Confused with exercise

What_you_eat_in_private

Ok so do I eat the kcals I earn? I said no but someone else told me I must or my body will go into starvation mode. Don't know what to do for the best

If I don't eat them should I not track them or can MFP track but not add the extra kcals?

kommodevaran

Do whatever you want. To lose weight, you need to be in a sustained calorie deficit. MFP is designed for you to log and eat back exercise calories, but also for you to log correctly. I would not pay attention to anyone believing in "starvation mode".

What_you_eat_in_private

Just found a video from @SideSteel so this answered my question.

LivingtheLeanDream

oh people (who don't have a clue) will always go on about starvation mode, if you hang round here long enough you'll see its a myth.

Track your exercise in MFP, and eat them back, or at least some of them back to account for the calorie burns being inflated at times. MFP is designed so you are meant to eat them back.

elisa123gal

you will hear all sorts of advice... the bottom line is this.. if you find your calories are too low to enjoy you life because you love food so much. Exercise can be key, because you can eat those calories back adding to your daily intake of food and still lose according to what you put into MFP.

However, I've read many posts from people who lost fast, and they said they did it by not eating them back.

For me, what I do is concentrate more on fueling my body for a work out. I add a half cup of fruit or a unprocessed carb before I work out to give me energy .. this works for me and keeps my metabolism up...but I never eat say. 700 more calories earned from being on the elliptical for an hour

quiksylver296

What_you_eat_in_private wrote: »

Just found a video from @SideSteel so this answered my question.

Always listen to @SideSteel.

spiriteagle99

If you want a bit more freedom in what you eat, then eat back some or all of your exercise calories. If you are satisfied (not hungry and lots of energy) without eating them back, then you don't have to eat them.

As a sedentary older female, my maintenance calories are pretty low; exercise allows me to eat ice cream and drink an occasional beer, or just enjoy an occasional dinner out, without having to worry about gaining weight. I eat back all my intentional exercise calories and my weight is stable. I do know I wouldn't be able to do as much exercise as I do if I weren't eating to fuel my workouts. I am a runner who likes to do a marathon every year and a couple of HMs. It takes a lot of energy to maintain decent mileage year around. I couldn't do that on 1300 calories a day.