by deemar54 and thought ok, interesting BUT then I read the first response from adini749 and thought holy heck! that's a pretty rude response! So for what its worth, I actually found the topic interesting - remember I am new and have not seen the, apparently countless other Threads on the same topic. Thanks for the info, but I have to say, I dont think I would ever post a question/topic for fear of being shot down like the author of this topic has been.

Then don't ever post...

I have found the people on here to be very rude for the most part. Have a thick skin and good luck! Not sure why everyone is so angry, maybe they are hungry???

Wait.

*You* don't eat back your exercise calories...

....and yet those who do are the hangry ones?

Not sure I completely follow this logic.

BOOMaggedon

I like corndogs!

junejadesky

this should be fun
*grabs some popcorn*

Agreed! Pass the popcorn!

seif0068

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.

Here are two flaws with your argument.

1) You are basing it on the assumption that calories burned are always inaccurate. I use a HRM; so I have a pretty good idea of how many calories I am actually burning.

2) You are interpreting "eating back" too literally. Eating back doesn't mean you have to eat them after the workout; it can mean eating more throughout the course of the day to fuel yourself for the workout.

People can argue about it all they want but the simple fact is that whether or not you "should" eat back your calories is entirely dependent upon how you use MFP. If you say that you are sedentary and then log your workouts; you are supposed to eat them back. If your workouts are very consistent so you say that you are whatever activity level you actually are, then you don't log your workouts and you don't worry about "eating back."

I know every body is different and some folks have health, hormonal, endocrine, thyroid, etc. reasons that it isn't so simple as calories in, calories out. But if I had to venture a guess, I'd say 80% of the people who say eating back their calories simply doesn't work for them are either overestimating their calorie burns; underestimating their calorie intake; or both. As someone who has logged basically every morsel/drop that has passed my lips for 316 days and counting, and has accurately entered calories burned from workout, my weight loss has been pretty much linear and exactly as expected based on how close I came to hitting my daily calorie goal (35 pounds lost in 9 months; have been maintaining for about a month now).

DavidHusky

I don't eat them back, I eat them front! Today I can't have more than 300 cals for dinner, but I'm planning on running tonight, so everything will be all good. I regularly go over knowingly if I'm going to be doing a long run.

Maputi

I concur with you. While I understand the "not using the system like it was designed", I believe that everyone is different and our needs vary. I feel that MFP offers a good framework, but if you are working with a nutritionist or other healthcare professional, one might find that their advice may vary...depending on one's needs.

Relative to MFP's tendency to overestimate the caloric burn, I also agree. I am not an expert by any means, but the calorie-burn that MFP provides tends to be significantly greater than my other systems. Of course, when I need an ego boost, the MFP calculations are great for me.

Finally, thanks for sharing your perspective. While I did not feel that your tone was rude, but I have not read all of the threads and I just viewed your response as "one person's opinion" that did not devalue other opinions.

Maputi

:laugh:

greenmonstergirl

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. So really, if you have to be such a jerk, please find another place to do it.

I wasn't being rude or a jerk.

In a more recent thread? We get these threads daily and the responses are usually pretty much the same. Would you like me to link you to some?

OHHHH...she's an ADMIN!!! LOL!

Que? Anyone can link a thread...

Yes I know...I was being mean, I must be hungry :laugh:

greenmonstergirl

WOW! so this is my very first time with MFP and looking at the Forums - this was the first Thread I seen that interested me. So I opened it up and read the post by deemar54 and thought ok, interesting BUT then I read the first response from adini749 and thought holy heck! that's a pretty rude response! So for what its worth, I actually found the topic interesting - remember I am new and have not seen the, apparently countless other Threads on the same topic. Thanks for the info, but I have to say, I dont think I would ever post a question/topic for fear of being shot down like the author of this topic has been.

Then don't ever post...

I have found the people on here to be very rude for the most part. Have a thick skin and good luck! Not sure why everyone is so angry, maybe they are hungry???

Wait.

*You* don't eat back your exercise calories...

....and yet those who do are the hangry ones?

Not sure I completely follow this logic.

LMAO! It's sarcasm!!! WOW!

Achrya

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. So really, if you have to be such a jerk, please find another place to do it.

I wasn't being rude or a jerk.

In a more recent thread? We get these threads daily and the responses are usually pretty much the same. Would you like me to link you to some?

OHHHH...she's an ADMIN!!! LOL!

Que? Anyone can link a thread...

Yes I know...I was being mean, I must be hungry :laugh:

First step in being 'mean': making sure your comments are at least vaguely understood and not just confusing/nonsensical.

I'm sure you'll do better next time.

brdnw

i'm down 80 pounds overall and i don't eat back my calories and i lift and do cardio for 2-3 hours a day, and only eat like 1200 calories.

greenmonstergirl

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.

I do not because I have tried it and gained weight.

Then your numbers are wrong or you're not logging correctly.

That's your answer? Without asking anything else? wow

greenmonstergirl

i'm down 80 pounds overall and i don't eat back my calories and i lift and do cardio for 2-3 hours a day, and only eat like 1200 calories.

That's exactly what I do...59 down and counting. I'm glad to see it hasn't killed your muscle tone like everyone says it will do. Congrats on the weight loss!

greenmonstergirl

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. So really, if you have to be such a jerk, please find another place to do it.

I wasn't being rude or a jerk.

In a more recent thread? We get these threads daily and the responses are usually pretty much the same. Would you like me to link you to some?

OHHHH...she's an ADMIN!!! LOL!

Que? Anyone can link a thread...

Yes I know...I was being mean, I must be hungry :laugh:

First step in being 'mean': making sure your comments are at least vaguely understood and not just confusing/nonsensical.

I'm sure you'll do better next time.

Probably not but too bad huh?

mockchoc

I ate back every single exercisie calorie because I love to eat and got to goal. I used MFP's calculation for very brisk walking. Worked for me.

I have however put a tiny bit back on but doing the same to get back to goal.

worldsbestauntie

I eat some (not all) of my exercise calories back simply because I find it to hard to stay under 1200 calories otherwise. Depending on how many exercise calories I burn depends on how many I eat back. If I get my walking to and from work in and my JM DVD, I average between 1300-1350 calories. If I don't get anything exercise in, I go over. (Like yesterday.)

Achrya

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. So really, if you have to be such a jerk, please find another place to do it.

I wasn't being rude or a jerk.

In a more recent thread? We get these threads daily and the responses are usually pretty much the same. Would you like me to link you to some?

OHHHH...she's an ADMIN!!! LOL!

Que? Anyone can link a thread...

Yes I know...I was being mean, I must be hungry :laugh:

First step in being 'mean': making sure your comments are at least vaguely understood and not just confusing/nonsensical.

I'm sure you'll do better next time.

Probably not but too bad huh?

Hey now don't give up so easy! Don't be afraid to aim above lame mediocre insults! Really go for it.

girlwithcurls2

Yes I eat them because I couldn't eat only 1400 calories a day for more than a few days before I lost it and started eating everything in sight.

^
^
^
^- - - - - - This.

tifferz_91

I personally don't count calories & i rarely excercise.

However, i personally don't see anything wrong with having a light yet high nutrient liquid or snack afterwards.

pastryari

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.

I do not because I have tried it and gained weight.

Then your numbers are wrong or you're not logging correctly.

That's your answer? Without asking anything else? wow

Barring any medical conditions, yes. That's pretty much it. It's science. Calories in, calories out. That simple.

sabified

To answer the question: I try to average my week out to 1200/day. This means eating back exercise cals- but that doesn't mean I eat them on that day. I tend to eat more on weekends so allow for greater deficits on weekdays. If I'm not hungry. My reasoning (unresearched in any way) is that in the end it all evens out.

To add my two cents into the drama on here... I only went through 3 pages but I think you're all quite snarky. OP, don't like the responses you've been given? Your original post was snarky to begin with. Minimizing the argument that people who advise eating back cals to "becoming dust particles in the wind" is rude. They have scientific reasoning behind their opinions. Where/what are yours?

Yes, that first person who answered was snarky in her reply but your response was DEFINITELY rude. (I have no issues with the dude with the Clockwork Orange/Joker/Fight Club pic... I thought he answered well.)

Don't serve what you can't eat.

If anyone has comments on my reply, msg me. I probably won't be back to this thread :flowerforyou:

NYCNika

I NET 1,500 calories a day and always always eat back exercise calories, even if I am not hungry.

I care about heath and nutrition. And I don't want to go too far on a slippery slope of calorie restriction just to speed up the weight loss. That is why I set parameters that would prevent myself from doing that.

PikaKnight

i'm down 80 pounds overall and i don't eat back my calories and i lift and do cardio for 2-3 hours a day, and only eat like 1200 calories.

Ummm.....maybe it's just on my end but I don't see that you have logged food.

ETA: I found a few entries but they are random.

Graelwyn75

Most of the time I do, and have done since joining this site.
It did not hinder my getting to 14% bodyfat, that is for sure.
If I find I do not need to eat them all, then I do not, as I usually end up going over my goal at some stage anyway and it balances out.
This subject has been done to death and it is beyond me also why you felt the need to have your own topic on something that comes up every day anyway. I generally end up eating 2000-2600 calories gross a day.

DanIsACyclingFool

You see, what he did? He took 3 pictures and took a slice from each one. It looks really cool, IMO. I'm kind of "meh" about F.C. but live and let live. :glasses:

tlab827

Basically - if i'm hungry I do and if i'm not hungry I don't.

lithezebra

I've noticed that I have better workouts the day *after* I've eaten well, so instead of eating my exercise calories back, I'm trying to average at least some of them out and eat a little more every day.

Dechant63

I'm with you. Basically I don't. But if I'm hungry I with eat something.