Eating calories back...good or bad?

sarah4409
sarah4409 Posts: 5 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi all, I'm new to counting my exercise in addition to calories. I'm wondering if I am supposed to eat my calories back after working out, etc. I've just basing it on how hungry I am, so I'll eat more if I'm hungry after a workout. I hope this makes sense....Good or bad?

Replies

  • CA_Underdog
    CA_Underdog Posts: 733 Member
    To meet the goal you selected (likely 1-2 pounds of weight loss), you need to eat most of your exercise calories. Doing so is more important if your MyFitnessPal target is 1,200 calories, and less important if your target is 2,000+ calories. The exception would be if you chose an activity level that already assumes you do a significant amount of exercise (e.g., something above "sedentary" or "lightly active").

    I wasn't eating much after endurance training (3-6 hr events) and ended up catching colds. Turns out this is a well-known problem when you don't re-fuel your body. Being more diligent about refueling "cured" me.
  • JustAnotherGirlSuzanne
    JustAnotherGirlSuzanne Posts: 932 Member
    Eat them back, but if you're not hungry (and you're netting at least over 1200) then I don't see why you'd have to as long as you're getting enough nutrition in your diet. :)
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    This is a common question that pops up around here. Because of that, there are a lot of good posts trying to explain why the site is designed for you to eat them back (with the caveat that gym machines and MFP may overestimate certain exercises). I like this post to help explain it: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • jessigoct17
    jessigoct17 Posts: 57 Member
    peronally i dont eat my calories back from exercise, the whole point in why i work out is to burn calories and lose fat.. not so that i can eat more in a day
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    peronally i dont eat my calories back from exercise, the whole point in why i work out is to burn calories and lose fat.. not so that i can eat more in a day
    MFP already has a built in deficit so you are meant to eat exercise calories back. You don't have to eat all of them but if you're hungry-you can. I eat 1/2 to all back and I'm at goal now.
  • sarah4409
    sarah4409 Posts: 5 Member
    MFP has me foaled at 1200 so I will make sure I'm eating more...thanks everyone!!! I was seeing a bit of a plateau and now I know why.

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