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Eat calories burned

bdavis7818
bdavis7818 Posts: 1 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So I’m curious.......I’m trying to lose weight, and based on MFP I should be eating 1550 calories. If I end up burning 400 calories, can I eat those back?

Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,466 Member
    Assuming you set your profile up correctly (including activity level being based on your daily life before intentional exercise), then yes, you should also eat back a reasonable estimate of your exercise calories.

    Exercise calories from some estimating methods can be unrealistic, or reasonably accurate, depending on the type of exercise and the estimating method. Some people who lack confidence in their exercise calorie estimates start by eating back a good fraction but not all of them (say 50% or so).

    Adopt some consistent approach, follow the goal for 4-6 weeks (at least one full menstrual cycle if a premenopausal woman). At that point, you can look at your average weekly weight loss, and adjust your calorie goal up or down as needed to maintain a sensibly moderate weight loss rate going forward.

    Best wishes!

    P.S. Exercise calories taste the best. ;)
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