Eating back our burned calories

mom2boys

Are we supposed to eat back whatever calories we have burned? If so, it doesn't make sense to me. I would think the more exercise and more burned calories, the better we loose the weight.

ChelDM

I do not EVER eat back my exercise calories...I do however eat all of my 1200...I agree that for me it would defeat the purpose..

I have been losing 3+ per week by not consuming them.

JennLifts

That's like the big question on here
Try it, if you feel like crap or weight loss slows, go back to not..

MelanieB1979

You asked a good question. I was wondering that as well....it tells us our calorie allowance, but once we burn some off, the number goes back up! I'm just going by the allowance they've given me, and only counting the food calorie intake, and everything I've burned will be a bonus. (I know, not an answer to your question!)

123456654321

Taso?

BunnybeeJG

lol ya.. idk what that's about either... maybe for those just trying to MAINTAIN their current body weight? I just ignore that. and try to burn off at least double what i've eaten so I lose. so far so good.

PeachyKeene

I do not EVER eat back my exercise calories...I do however eat all of my 1200...I agree that for me it would defeat the purpose..

I have been losing 3+ per week by not consuming them.

I Agree

journeytoahealthy51

Honestly, the only reason I exercise is to gain calories to eat! When MFP figures the calories you should eat to lose the weight you want per week, it is figuring in how many "net" calories you should eat. So, if your daily calorie goal is 1200, you can eat 1200 that day and not exercise. If you exercise, you can eat back what you burned. If you don't, you risk putting your body into starvation mode, and you won't lose weight. I have been at this for 2 months, and have lost 17# by eating the calories I have burned exercising. Hope that helps!

meggonkgonk

Yes you are. It's just the way MFP is set up in comparison to other weightloss sites/plans. Other plans budget in a higher number of calories/food intake and assume you will workout. MFP assumes you won't, allots less calories, and generally intends for you to eat back most of your calories. Look at your NET number on your Home page. It should be a part of this equation:

GOAL FOOD- EXERCISE=NET

Your goal should be to have your NET calories be as close to equal your GOAL calories as you can every day. And try to keep them OVER 1200.

For more info on how it works check out the threads here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10665-newbies-please-read-me-2nd-edition

taso42_DELETED

oh, hello there!
http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/

SiltyPigeon

Doesn't make sense to me either. But most of the people on here swear by it. Some even say you go into starvation mode and will actually get fatter if you don't eat your calories back.

I don't eat them back. I'm not saying I'm right and anyone else is wrong. I just choose not to and I've been losing weight just fine. 22 lbs in 7 weeks. But someone on here will say that's unhealthy.... as if being overweight is any better.

Do whatever makes the most sense to you. If it works keep doing it. If it doesn't, well, then do something else.

Everyone is different.

jamie1888

If you don't eat back some of your exercise calories, then most likely you are losing more muscle than fat! Hence, you might weigh less, but you are making your body fatter! You need to eat enough calories to maintain as much muscle as you can. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn even when not exercising.

gavin03

I agree with you. I burn between 600 and 800 each time exercising and If i didnt eat back those calories I would starve. I am on the 1200 a day as well.

CarissaNew

I do not EVER eat back my exercise calories...I do however eat all of my 1200...I agree that for me it would defeat the purpose..

I have been losing 3+ per week by not consuming them.

I agree! I have been eating back some of my exercise calories and not losing! This makes WAY more since to me! So glad I saw this thread!!!

eva78

MFP has already calculated a calorie deficit for you so I'd say eat them. I didn't to begin and was fine but then the weightloss slowed and stopped. So now I eat most of them but very seldom all of them...

For more info I'd suggest reading this:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

There's also a lot more info here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

Best of luck...

ps. and 15 kg equals 34 pounds lost

Warmbloodwear

Taso?

ROTFL :laugh:

Tcasillas

i see it as the number of calories that this gives you is lower then what you burn just laying in bed all day. so either way your going to lose weight because you are not eating more calories then you burn. so mostly i work out and those calories i burn give me a lil room to eat. I never go over my calories and i have lost 4 lbs in 5 days. And if you want to loose weight faster use it as a bonus.

jamie1888

Great info here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TrainerRobin/view/myth-or-fact-calories-in-versus-calories-out-3500-calories-one-pound-and-should-i-eat-my-exercise-calories-62012

and here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/187973-an-email-response-that-might-help-some

ChelDM

I have lost 4 inches in one month and 10 pounds..not eating the calories back...

1lb=3,500 calories...you need a deficit of 3,500 per week to lose 1 lb per week...If you eat back your calories you don't have the deficit...

So the real bottom line here since everyone is torn on it...do what works for you...

anubis609

I would like to reiterate the truth that has been ignored thus far.

*Ahem* Behold...The URL :noway:

http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

edyta70

thanks guys! I wasnt sure what to do either
I will try for the next week not eat my burnt calories and see how that goes for me

Cyanon

If you're trying to stay on the exact goal (0.5 to 2 lbs a week, whatever you had set up in MFP) then yes the site is assuming you're going to eat those calories back.

Myself I try really hard to stay at or under what the base daily calorie intake is. Like others have said try and find out what way works for you, personally I eat as little as possible, but always enough to feel "ok".

jackal75

MFP has already calculated a calorie deficit for you so I'd say eat them. I didn't to begin and was fine but then the weightloss slowed and stopped. So now I eat most of them but very seldom all of them...

For more info I'd suggest reading this:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

There's also a lot more info here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

Best of luck...

ps. and 15 kg equals 34 pounds lost

Links are always a nice addition to a post. Thank you for that. Before reading any of that, I have been follwing the following philosophy when it comes to this topic:

*Never eat less than 1200 calories a day.

*Always strive to land on the number MFP has set for me (currently 1500), no matter how much/little I exercise.

*When I exercise, those become OPTIONAL calories.
****If I don't eat those calories, I should see better results.
****If I do eat them, but end up below the adjusted calories then I should have typical results.
******Extra calories (if eaten) should be eaten over time, not by stuffing myself at dinner.

I'm down over 70 lbs using this formula, but it is all about what works for you.

123456654321

I do not EVER eat back my exercise calories...I do however eat all of my 1200...I agree that for me it would defeat the purpose..

I have been losing 3+ per week by not consuming them.

I agree! I have been eating back some of my exercise calories and not losing! This makes WAY more since to me! So glad I saw this thread!!!

It is more likely that you are just overestimating your calories burned or underestimating your calories in.

jamie1888

I would like to reiterate the truth that has been ignored thus far.

*Ahem* Behold...The URL :noway:

http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

LOL!!! Love the link!! :laugh:
Obviously, nobody is reading the links we provide.

pyro13g

It's simple science and math. The way MFP wants you to account for it is confusing to many.

Calories burned by Basal Metabolic Rate
plus
Calories burned by normal activity
plus
Calories burned by EXERCISE

equals the number of calories you must eat to maintain your current weight.

Subtract 500 calories for 1lb per week weight loss. 1000(if it doesn't take you below the minimum recommended for your gender) for 2lbs per week.

When you pick your goal in MFP it creates a deficit in the calorie number it gives you. What it does not know is your calories burned through exercise. You must enter them and eat them back or you are WAY TO LOW in calorie intake.

meljean30

I would like to reiterate the truth that has been ignored thus far.

*Ahem* Behold...The URL :noway:

http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

LOL!!! Love the link!! :laugh:
Obviously, nobody is reading the links we provide.

LOL.. that made me laugh..

Id like to say.. it sounds so appealing to ONLY eat 1200 calories a day work my *kitten* off and have consistant weight loss over the long haul. There are days where my total burn is 800-1100 calories.. ( yes some days i bring it!!) If i was not eating any of those.. my muscles would not be able to preform they way i demand them to.. Now if all i was doing was walking a few miles a day, no i would not eat those.. -.. i demand alot of my body, and in return it expects me to fuel it right. .. so yes.. unless your workout is sit and be fit..

RENAEJAE

All good info - just need to listen to your body to find the right combination.

taso42_DELETED

I would like to reiterate the truth that has been ignored thus far.

*Ahem* Behold...The URL :noway:

http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

LOL!!! Love the link!! :laugh:
Obviously, nobody is reading the links we provide.

Actually, I could've sworn there've been less should i eat my exercise calories threads lately. I noticed because I'm itching to drop The Url at any opportunity. :laugh:

mom2boys

Honestly, the only reason I exercise is to gain calories to eat! When MFP figures the calories you should eat to lose the weight you want per week, it is figuring in how many "net" calories you should eat. So, if your daily calorie goal is 1200, you can eat 1200 that day and not exercise. If you exercise, you can eat back what you burned. If you don't, you risk putting your body into starvation mode, and you won't lose weight. I have been at this for 2 months, and have lost 17# by eating the calories I have burned exercising. Hope that helps!

Thanks everyone!

seckler

I didn't start out eating mine back, but when I started eating them I started losing more weight. Why would you only want to eat 1200 calories a day anyway? I love the fact that I go bust my butt and get to have more food because of it. I can't wait until I am on maintenance calories :happy:

The 1200 calories is if you don't do anything. If you workout you need to fuel your body. I actually feel like the 1200 is too low... that's my opinion for me though.