2 exercise questions

socialdchic

I am semi new to this being healthy/exercise things but I think I am finally getting it down (51st day I think it is now) but I do have 2 questions I cannot seem to find straight answers to so wanted some opinions.

1) I keep hearing conflicting things about eating back exercise calories, some do and some don't (I have not been or if I do its a slight overage like today when I took my son to his first movie ever I shared a little popcorn with him and went 91 over with it). What do you do and why?

2) Do you take days off from exercising? I am a creature of habit and when I develop routines I hate to sway from them. Since I started this I think I have taken maybe 3 days off and I would still typically walk some at least. As of right now I do 1 hour of Zumba and anywhere from 10-30 mins on the elliptical and walk during the day if I take my son to the park.

thavoice

I am semi new to this being healthy/exercise things but I think I am finally getting it down (51st day I think it is now) but I do have 2 questions I cannot seem to find straight answers to so wanted some opinions.

1) I keep hearing conflicting things about eating back exercise calories, some do and some don't (I have not been or if I do its a slight overage like today when I took my son to his first movie ever I shared a little popcorn with him and went 91 over with it). What do you do and why?

2) Do you take days off from exercising? I am a creature of habit and when I develop routines I hate to sway from them. Since I started this I think I have taken maybe 3 days off and I would still typically walk some at least. As of right now I do 1 hour of Zumba and anywhere from 10-30 mins on the elliptical and walk during the day if I take my son to the park.

Yes. It is ok and can be good to take days off from exercising.
As far as eating back your exercise...depends on your starting point. If you are using MFP and have it set to lose 1.5/week that means how many calories you can eat so if you exercise you can eat back some to et to that point.

Personally I dont eat back my calories unless I am very hungry. I just chalk it up to even more of a deficiency.

diannethegeek

Yes, MFP is designed for you to eat back your exercise calories. With the caveat that MFP may overestimate certain activities - so some people choose to aim for 50-75% of their exercise calories. Those who don't eat them back have either chosen to ignore how the site is setup or are calculating their calorie goals in a different manner. I like this post best to explain why: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

alpine1994

1) You're supposed to eat them back. I ate back approx. half when I was losing, but I also had some days every now and then when I went wayyyy over so it probably works out that I ate them all back.

2) I take 1-2 rest days per week. I never have them scheduled because either something comes up or I'm not feeling well one day, etc. so it's easier for me to take them when I need to and not when I've scheduled them.

socialdchic

I am semi new to this being healthy/exercise things but I think I am finally getting it down (51st day I think it is now) but I do have 2 questions I cannot seem to find straight answers to so wanted some opinions.

1) I keep hearing conflicting things about eating back exercise calories, some do and some don't (I have not been or if I do its a slight overage like today when I took my son to his first movie ever I shared a little popcorn with him and went 91 over with it). What do you do and why?

2) Do you take days off from exercising? I am a creature of habit and when I develop routines I hate to sway from them. Since I started this I think I have taken maybe 3 days off and I would still typically walk some at least. As of right now I do 1 hour of Zumba and anywhere from 10-30 mins on the elliptical and walk during the day if I take my son to the park.

Yes. It is ok and can be good to take days off from exercising.
As far as eating back your exercise...depends on your starting point. If you are using MFP and have it set to lose 1.5/week that means how many calories you can eat so if you exercise you can eat back some to et to that point.

Personally I dont eat back my calories unless I am very hungry. I just chalk it up to even more of a deficiency.

Thanks

socialdchic

Yes, MFP is designed for you to eat back your exercise calories. With the caveat that MFP may overestimate certain activities - so some people choose to aim for 50-75% of their exercise calories. Those who don't eat them back have either chosen to ignore how the site is setup or are calculating their calorie goals in a different manner. I like this post best to explain why: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

ok, I will check that out, thank you

socialdchic

1) You're supposed to eat them back. I ate back approx. half when I was losing, but I also had some days every now and then when I went wayyyy over so it probably works out that I ate them all back.

2) I take 1-2 rest days per week. I never have them scheduled because either something comes up or I'm not feeling well one day, etc. so it's easier for me to take them when I need to and not when I've scheduled them.

I keep reading conflicting things on eating them back and people I know in real life as well so I really have no clue, I have never done this before and am kind of winging it best I can and trying to read the best ways to do things

I am a stay at home mom so its rare I dont have time at night since my husband works 3rd shift and my son is in bed, It helps to pass the time and I find night time is the best time for me since I am a night owl anyways.