May Be A Stupid Question but...

ohohraptor

Does MFP account for exercise and allow more nutrients for the day? I'm setting up my meal plan for today and am already going way over my nutrients but I haven't added my strength work out and pin class for the day. Will that even it out?

RunHardBeStrong

Yes when you add your exercise MFP will add those calories back into your goal

chrisyoung0422

Yes and it is awesome to get calories back!

EmmaRankmore

I agree, its great

AMBlass

I disagree with the principles of eating back calories. I try to eat a normal amount of calories (my target is 1370) and I don't eat back calories from my workout. A good friend of mine is a powerlifter and personal trainer, and she said for the average person who works out at the gym, you don't need to eat back your calories. I mean, you can, but it's not necessary. She did emphasize to make sure to eat before and after your workout, but to have those calories incorporated into your overall total. It might make sense to up your calorie intake for the day if you feel like you're not getting enough. But that's just my opinion (and hers). I know there is a lot of debate about this, but so far it's worked pretty well for me.

jrich1

I disagree with the principles of eating back calories. I try to eat a normal amount of calories (my target is 1370) and I don't eat back calories from my workout. A good friend of mine is a powerlifter and personal trainer, and she said for the average person who works out at the gym, you don't need to eat back your calories. I mean, you can, but it's not necessary. She did emphasize to make sure to eat before and after your workout, but to have those calories incorporated into your overall total. It might make sense to up your calorie intake for the day if you feel like you're not getting enough. But that's just my opinion (and hers). I know there is a lot of debate about this, but so far it's worked pretty well for me.

It just depends on how many calories you are eating, because when I doing hard workouts I would burn my calories into the negative and if I didnt eat them back I would starve myself.

blakgarnet

there's a lot of debate on these boards about eating exercise calories - do a search of the boards to get a lot of info and opinions. If you enter your exercise into your log and put in a calorie amount, it will increase you calories allotted for the day if you choose to eat them.

ohohraptor

Okay thanks guys! I also have to eat at least some of my exercise calories back or else I will be in the negative.

AMBlass

It just depends on how many calories you are eating, because when I doing hard workouts I would burn my calories into the negative and if I didnt eat them back I would starve myself.

Yes, that's why I said "average" person. I think it just depends on what you do and how much and for how long, and also how you feel! I probably net out at less than 1200 calories, but I'm still putting in 1370 calories a day total. I think you have to do the best for your body and that will be different depending on how whether you're a boy or girl, your exercise regime, how much you weigh, how much you want to lose, etc. If something doesn't work for you but works for another person, that's OK. I'm just sharing what works for me just so you know that it's an option.

thkelly

I disagree with the principles of eating back calories. I try to eat a normal amount of calories (my target is 1370) and I don't eat back calories from my workout. A good friend of mine is a powerlifter and personal trainer, and she said for the average person who works out at the gym, you don't need to eat back your calories. I mean, you can, but it's not necessary. She did emphasize to make sure to eat before and after your workout, but to have those calories incorporated into your overall total. It might make sense to up your calorie intake for the day if you feel like you're not getting enough. But that's just my opinion (and hers). I know there is a lot of debate about this, but so far it's worked pretty well for me.

It just depends on how many calories you are eating, because when I doing hard workouts I would burn my calories into the negative and if I didnt eat them back I would starve myself.

please explain to me how you're `starving` yourself?
i think alot of people don't understand how it works. if you want to lose 1lb a week you need to be a in 500 calorie per day deficit.
if you burn 400 calories working out you're in a deficit of 900 calories.
that doesn't mean you're now in a negative because technically you already were.

AnneGenevieveS

You have to look at the types of nutrients too.

You do NOT WANT to get 100% of your daily cholesterol

But if you get extra iron, then awesome!!

You might want to eat lower fat, which means you'll go over on the carbs and protein, and that is okay

It is set up as a percent of your daily calories, so if you exercise you get more. You might not be eating exactly at the same percentages of fat, protein and carbs each day.

You can add other nutrients to the list of things you keep track of as well, like sodium, cholesterol, iron, calcium(?), and I can't remember what else.

ohohraptor

You have to look at the types of nutrients too.

You do NOT WANT to get 100% of your daily cholesterol

But if you get extra iron, then awesome!!

You might want to eat lower fat, which means you'll go over on the carbs and protein, and that is okay

It is set up as a percent of your daily calories, so if you exercise you get more. You might not be eating exactly at the same percentages of fat, protein and carbs each day.

You can add other nutrients to the list of things you keep track of as well, like sodium, cholesterol, iron, calcium(?), and I can't remember what else.

I wish I could track more than 5!

AnneGenevieveS

me too