eating exercise calories vs not eating extra calories

mrsyac2

So last night I was reading a bunch of different sites regarding fitness and weight loss and they said that the mistake that most women tryin to lose weight is eating all the calories that you burn from exercising-- What do you all think about that--

mrsyac2

So last night I was reading a bunch of different sites regarding fitness and weight loss and they said that the mistake that most women tryin to lose weight is eating all the calories that you burn from exercising-- What do you all think about that--

kerrilucko

I think that may be taken out of context... was it referring to a diet in which a caloric deficit is ALREADY in place, before adding excercise calories?

wriglucy

I messaged you

mrsyac2

I think that may be taken out of context... was it referring to a diet in which a caloric deficit is ALREADY in place, before adding excercise calories?

No it said to give yourself a calorie deficit of 400-500 calories and workout- and to not eat the calories burned through exercising- because it defeats the purpose- I'm just saying what I was reading last night- I mean if it is working for many of you then Kudo's to you I am not trying to step on anyones toes by any means just confused about me not shedding weight and have been doing some research as to what I can change for me to drop this weight thats not seeming to budge-

kerrilucko

I think that may be taken out of context... was it referring to a diet in which a caloric deficit is ALREADY in place, before adding excercise calories?

No it said to give yourself a calorie deficit of 400-500 calories and workout- and to not eat the calories burned through exercising- because it defeats the purpose- I'm just saying what I was reading last night- I mean if it is working for many of you then Kudo's to you I am not trying to step on anyones toes by any means just confused about me not shedding weight and have been doing some research as to what I can change for me to drop this weight thats not seeming to budge-

Well I can only speak for myself, but my caloric deficit is much higher, at 1000cals so comparably, if my deficit were 4-500 and I didn't eat what I burned I'd have about the same deficit anyway right?

pmkelly409

I am not sure which post you were reading, there are quit a few on this topic. There are definitely some people who subscribe to the philosophy that you should NOT be eating your exercise calories BUT the majority of members here will tell you that you should absolutely be eating them! I eat mine and I am losing at a healthy pace.

here is the post...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo?hl=exercise+calories&page=2#posts-88678

ohthatbambi

I have spent the last few days keeping track of every calorie that goes in my mouth and my exercise. I bought a Polar F6 HRM and feel like I have a great handle on what I am really burning. I have exercised every day the last week, be it biking, going to the gym or both. I have eaten my exercise calories or close to them and I have gained a pound in a week. Now all that being said, it could have just been water weight. I don't know.

I do know that was very discouraging.

I do know that I bust my butt exercising. I want results from that work. I have come to the conclusion that eating all those earned calories is not a good thing for me personally. My caloric intake is 1340 to lose a pound a week. I feel sick and dizzy when I only eat that. So I moved it up to 1500-1600. I try not to go over 1600 regardless of my exercise calories. When I do this, I lose weight. If I eat more than this, even with exercise I gain. So all that being said...do a science project on yourself and see what works for you. Everyone has an opinion based on their body. The above is what works for me. I wish I could eat all those extra calories and lose, but I can't. So thats my story and I am sticking to it!!

songbyrdsweet

The article was right...*however*, what many people don't understand about MFP is that it BUILDS IN a deficit. When you eat your exercise calories, you are STILL in a deficit. Here's why:

You enter your body stats and activity level into MFP.
It calculates what you burn in a day WITHOUT exercise (1700 calories, for instance).
It then SUBTRACTS 500-100 calories (Leaving you with 1200, for instance).
That value is what you see on your calories page.
When you exercise, your calories burned will INCREASE (up to 2300, for instance).
If you eat only that 1200 calories, you are now in a 1100 calorie DEFICIT.
You don't want an 1100 calorie deficit, so you eat 600 EXERCISE calories to reduce it to a 500 calorie DEFICIT. MFP tells you to eat 1800 calories instead of the 1200.

See how that works? MFP just does it for you rather than you having to do the math. If you weren't using MFP, you could find out what you burn in a day WITH exercise (that 2300 calories), and then eat 1800 calories a day to be in a 500 calorie deficit.