Saving exercise calories (challenge)

TeamLeela

Starting Monday November 15, I am going to stay under my calories for a whole week without using my exercise calories. I will log EVERYTHING THAT I EAT! No matter how many exercise calories I burn, I will not use ANY of them to stay under my daily calories. I WILL NOT CHEAT, I WILL NOT CUT CORNERS!

I plan to weigh in on Monday and not step on the scale again until November 22. That's saying a lot because I usually get on the scale every other day. When I see that I am doing good, I subconsciously give myself a pass to eat a little more.

I'm doing this A) to get into the routine of logging EVERYTHING regularly. Wednesday I burned over 1000 calories and ended up eating almost all of them. C) to try to end the debate of whether to eat or not to eat your exercise calories.

You can check in throughout the week to let me know your progress or you can just check back in a week to report your loss. You don't have to tell us the actual number you weigh, if you don't want to, just how much you lost in that week. I just want to see if we have a bigger loss than in the past when you ate some or all of your exercise calories.

Anyone else up for the challenge? Don't leave me hanging to do this alone. The more, the better in determining the importance of your exercise calories.

Thanks for giving me a little of your time.
Leela.

npryor100

I'm up for it! Let's do it!

catcrazy

I'm not up for it as I dont log my exercise so I dont eat any extra cals but I would be interested in seeing your results.

Good luck

deannaboo

I'm in for it ..I usually never eat more than my allowed calorie intake and have seen a little weight loss...But somethimes I don't log in everthing

sandyvanderstelt

i'm in!! i need some motivation

kgs0201

i'm in since it ends before thanksgiving! :-)... definitely going to be hard but i love the motivation!

grogers421

Consider me in on this. I try to do this all the time but have not been as dilligent as I could be. It will be interesting to see what happens. Best of luck.

naturebaby

:drinker: i'll watch and see what up with it all..

gracienkaidens_momma

I heard it's bad not to eat your exercise cals as it could cause your body to go into starvation mode and make it harder to lose weight.

groucherella

Very challenging for me! I will do this with you! I hope I dont gnaw my arm off from hunger or get the shake or rock back and forth holding my knees singing mariah carey with a glazed look in my eye.

vickiele1

I just have to make a comment here. First - I NEVER eat my exercise calories and I have been consistently losing weight for 5 months at a rate of about 10 pounds per month. I can't speak for everyone, but I have researched the "starvation mode" theory extensively. I AM NOT IN STARVATION MODE - NOR HAVE I EVER COME CLOSE TO BEING IN STARVATION MODE. I always have enough energy to work 10 - 12 hours at work a day and then do an extraordinary amount of hard physical labor nearly every single weekend (when I haven't injured myself some how at least).

Try researching the "starvation mode" theory. Try it out for yourself. I think if more people would make healthy decisions for themselves, they may not struggle so much. Having a guide to go by is very important - but living your life religiously by something that is designed to be "just a guide" doesn't make sense. Ask others out there if they are experiencing "starvation mode" or if they know of anyone who has eaten realistically, and exercised has ever experienced it. We all do hit plateaus - but those can be overcome by changing or switching up our diet and/or exercise patterns.

Please use common sense when eating and exercising and do monitor your blood pressure and your heart rate. See a medical professional if you experience fatigue, dizziness, etc. Do take care of yourself - but don't let the "myths" dictate what you do and how you manage your life. RESEARCH - all of the information you need is at your fingertips.

Vickie

LuckyLeprechaun

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

Cytherea

C) to try to end the debate of whether to eat or not to eat your exercise calories.

I doubt this little experiment of yours is going to end the debate. It isn't scientific, there are no controls, and way too many factors that could affect the weight loss. Plus, one week and handful of volunteers is in no way determinative as to what all people trying to lose weight should do.

LuckyLeprechaun

Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and stick with what has already been working for me and hundreds of other MFP success stories.

I don't think it's a wise idea to refuse to fuel your body....

just sayin'

TheNewJessieMae

C) to try to end the debate of whether to eat or not to eat your exercise calories.

I doubt this little experiment of yours is going to end the debate. It isn't scientific, there are no controls, and way too many factors that could affect the weight loss. Plus, one week and handful of volunteers is in no way determinative as to what all people trying to lose weight should do.

Well Debbie downer!!! It's self motivation and gratification and something she and apparently a lot of other people are willing to try for themselves. Not some scientific experiment as to where she will publish a book on the matter. Do you find pleasure in crushing peoples goals? If so, just don't comment and get out of here.

Leela... If you couldn't tell, I'm in.

LuckyLeprechaun

i thnk she was commenting on the wisdom of the goal.

there are a hundred unhealthy methods out there. MFP is a safe and guaranteed to work way to lose weight steadily and keep it off.

Why would you want to fight the system? Especially when the system works so well?

maureensc

I am up for this challenge. I need to be stronger this time of year!

TheNewJessieMae

i thnk she was commenting on the wisdom of the goal.

there are a hundred unhealthy methods out there. MFP is a safe and guaranteed to work way to lose weight steadily and keep it off.

Why would you want to fight the system? Especially when the system works so well?

Maybe shes at a plateau, trying something different. Nit like it's going to be the rest of her life!!!! You change things from time to time. Everyone doesn't do the same exact thing. I follow the PRIMAL BLUEPRINT do you have something to say about that? I don't average 300 carbs a day like most people on here. I'm losing, I'm healthy, energetic. Not everyone is so uniform to think there is only one way. As I say, it's like religion-who knows who's right!!!

TeamLeela

I heard it's bad not to eat your exercise cals as it could cause your body to go into starvation mode and make it harder to lose weight.

Have you seen my photo? I'm far from starving! I don't think one week is really going to be damaging to my metabolism. In fact, it might give it the jump start that it needs. When I burn mega calories, I do try to eat some of them. But I don't want to have the mentality like oh, I have 400 extra calories that I burned, so its okay to eat 200 of them on ______ (fill in the blank with something thats not the most healthy to eat on a regular basis).

I appreciate everyone who commented regardless if you agree or disagree. I'm okay to agree to disagree. As I mentioned in my first post, this is something that I plan to do for myself and if a few others want to join in, great. If you have something that's already working for you, then that's great too. If you want to be a spectator and see how it plays out, than that's fine too.

The forums are open to anyone and everyone has an opinion and can express it. I would just appreciate you keeping "the not so positive" comments to yourself.

Thanks in advance.
Good luck everyone.

vickiele1

i thnk she was commenting on the wisdom of the goal.

there are a hundred unhealthy methods out there. MFP is a safe and guaranteed to work way to lose weight steadily and keep it off.

Why would you want to fight the system? Especially when the system works so well?

This discussion could go on forever. It doesn't ALWAYS work for EVERYONE. Being able to decide for one's self what does work and what doesn't is part of being an individual with human rights to make choices. To challenge the status quo is part of life - where would any nation be, if what was placed before us was just "accepted" and never challenged. It is our right and in fact, in my opinion, my obligation to challenge and question all that might impact me and my well being. So, having said that. Each person is entitled to their opinion. No one is saying that someone "should" or "shouldn't" engage in this challenge - it is an invitation - that adults can choose to engage in or choose not to engage in.

Vickie

LuckyLeprechaun

Nit like it's going to be the rest of her life!!!!

I know you meant to say "not"


THAT is my exact point. I am trying to follow a lifestyle that I WILL be able to follow for the rest of my life.

As for the Primal diet thing... I think it's very lopsided. I don't like any of the fad diets that eliminate whole food groups. But if that's what you like to do....good for you. I truly mean that sincerely.

But when I see posts that sing the praises of an unhealthy method of any kind, I speak up and point out that MFP is 100% safe, effective and WORKS! A balanced diet and a moderate level of exercise are GOOD advice for every human.

catcrazy

I heard it's bad not to eat your exercise cals as it could cause your body to go into starvation mode and make it harder to lose weight.

Have you seen my photo? I'm far from starving! I don't think one week is really going to be damaging to my metabolism. In fact, it might give it the jump start that it needs. When I burn mega calories, I do try to eat some of them. But I don't want to have the mentality like oh, I have 400 extra calories that I burned, so its okay to eat 200 of them on ______ (fill in the blank with something thats not the most healthy to eat on a regular basis).

I appreciate everyone who commented regardless if you agree or disagree. I'm okay to agree to disagree. As I mentioned in my first post, this is something that I plan to do for myself and if a few others want to join in, great. If you have something that's already working for you, then that's great too. If you want to be a spectator and see how it plays out, than that's fine too.

The forums are open to anyone and everyone has an opinion and can express it. I would just appreciate you keeping "the not so positive" comments to yourself.

Thanks in advance.
Good luck everyone.

Good on you, you won't end the debate, no one will ever manage that one but it might end it for you. Everyone of us is travelling a slightly different journey and how we get there is going to differ too. I look forward to seeing how you get on but please do let up on the exercise just a little if you find yourself getting too fatigued.

TeamLeela

But when I see posts that sing the praises of an unhealthy method of any kind, I speak up and point out that MFP is 100% safe, effective and WORKS! A balanced diet and a moderate level of exercise are GOOD advice for every human.

How is not eating your exercise calories for one week considered "an unhealthy method"?? I have been on MFP for 175 consecutive days. Trust me, if I didn't think it would work, I wouldn't still be here!

Dreaaa

I love this Idea. I'm trying to do this but it's awesome that we all help motivate and empower everybody else.

I joined JAN 2009 and didn't take advantage of this wonderful site. Until this year did I actually actively start taking care of myself. I found myself slipping into bad patterns again.. and this site helps me control those urges.

TheNewJessieMae

Yes, of course I meant not.
It's not a fad diet. It's changing up a routine. If you'd like to be so closed minded to think MFP is the bible to dieting then there is no since in arguing with a wall. I'd rather look through a window.

LuckyLeprechaun

But when I see posts that sing the praises of an unhealthy method of any kind, I speak up and point out that MFP is 100% safe, effective and WORKS! A balanced diet and a moderate level of exercise are GOOD advice for every human.

How is not eating your exercise calories for one week considered "an unhealthy method"?? I have been on MFP for 175 consecutive days. Trust me, if I didn't think it would work, I wouldn't still be here!

IMO refusing to fuel your body isn't wise. If you drove your car across country, you'd use up a lot more gas than if it sat in the garage all day...this makes perfect sense, right? Your body is the same. By exercising you are demanding and using up a lot more fuel, and if you don't replace it by eating your exercise calories, you are requiring your body to run on depleted fuel (nutrition) supplies. This isn't a good idea, I M H O

TheNewJessieMae

I mean IHHO Leela!! My goodness!!!!
(sarcasm sensed?)
Ugh

Cytherea

Well Debbie downer!!! It's self motivation and gratification and something she and apparently a lot of other people are willing to try for themselves. Not some scientific experiment as to where she will publish a book on the matter. Do you find pleasure in crushing peoples goals? If so, just don't comment and get out of here.

Wow, way to totally misunderstand what I said there. If the point of the experiment is to end the debate on eating/not-eating exercise cals, as the OP explicitly stated as one of the goals, it will not do that. Different things work for different people, so what works for some won't work for all. Plus, doing something for a week is not enough time. Maybe not eating the exercise cals back WILL help you to lose more, for that one week, but maybe if you did over the course of a few months your body would react negatively because you are putting it into starvation mode. You'll lose weight if you don't eat anything for a week, either, but that doesn't mean it is healthy for you to do that or the right way to lose weight! If you continued to do that, you would GAIN weight not lose it.

My point was that if someone WANTED to draw conclusions and set up an experiment to do so, which definitely seemed to be part of the OP's intent, this would not give reliable results, and it would not be something that you could then advise others on what they should and should not do because of it. It is dangerous to think that way and could be very harmful.

I also do not see where I was crushing people's goals. I did not say that people should not do this, I said that the experiment cannot adequately meet one of the goals that was set out. I wanted people to realize that a one week long experiment with a handful of volunteers cannot *prove* anything. The probability that the results will be accurate is very low because there are no controls in place. Maybe you'll work out harder than you did last week without realizing it. Maybe you'll eat less or eat better because you are more aware of it since you've joined this experiment. Maybe last week you were on your period so the extra weight you seem to have lost this week isn't actually this week's loss, but last week's, and it was covered by the weight gain that happens to most women during their period. Maybe you didn't get a chance to exercise as much last week but this week you have more free time. Maybe you have to park further away from work some days and end up walking farther than normal. Maybe the elevator is broken so you have to take the stairs. Do I need to continue? I think I've made my point- wayyyyyyyyy to many variables.

Now, obviously, there are benefits to doing this- one is the fact that she listed logging every single calorie that you eat. That alone will be extremely instrumental in weight loss, especially if you hadn't been doing that before, because that is what this whole site is founded on! And that alone might be the reason that you see a different in weight loss; just another variable that will affect the results!

i thnk she was commenting on the wisdom of the goal.

MFP is a safe and guaranteed to work way to lose weight steadily and keep it off.

Why would you want to fight the system? Especially when the system works so well?

Pretty much hit it right on the head there.

To the OP, I hope you know that I was not attacking you or your plan in any way.

TeamLeela

Yes, of course I meant not.
It's not a fad diet. It's changing up a routine. If you'd like to be so closed minded to think MFP is the bible to dieting then there is no since in arguing with a wall. I'd rather look through a window.

I agree, I'm not going to continue to argue. No one can change my opinion and I don't expect to change anyone else's. But 6 months on mfp should atleast show my level of commitment to myself and to this program. I'm not trying to take a short cut and find the easiest way to lose weight, just so I can gain it back.

So I'll be the bigger person (no pun intended) and comment again on Monday at the start of the challenge. I'll welcome all the newcomers and check back in as I can with the number of calories that I've eaten for the day. I now have more determination to see this through. Thanks for the "fuel", I'll certainly use it as motivation as to what I eat and to know that there are more people who want to see me fail, than succeed on site designed to help people lose weight/get fit/get healthy/maintain, etc.

Cytherea, you kept using the word experiment. I never called it an experiment. Furthermore, did you see reasons a and b? you are dwelling on the last reason. I hope you're done here and you find another board to harrass.

Thanks!
Leela.

LuckyLeprechaun

I don't want to see you fail. I'm only speaking up in defense of the well researched plan that MFP has created for us. It works.

I wish you success. I just don't want to see questionable advice get endorsed and passed along without an opposing viewpoint.

Good luck on your experiment.

Cytherea

Thanks for the "fuel", I'll certainly use it as motivation as to what I eat and to know that there are more people who want to see me fail, than succeed on site designed to help people lose weight/get fit/get healthy/maintain, etc.

Cytherea, you kept using the word experiment. I never called it an experiment. Furthermore, did you see reasons a and b? you are dwelling on the last reason. I hope you're done here and you find another board to harrass.

Yes, I kept using the word experiment because what else would you call it? You are trying something to new to see what kind of results you can get and see if the new method works. That's an experiment, no? I did see the other reasons, and even mentioned that in my last post. I am only "dwelling" on the last reason because that is the reason why I responded in the first place. You logging everything you eat is a GOOD thing and I said that! I am not trying to attack you, I was just trying to point out that this won't end the debate.

I really don't see how I've harassed anyone. I have not said anything mean or inflammatory, I have not insulted anyone or said that they should not do this. I merely pointed out that there are flaws in doing this for a week and then generalizing the results.

I also don't understand where you see people wanting you to fail. NOBODY said that they wanted people, you or others, to fail to lose weight. All I've said is that it may not be healthy to do this over a longer period of time, and that you cannot take the results you come up with and apply them in a general manner. Nothing more.

I wish you success. I just don't want to see questionable advice get endorsed and passed along without an opposing viewpoint.

Exactly.