Upping calorie intake on days you workout?

martinicee

So I’m back to working out pretty regularly. I joined weightwatchers but I feel with the consistent working out I was not losing any more weight. So I decided to quit WW but continue to workout but calorie count instead. I was wondering with my 1250 calorie intake I set, how much should I increase my intake when I have a solid workout?

nutmegoreo

Is 1250 what MFP gave you? If not, how did you decide on this number? How are you calculating your exercise calories (external tracker, entering into MFP)?

spiriteagle99

MFP is set up so you eat back your exercise calories. The problem is, for some exercises it can be hard to determine the burn, so many people eat back only 50-75%. Time will tell whether you are losing weight faster or slower than predicted, so you can determine whether you need to eat more or less. I mostly run and walk, which are easy for MFP to calculate, so I eat back 100% of those calories. Some days I eat back the calories on the same day I exercise. Sometimes I'll eat more the day after. It depends partly on hunger and what I am in the mood to eat for dinner.

kshama2001

Unlike other sites which use TDEE calculators, MFP uses the NEAT method (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), and as such this system is designed for exercise calories to be eaten back. However, many consider the burns given by MFP to be inflated for them and only eat a percentage, such as 50%, back. Others, however, are able to lose weight while eating 100% of their exercise calories.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1

HoneyBadger302

I find that if my workouts are consistent and regular, and I am not missing or skipping them, that I am better off with a TDEE calculation than a NEAT calculation (both explained in previous posts). If my workouts are irregular/sporadic, then I find NEAT to work a bit more effectively.

Part of this is because oftentimes my "extra hunger" hits the day AFTER a workout rather than the day of - so eating the same amount each day is just a bit easier (also makes it easier to plan in a meal out).