Eating back workout calories

Ginahbean81
Ginahbean81 Posts: 23
in Introduce Yourself
Should I eat back my workout calories? I don't know? Help!!

Replies

  • jennybinney1987
    jennybinney1987 Posts: 130 Member
    ive never eaten my work out calories that I earned.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    Don't eat them all back, you're defeating the purpose.. Plus if you're using MFP on a calorie burn it tends to over estimate the amount of calories one is burning thru exercise, and you could end up over eating your workouts.

    Therefore I would never eat back more than 1/2 of the calories burned.
  • DeeJayShank
    DeeJayShank Posts: 92 Member
    1.) Set a daily calorie goal
    2.) Add exercise as you do it
    3.) Eat your daily calorie goal

    If you fail to eat your calorie goal daily, you may lose weight too quickly. This is OK at first if you have a lot of weight to lose, but in the later stages of weight loss (for example, the last 20 lbs), your body will begin to metabolize more muscle mass if you don't eat your calorie goal daily. This is not a good thing.

    Low and slow is the way to go.
  • SassyMoonbeams
    SassyMoonbeams Posts: 229 Member
    If you are using mfp to estimate calories burned when you log exercise, NO. The mfp calories are always around nearly double if not more than the actual calories burned.

    I use a hrm to track more accurately how many calories I burn during exercise, and I eat all if not most of my exercise calories back. If you want to get serious about losing weight, a hrm is your best friend!

    If you are eating too little, your body will become stubborn about dropping the weight. My calorie goal is set at 1000 below maintenance every day so I can lose 2 pounds a week, even so I have one day a week where I up my intake by about 500ish and sometimes to maintenance to give my metabolism a boost.

    So yes I would say your safest way of losing weight healthfully is to eat back most of your exercise calories :-)
  • SassyMoonbeams
    SassyMoonbeams Posts: 229 Member
    Don't eat them all back, you're defeating the purpose.. Plus if you're using MFP on a calorie burn it tends to over estimate the amount of calories one is burning thru exercise, and you could end up over eating your workouts.

    Therefore I would never eat back more than 1/2 of the calories burned.

    I respectfully disagree.

    If your daily caloric intake is set at lower than maintenance (ie if you have set it up through mfp to lose a certain amount a week), you technically don't even need to exercise to lose weight. All you have to do is eat at that daily recommended intake to lose weight. Exercising is about improving your fitness level and health. Yes it burns calories as well but you need a certain amount of calories otherwise you are really just starting to starve your body.
  • DeeJayShank
    DeeJayShank Posts: 92 Member
    ^^this^^

    Cardio is for fitness, not for weight loss.

    Calorie restriction is for weight loss.

    Eat what you burn, let MFP handle your deficit for you.
  • Ginahbean81
    Ginahbean81 Posts: 23
    So as long as I stick to my 1430 that mfp gives me I will be ok. ..no matter if I work out or not.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    Read the link
  • sydsquidlee
    sydsquidlee Posts: 51 Member
    OK... Seriously people losing weight it not just eating less or exercising. Its both.
    It takes 3,500 calories to make a pound.
    So to lose a pound a week you have to be -500 calories a day less than maintenance .. or you normal caloric intake. 500x7=3500
    It is simple math. That is all. If you burn the calories running or not eating that big mac you are going to lose weight.
    Now exercising is important for your physical health.
  • DeeJayShank
    DeeJayShank Posts: 92 Member
    Losing weight doesn't require exercise... but being healthy does.
  • Falluso
    Falluso Posts: 12 Member
    The simple answer to this is NO. However, you should not be starving yourself either. A huge caloric deficit from a day of intense activity can lead to sleep loss, migraines, lack of focus and improper muscle recovery. If you are hungry be certain to have something healthy, satisfying and if possible filling.
  • simplydelish2
    simplydelish2 Posts: 726 Member
    There are tons of posts on this topic - read them and decide for yourself.

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