Non exercise calorie eaters, please explain something to me

lauren3101

I know, I know. I should not concern myself with other peoples methods and should just concentrate on my own.

However, I would say 90% of the threads I read that say 'help, I'm not losing weight!' are made by people that are not eating their exercise calories back

Please could someone explain to me why you would join a website designed to help you lose weight, with many, many successful members, and trust this website to give you your daily calorie amounts, your macro targets, and to provide the nutritional information for thousands of different foods, yet when it tells you to eat your exercise calories back, said website is obviously out to sabotage your weight loss?

Please, for the love of God,

psuLemon

Unfortunately, either our egos get in the way, not understanding or just unrealistic expectations. Some think if they eat less they can lose more.

Gemma_Louisex

Well, I think you're right, you should probably just concern yourself with your own routine and methods.

I would imagine there are numerous reasons people don't always eat their calories back from exercise. For those who have a higher calorie intake as it is, 1800+, I can imagine that you could feel like you're eating enough within that and trying to consume more when you're not hungry would feel pointless and uncomfortable. I also think that MFP can overestimate on calories burned for certain exercise so perhaps people are worried about that aspect. I am sure there are a multitude of other reasons.

I actually think it's so rude to suggest people who don't eat their exercise calories back are so stupid or naïve that they assume MFP is "sabotaging" their weight loss.

kerenelly

Well, I think you're right, you should probably just concern yourself with your own routine and methods.

I would imagine there are numerous reasons people don't always eat their calories back from exercise. For those who have a higher calorie intake as it is, 1800+, I can imagine that you could feel like you're eating enough within that and trying to consume more when you're not hungry would feel pointless and uncomfortable. I also think that MFP can overestimate on calories burned for certain exercise so perhaps people are worried about that aspect. I am sure there are a multitude of other reasons.

I actually think it's so rude to suggest people who don't eat their exercise calories back are so stupid or naïve that they assume MFP is "sabotaging" their weight loss.

^^^This.

lauren3101

Well, I think you're right, you should probably just concern yourself with your own routine and methods.

I would imagine there are numerous reasons people don't always eat their calories back from exercise. For those who have a higher calorie intake as it is, 1800+, I can imagine that you could feel like you're eating enough within that and trying to consume more when you're not hungry would feel pointless and uncomfortable. I also think that MFP can overestimate on calories burned for certain exercise so perhaps people are worried about that aspect. I am sure there are a multitude of other reasons.

I actually think it's so rude to suggest people who don't eat their exercise calories back are so stupid or naïve that they assume MFP is "sabotaging" their weight loss.

Haha, I knew I would get a response like this. Should I add a disclaimer? I'm sure not EVERYONE refuses to eat back their exercise calories because they are 'stupid' or 'naive' enough (your words) to think MFP is sabotaging them. But believe me, I see it a lot. 'I don't see the point' and 'why would you burn calories only to eat them again' are common responses.

patriciagriffiths9

Well for me it was due to having a major stomach operation,but some people work on their feet all day and perhaps don't feel like excercising as such.I have found out that you only need 12oo cals if you don't exercise..but id been doing it wrong for years.

nikkiclaire123

Well, I think you're right, you should probably just concern yourself with your own routine and methods.

I would imagine there are numerous reasons people don't always eat their calories back from exercise. For those who have a higher calorie intake as it is, 1800+, I can imagine that you could feel like you're eating enough within that and trying to consume more when you're not hungry would feel pointless and uncomfortable. I also think that MFP can overestimate on calories burned for certain exercise so perhaps people are worried about that aspect. I am sure there are a multitude of other reasons.

I actually think it's so rude to suggest people who don't eat their exercise calories back are so stupid or naïve that they assume MFP is "sabotaging" their weight loss.

exactly! personally im not as hungry on days i work out, i do tend to slightly over eat on my rest day so i guess it evens out.

do what works for you.

IronSmasher

Some know better, they have manually set their calorie goal based on an average daily amount according to their usual weekly activities.

Most have not.

Which god?

smc864

Unfortunately, either our egos get in the way, not understanding or just unrealistic expectations. Some think if they eat less they can lose more.

Agree!! I was like that for the first couple days and realized that my metabolism is going to nose dive if I don't eat my exercise calories back and doing so has made a great improvement in my mood and energy levels.

nikkiclaire123

plus mfp tends to over estimate exercise calories so ive heard

ames105

I don't eat my exercise calories back for a very specific reason. I don't count every pat of butter, every teaspoon of sugar, every tablespoon of oil (etc, etc) in my daily calorie count. However, I know they have calories and they do add up. Therefore, the two hundred calories I burned from exercise is about cancelled out by the two hundred calories of oil and other miscellaneous food items I eat a day. This is what works for me. I hope that helps explain it to you.

lauren3101

plus mfp tends to over estimate exercise calories so ive heard

It does, that's why when people ask, I say eat half. It tells me I burn nearly 500 calories in half an hour of swimming! :huh:

Holly_Roman_Empire

I've seen many different people lose tons of weight by not eating their exercise calories back. What works for some may not work for others. I personally feel like I'm starving if I don't eat them back, but I rarely eat all of them.

Some that use the TDEE method never eat their exercise calories back because it's already accounted for in their activity level. There are different reasons people don't eat their exercise calories.

I'm willing to bet 90% of those people needing help because they are not losing weight are either 1) eating more than they think they are, or 2) overestimating their calories burned. In either case, it doesn't matter if they eat their exercise calories or not. As long as a deficit is there, they will lose weight.

ETA: Bottom line: Not losing weight and not eating exercise calories are two mutually exclusive traits.

elephant2mouse

I never eat back my calories, and I'm losing weight. :-)
I don't eat then back because since I don't have a hrm I have no idea what I'm actually burning, and I k now devices tend to over estimate.

Amy11108

Some people are only concerned with burning calories when they work out so if they eat it back they feel their workout was pointless. They totally disregard all the other great and healthful benefits of exercise but if calories are their main concern I could see why they wouldn't want to eat that back. And also may not realize that a deficit is already built in

lsorci919

I only SOMETIMES eat PART of my exercise calories back. I'm never hungry. Been losing at a steady pace. So it's been working for me. But different strokes for different folks.

wjstoj

Whatever works for everybody, but I'll often forego my exercise calories so I can eat pizza and drink beer on the weekend...yeah I know that's not how it works really; but I'm OK with that

Pangea250

Well, I think you're right, you should probably just concern yourself with your own routine and methods.

I would imagine there are numerous reasons people don't always eat their calories back from exercise. For those who have a higher calorie intake as it is, 1800+, I can imagine that you could feel like you're eating enough within that and trying to consume more when you're not hungry would feel pointless and uncomfortable. I also think that MFP can overestimate on calories burned for certain exercise so perhaps people are worried about that aspect. I am sure there are a multitude of other reasons.

I actually think it's so rude to suggest people who don't eat their exercise calories back are so stupid or naïve that they assume MFP is "sabotaging" their weight loss.

^ This.

I was going to write more, but it'll just come off b!tchy. So I'll shut up now.

Birder150

"Many, many successful members" do not eat back their exercise calories and I know this might cause your head to explode, but they eat 1200 calories, too.

Shhhhhhh.

Holly_Roman_Empire

Whatever works for everybody, but I'll often forego my exercise calories so I can eat pizza and drink beer on the weekend...yeah I know that's not how it works really; but I'm OK with that

It works like that for me. :-D
Wendy's and Whataburger put me 500 calories over yesterday, but I will exercise today and not eat those calories to make up for it.

And also, I would only tell someone to eat their exercise calories if they were feeling weak, hungry, or tired. I sure can't function on a net <1000 calories, but that doesn't mean everyone can't. It's awfully presumptuous to assume that that's the reason someone isn't losing weight.

suz155

Speaking for myself,,,,,when I do eat them back, I gain weight. Why? because my metabolism has slowed down, because, in my case, I'm 58 and I have some health issues, that can , at times, be a bit challenging. I think the important thing to understand is not everyone is living in your body......they have their own. They have different metabolism levels, health issues , maybe they are working 4 jobs and have 3 kids. You don't know, neither do I.

knk1553

I don't eat mine back (unless its a long run day then I eat about 1/2 of them back) but thats because I figured out what my TDEE was based off my activity and did my calories around that. I eat 1900-2000 calories most day, therefore I have no need to eat my exercise calories back. Its easier for me personally to plan my day knowing thats the calorie range I need to be in and theres less pressure on my exercise calories burned to be able to eat what I want. If I burn over 600 calories I tend to eat some of them back just because thats what my body needs me to do. When I go to maintaining, I'll just up my calories to 2300-2400 and not eat my exercise calories back...simple. Each person should do what works for them, and what works for me being someone who works out in the evening most days is setting my calorie goal higher and not eating my exercise calories back. When I was eating them back I was ending up needing to eat a meal taht was close to 1200 calories and was constantly hungry during the day. Ive consistently lost size and body fat as well as some weight so I don't think I can say that what I'm doing isn't working.

Chances are, most of those people who don't eat their exercise calories back are grossly underestimating what they're eating. Ask someone what 2 tlbs of peanut butter or what 1/2 cup of icecream looks like and you'll find they're grossly overestimating, also ask them what 4oz of chicken looks like and you'll find they're severely underestimating for the most part. People also tend to not take into account the oils and things they use to cook items with and what calories are in those. Not saying this is everyone, but theres a high chance that this is most people who say "help I'm not losing weight"

lauren3101

"Many, many successful members" do not eat back their exercise calories and I know this might cause your head to explode, but they eat 1200 calories, too.

Shhhhhhh.

But even more of those people are unsuccessful, as proved by many threads on here,

IronSmasher

"Many, many successful members" do not eat back their exercise calories and I know this might cause your head to explode, but they eat 1200 calories, too.

Shhhhhhh.

They'll be back.

Pangea250

Whatever works for everybody, but I'll often forego my exercise calories so I can eat pizza and drink beer on the weekend...yeah I know that's not how it works really; but I'm OK with that

Actually, that is exactly how it works.

lauren3101

I think, to be honest, the point has kind of been missed here. Some of you are saying you overeat one day and then won't eat back your exercise calories the next - this is still eating them back. Some of you are saying you use the TDEE method - this is still eating them back.

The people that this is targeting are the people that cannot lose the weight because they don't eat their exercise calories, or the people that net below 1200 calories because they don't eat their exercise calories. Why? MFP even warns you that amount is too low. Then said people start a thread asking why they are in a plateau. I don't think my question was unreasonable.

LeanneGoingThin

In my experience people tend to eat too much of their 'exercise calories' back and that's why they stop losing weight.

IronSmasher

Those people generally plateau, not directly from their diet approach, but due to it's un sustainability.

I didn't post fast enough. The above is for those on a harsh deficit.

Reza151

I don't eat back my exercise calories because I follow Dan's method In Place of a RoadMap (IPOARM). I used a calorie calculator that takes into account not only how many hours per week I exercise, but also the fact that I have a desk job, along with my body fat %. So my workout calories are already calculated into my daily intake, whether or not I exercise since it's based off of the fact that my metabolism is higher. I'm not very good at articulating, so if you're curious, search the forums for IPOARM. Many people have used this method and it works for them and it generally works for me too, as I've only fluctated between the same five pounds over the past year and a half.

TheFitHooker

*Looks at ticker* Yup it says 132 lbs loss, and guess what? I don't eat back my calories... Just saying... Why? Because I tried it and it didn't work.

Why do people suggest to eat at TDEE and come to this site and preach about it when it wasn't designed that way? Because everyone works different and people need to try what works best for them that isn't unhealthy.

sullus

"Many, many successful members" do not eat back their exercise calories and I know this might cause your head to explode, but they eat 1200 calories, too.

Shhhhhhh.

But even more of those people are unsuccessful, as proved by many threads on here,

I don't know that you can accurately say that. People struggling are more likely to go in and make a post looking for help. People who are not struggling don't tend to make threads asking why it's not working. There is no way you can claim that more of them are unsuccessful.