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If I don't Eat back my Exercise Calories

queenb39
queenb39 Posts: 54 Member
edited February 27 in Health and Weight Loss
won't I lose wait?

Replies

  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    The calorie goal that MFP sets for you is sufficient to lose weight--you're already eating at a calorie deficit. MFP wants you to maintain a consistent deficit, so when you exercise, you're supposed to eat the calories back to maintain the same deficit on days that you exercise and days that you don't.

    Many of the calorie estimates in the database for exercise are high, so try eating half to 2/3 of the exercise calories.

    If you decide not to eat any exercise calories, over time you may find that your workouts suffer, you're generally tired, your immune system isn't working as well so you get sick more easily, etc. In short, your overall health may well take a bashing because you've created too large a calorie deficit.
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    If you eat the calories MFP sets for you, then you are already in a deficit. If you exercise on top of that you should eat back about half to 3/4 of your exercise calories back. You will still lose!
    Sometimes, if I'm REALLY hungry, I eat all my exercise calories back. I still lose.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Why do people have such difficulty figuring out how this tool works? When I started, it took me all of about 5 minutes. Of course, I bothered to read the stickies too.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I personally think since I can't log my food 100% accurate, exercise calories might give me some room to wiggle so I shouldn't eat it back...
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    Why do people have such difficulty figuring out how this tool works? When I started, it took me all of about 5 minutes. Of course, I bothered to read the stickies too.

    you. you I like.:drinker:
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    You will lose weight if you don't eat back your exercise calories.
    You will also lose weight if you DO eat back your exercise calories.

    I prefer to eat more food, and so does my body.
    MFP is an awesome tool, and if you use it as it was designed (which is, eat your exercise calories), it can help you be very successful in reaching your goals.
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