Exercise Calories?

jenniferb_00

Do people eat back their exercise calories? When I add my exercise my net calories for the day is pretty low, but at the same time I don't want to eat back everything. Im just kind of confused as to whether i should be eating back at least some of my exercise calories or not.

AmyRhubarb

Your daily calorie goal has you at a deficit already - meaning you could eat all the way to goal every day, do zero exercise, and you'd lose weight. When you exercise, you're creating a much larger deficit by burning off more calories, and too large a deficit can backfire on ya, leaving you tired, under nourished, cranky, burnt out, and stall your progress. That's why the cals are added back into your daily goal when you log exercise - you are supposed to eat them back, bringing your NET cals to your daily goal.

If you're worried about over estimating calorie burn using MFP's entries, then invest in a good heart rate monitor with a chest strap. A food scale for weighing what you eat is a great tool to have as well.

Hope that helps!

megsmom2

Your daily calorie goal has you at a deficit already - meaning you could eat all the way to goal every day, do zero exercise, and you'd lose weight. When you exercise, you're creating a much larger deficit by burning off more calories, and too large a deficit can backfire on ya, leaving your tired, under nourished, cranky, burnt out, and stall your progress. That's why the cals are added back into your daily goal when you log exercise - you are supposed to eat them back, bringing your NET cals to your daily goal.

If you're worried about over estimating calorie burn using MFP's entries, then invest in a good heart rate monitor with a chest strap. A food scale for weighing what you eat is a great tool to have as well.

Hope that helps!

This. Perfectly stated.

shadow2soul

If your doing the TDEE method than no. If your following MFP, it is designed for you to eat your exercise calories back. Your net is supposed to match your calorie Goal.

To lose weight you need a deficit off of your TDEE (total calories burned in a day).
MFP gives you a deficit based on your estimated TDEE without exercise.
When you exercise your TDEE increases.
To keep you at the same deficit you had before you exercised, then you would need to eat your exercise calories back. To large of a deficit can be just as bad for your health as over eating.
If you use MFP calories burns or machine estimates, then you probably don't want to eat any more than 2/3 of the calories back. MFP and machines tend to over estimate calorie burns.

I have been actively using MFP since March 13, 2013. I eat all my exercise calories back (use fitbit and HRM for estimates though), have my profile set to 1lb per week loss) and have lost 47lbs (roughly 1.7lbs per week loss).

If you have any medical conditions that cause a slower metabolism, than you might have work with a dietitian to find the best approach for you.

jenniferb_00

OK, this makes sense. Thanks. This is all good to know.