Eating into your extra "earned" calories?

wh0a_is_me

Just wanted an opinion/advice - do you all usually eat into your "earned" calories that you gain from working out? Or still stick to your minimal calorie intake?

I only started this week, but I've been eating into my "earned" calories - not all of them, but maybe half of them. Although, my calorie intake is set to 1200cal, which is a little on the low side, so I imagine it's not terrible to dip into my "earned" calories to consume about 1500cal/day.

I really want to do this whole diet/workout right once and for all!

beethedreamer

it is encouraged that you do eat your earned calories since MFP has already calculated a deficit in your calories. However, I don't eat my exercise calories, as it seems counter productive in my mind. I know i should change that, but for now its working.

Amarillo_NDN

Welcome to MFP, it is a great tool to help you.

and I eat most mine.

shannondee52

I just started this a few weeks ago also. I try not to get into those "earned calories" My Dr. put me on 1200 calories daily with at least 30 minutes of exercise daily and she never really said one way or the other. I will have to ask her next apt. If you find out anything different, please share.

Sharonbed4d

I eat most of my exercise calories but I also use a HRM so I get an accurate calorie count for my workouts. I have heard people say not to eat the exercise calories but you need at least 1200 calories per day and if you burn 400 during exercise your body needs the extra calories for fuel. To be honest that is one of my main motivations to workout, there is no way I could only eat 1200 calories in a day without feeling like I'm depriving myself.

millerll

At the top of this forum section are "sticky" posts - they have the little red push pin icon nex to them. They're permanent posts full of great info on this topic and many, many others. Rather than repeat what's in them, I recommend you read those articles and you'll have answers to all the mysteries of the universe! Good luck!

soze

I don't. I feel I get a big allotment with 2500 calories a day. Now if I should get down to where I can have only 1200 calories, definitely. Also I may if I am out with friends. So far though I haven't needed them.

wh0a_is_me

At the top of this forum section are "sticky" posts - they have the little red push pin icon nex to them. They're permanent posts full of great info on this topic and many, many others. Rather than repeat what's in them, I recommend you read those articles and you'll have answers to all the mysteries of the universe! Good luck!

Ahh whoops! will do!

Thanks everyone! Seems like it's safe to not eat into them completely, as I've doing.. as someone pointed out, consuming less than 1200cal seems a little much...I suppose as time goes on, I'll figure out what works best for my body, but just wanted to see what everyone else's opinion was.

kgs0201

I'm also on the 1200 calorie limit and I find that on the weekends especially I have to eat into my exercise calories. It's easier during the week when I'm going to work and I'm busier to keep to the 1200 calories but on the weekends I tend to eat more. Instead of depriving myself, I just make sure I exercise enough to make up for it. I think if I kept myself to only 1200 all the time I would give up a lot sooner. I'm thinking of this as more of a life style change and trying to do it in a way that I know I can continue.

I think the biggest thing if you are going to eat into your exercise calories is to make sure you aren't overestimating them. Also, I thought it was helpful to look at how many calories I will be allowed to eat once I hit my goal weight and I just want to maintain. Knowing that helped me realize what I could expect long term and I try to stay under that amount without counting any exercise calories.

mangorabbit

For what it is worth, as another person with their cal limit set at 1200 - I pretty much always eat into most of my exercise cals. (Granted I work 5-6 days a week and we are fed one meal a day...which usually makes staying w/in 1200 pretty rough if I plan to eat more than once a day!)
I go back and forth on how far into them I go, a lot just depends on how I am feeling. (Is totally a personal preference/whatever seems to work best for you and your body.)

All the best!

jchapman1957

Needed them big time tonight!