Exercise cals

bhb301

I'm having a hard time understanding the reasons to eat your exercise cals. It doesn't make sense to me to bust my a** running, then eat more.Should we eat all the cals or half. Please help me understanding the reasoning.

Shan605

Most people have a more scientific reason but here is my dumbed down reason that helped me understand it

When you sign up for MFP you tell the system how much weight you need to lose,
The system then gives you a goal of how many calories to eat each day.
When it give you that goal it assumes that you are NOT going to exercise, just eat better to lose the weight
When you do exercise you burn addition calories which brings you WAY under the amount you should be eating to lose weight.
Your body panics and stores all your fat and calories because it doesnt know when it might eat again.

I hope this helps and good luck with the weight loss!

ladyhawk00

The reason is actually pretty simple. MFP, unlike most calculators/counters, has a built in deficit whether you exercise or not. So if you don't replace the exercise cals, you create a larger deficit - which will prompt an unhealthy rate of weight loss.

Here are some threads that explain how MFP works (built in deficit), metabolism, and why it's important to eat at least some exercise cals. Hope these help. MUST READS! Good luck to you!

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

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

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

bhb301

Thanks that helps