Exercise Calories

EmilysMommy

Is it true that if I don't eat my exercise calories that I won't lose any weight? When I joined myfitnesspal it gave me 1990 calories a day, sometimes I don't eat all of them on top of not eating my exercise calories. Does that hurt my weight loss as well? I am new at this whole healthy thing, so I am just confused about a lot of things. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

lotusfromthemud

The importance of balancing out your deficit by eating your exercise calories is related to how much weight you have left to lose.

Here's a link that explains it very well:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

Short answer: MFP already has you set up at a sensible deficit. If you don't eat them, you increase this deficit, and it can backfire and stall your weight loss. Long story short, you don't want your deficit to be too large.

JustBill

You want to eat the calories that myfitnesspal suggested because eating less than that could lead to your body entering "starvation mode" where your metabolism slows down. As to the extra calories that you earn via exercise... those you do not HAVE to eat. But it's nice to treat yourself now and again with a little bit extra that you've earned through the hard work!

ahbach2005

a day here or there will not hurt

It takes some time to get used to watching your calories this way

Look at your week for a while. rule of thumb is

3500 caloires per week is one pound

long periods of calorie deficit beyond what is reccommended can stop you from losing weight but a day or 2 a week should be fine.

mstacy1

You should eat the amount of calories that you're given each day, or at least close to that amount. I think if you are under that amount too much (like under your daily caloric allowance by over 200 or so), then your body could go into starvation mode and store fat.
Your exercise calories, however, are just the extra calories you are given each day that you exercise, and are optional to consume. In weight-watchers, for instance, you get extra points each day you exercise a certain amount. If you eat those extra caloies you are given, then you will still be on track to losing the desired weight each week. If you do not eat those extra calories, you will have a greater calorie deficit, which will allow you to lose more weight that week than you had originally planned for by just eating 1900 cals a day and burning your specific number of cals in exercise each week.
The most important thing to remember: the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in.

lradloff

Bump!

amymeenieminymo

I see you've got a lot of varying answeres here so I'll try to explain this the best I can. MFP already sets a calorie deficit, so if it's saying you need to eat 1990 in order to lose a pound a week, then you ate more than that in order to be at the weight you are now, or to maintaine that weight. You can lose weight just by eating less calories, but you should work out in order to be healthy, tone muscle and improve your cardiovascular system.

If you burn 300 calories without eating them back, then your body will only be getting 1690 at the end of the day, which may not be enough. If your body is not getting enough fuel, it could go into starvation mode, and thus hang on to every ounce of fat it can and you'll either stay the same or you could actually gain weight.

I think it's dangerous to say the exercise calories are optional just because this person's daily calories are not close to the 1200 mark.....everyone needs a different amount depending on their current size and activity level, THIS particular person needs 1990 calories, so not eating their exercise calories could put them into starvation mode just as someone who requires 1200 and not eating their excercise calories.