Calorie Intake and Exercise question...PLEASE HELP!!!

cmbneeley

all your exercises need healthy fueled muscle to keep working and to burn fat. if you're eating at only 1200 and burning 500, then your body is going to get used to the routine and start getting the energy it needs to function from your muscles instead of burning fat. you're body knows that it takes more energy (calories) to maintain muscle that it does to maintain fat, so if you're constantly at a huge calorie deficit then your body will begin to lose lean body mass instead of fat (that's what people mean when your body "holds onto fat"). you need to eat back at least some of your exercise calories to keep your muscles fueled so that you can burn the fat. it may seem like weight loss on the scale is slower, but the health improvements from properly fueling your body are so great, and it will help you keep the weight off in the long run instead of gaining it back when you reach your goal and start maintenance.