An objective look at eating "exercise calories"

mmarcy11

Bump!

mmarcy11

Bump!

stroutman81

You're welcome guys. Thanks for investing the time!

MizzDoc

bump

beachgrad05

Thanks for the awesome and clear explanation. There are many who needed it. I am in this for the long haul. I didn't get where I am right now overnight and cannot expect to get back to my ideal weight overnight. I want this to be a lifestyle change as well as a weight change. I am thankful for MFP as it is helping me reach my goal and is one of several "tools" I have in my toolbox that I am using to achieve my goals.

Stripple

Bump

stroutman81

You're welcome... glad you found the info useful.

DLKeeble

bump for future reading.

Thanks for the info!

RyanJK85

Great info thanks!

alibisp

I am so confused. I am eating around 1000 to 1200 calories a day (female, aged 48, weight 222 lbs). I am trying to walk for about 45 mins to 90 mins a day - earning up to 500 calories in exercise. Am I meant to eat these exercise calories or not?

meagalayne

I am so confused. I am eating around 1000 to 1200 calories a day (female, aged 48, weight 222 lbs). I am trying to walk for about 45 mins to 90 mins a day - earning up to 500 calories in exercise. Am I meant to eat these exercise calories or not?

At your weight and height, regardless of your activity level, eating 1000-1200 calories a day is really the minimum. You can stand to eat up to 1600-1800 a day and still see some significant losses.
That said, re-read the post. Either increase your calorie intake daily or start eating back your exercise calories day-by-day. If you're getting in exercise every day, aiming for 1600-1800 calories a day should suffice you.

Breadbar

Bump

stroutman81

I am so confused. I am eating around 1000 to 1200 calories a day (female, aged 48, weight 222 lbs). I am trying to walk for about 45 mins to 90 mins a day - earning up to 500 calories in exercise. Am I meant to eat these exercise calories or not?

At your weight and height, regardless of your activity level, eating 1000-1200 calories a day is really the minimum. You can stand to eat up to 1600-1800 a day and still see some significant losses.
That said, re-read the post. Either increase your calorie intake daily or start eating back your exercise calories day-by-day. If you're getting in exercise every day, aiming for 1600-1800 calories a day should suffice you.

Solid advice.

MissTattoo

Every time someone starts a "Should I eat my exercise calories back" post, this thread should be linked instead of answers given. I know I'm saving it for future reference! Thank you!

meagalayne

I am so confused. I am eating around 1000 to 1200 calories a day (female, aged 48, weight 222 lbs). I am trying to walk for about 45 mins to 90 mins a day - earning up to 500 calories in exercise. Am I meant to eat these exercise calories or not?

At your weight and height, regardless of your activity level, eating 1000-1200 calories a day is really the minimum. You can stand to eat up to 1600-1800 a day and still see some significant losses.
That said, re-read the post. Either increase your calorie intake daily or start eating back your exercise calories day-by-day. If you're getting in exercise every day, aiming for 1600-1800 calories a day should suffice you.

Solid advice.

Shucks... Thanks! :blushing:

stroutman81

Every time someone starts a "Should I eat my exercise calories back" post, this thread should be linked instead of answers given. I know I'm saving it for future reference! Thank you!

Thanks

spiritedsaviour

bump to read later

dionne_williams

bump

forwesgar13

will you calculate for me. I'm real close to where I wanna be but I've been at a maintenance for a few months . I've been trying to lift heavier but I still have a few lbs I'd like to shed . Was wondering do I keep going like I'm going or do I need to adjust cal , your input will help me out with that. tks

age 40
weight 129
height 5 4"

Lanise_10

Thanks for posting

Kellyeee2013

Yes. This helped a lot.

LeggyAmericanGirl

Wholeheartedly, DISAGREE.

stroutman81

Wholeheartedly, DISAGREE.

Care to elaborate? I'm all for disagreement and rational debate.

LaceyAnderson

bump

CallMeCupcakeDammit

I think this is due for a bump.

stroutman81

Thanks for bumping.

julzwild

I'm so glad this was bumped. This post is fantastic. I've lost 20 in two months but the first month I extremely hung up on not eating exercise calories. I felt defeated if I didn't have numbers in the green by the end of the day. My weight loss completely accelerated the 2nd month when I gave that up and began eating them all back. Thanks for explaining this so well!

CallMeCupcakeDammit

stroutman81 wrote: »

Thanks for bumping.

I'm trying to find the threads that used to be in "My Topics". I know I had several of yours in there.

indianwin2001

julzwild wrote: »

I'm so glad this was bumped. This post is fantastic. I've lost 20 in two months but the first month I extremely hung up on not eating exercise calories. I felt defeated if I didn't have numbers in the green by the end of the day. My weight loss completely accelerated the 2nd month when I gave that up and began eating them all back. Thanks for explaining this so well!

Same thing happened to me--This is the best explaination I have seen on this forum. I keep reading and re-reading the post to make sure it sticks in my brain forever.(at 62 y.o.
thats a lot of times to re-read it.) Thanks for starting and posting this thread 3 years ago. Why can't this thread be "stickied"?. It is the most informative post I've read on here.

_whatsherface

Well said. MFP puts me calories at 1810 to lose 1.5 a week. I almost always eat my exercise calories back or at least whatever I feel I need too. Most work outs I burn 400-500 in 60 mins putting me at 2350 calories for the day. I'll probably still eat the 1810 or I might go to 2000 just depends.