Food calories when exercising?

mandybullock2015

So MyFitnessPal says to eat 1,480 calories a day to lose 1lb per week

I exercise usually 3-4 times a week and I'm confused as people are saying the calories you burn exersicing I must eat back for energy but then what the point exercing (for weightlose) if I'm just going to eat it all back again??????

LivingtheLeanDream

MFP is set up to work that you eat back exercise calories. Burns can be overestimated so most of us would encourage eating back 50% of those. It works, fuel your body and you will still lose weight. Enjoy those extra calories, I know I did

sijomial

1480
- exercise calories
+ eating those exercise calories
= 1480

So that leaves you on target to lose at the rate you selected.

Losing faster isn't a good thing in most cases.
Remember when you get to goal weight you will have to account for exercise so why not practice the skill now?

And exercise is for health, fitness, strength, superior body composition, enjoyment, being able to eat more while still losing weight - not just for weight loss.

ZephieC

If you are hungry, the exercise calories earn you the ability to eat more food. If you are not feeling hungry you don't have to eat them back for the sake of it. For me, my exercise is pretty low so I don't worry about eating back any of my 100-200 or so calories. It is also safe to assume that the estimated calorie burn is higher than what it actually is so that is why most people only say to eat back 50%-75%. The goal here is to make sustainable changes in your life. If you listen to your body and how you are feeling you'll be fine.

Silentpadna

sijomial wrote: »

And exercise is for health, fitness, strength, superior body composition, enjoyment, being able to eat more while still losing weight - not just for weight loss.

Another marketing programming thing. We are programmed to think that we exercise for weight loss. Exercise can help weight loss, but that's not its primary benefit. We are also programmed to think that if we just lost a ton of weight, that our bodies would magically look those fitness models we see pictures of.

I hate this cliche word - synergy, however when it comes to trying to have the body we want, neither factor works alone. If you want a fit, toned body, you probably want to engage the battle on both fronts: food and exercise.

If you just want to lose weight, it's the food that matters. And just losing weight alone can certainly help you get more healthy in many areas, but it won't make you fit.