How Do I Handle Calories Burned In Exercising?

MoyMG

In my daily totals. I've got a daily goal of 1450 cals, with macro goals also. (I've had a gastric bypass, and have been encouraged by my doctor to have that goal or lower.) However, currently I have MFP set to subtract my calories burned in exercise from my daily total - which, some days, really ups my allowable calories. What is the wisdom on exercise calories? I've seen one line about "eat back half your exercise calories." Why does MFP have this option, is this actually for people who are trying to maintain or increase their weight? I want to lose! I am so confused by this!

estherdragonbat

MFP gives you a deficit that doesn't take exercise into account. When you exercise, you increase your deficit. Too big a deficit will result in lack of energy, satiety, and sufficient nutrition. Also, there's only so much fat your body can burn in a day. When it hits that limit, it starts on muscle. Your heart is a muscle.

The reason it's recommended to eat back half your exercise calories is because they're estimates and they can be off. By eating half your calories, you're giving yourself a cushion or buffer, so that if MFP told you you burned 300 calories and you actually burned 200, you won't accidentally wipe out the deficit. When you fed your details into MFP, how much did you tell it you wanted to lose per week? If you're losing more than that eating back 50% of your exercise calories, then try eating back 60%. (Note: wait at least 2 weeks before doing this. In the first couple of weeks, it's normal to see significantly higher losses, mostly due to water weight. After 2 to 4 weeks, you should have a better idea.)

For the record, I'm on 1380. According to MFP, I generally burn 700-900 calories/day and I eat back half, to close out my day around 1750. I'm losing between 1lb and 1.5 lbs per week. (I have MFP set to 1lb, but I'm 55 lbs away from goal and 1.5/week is fine, so long as you're 40-75 lbs from goal, so I'm leaving it for now.)

MoyMG

Aah, ok, that makes sense now! Thank you, estherdragonbat!