Why do people eat their exercise calories?

taso42_DELETED

Calories in vs calories out. That's simple addition and subtraction right?

Which is correct?

2000 - 500 - 300 + 300 = 1500

OR

2000 - 500 - 300 = 1500

annacataldo

My average for the last 100days is 0.4lbs a day... Thats 2.8lbs a week averaged... If I were to loose more, it wouldnt be safe. Im losing a pound more a week than I am suppose to; by eating back all of my calories (almost all days).

When you excercise; you burn fuel. Your food is your fuel. You may feel full and satisfied off 1300 calories, but if you burn those calories off, your taking away your fuel..just like in your car...your car cant keep going when its tank is empty... Your body is a bit different; it can keep going; except to get its nutrition it sits there and eats away your muscles. You might loose alot of weight at first by doing this; but eventually youll not beable to loose; or loose so little its not worth it...

I lost 30pounds in 2 weeks at one point by doing this; with the mind that I could eat and just burn it off.. 30pounds in 2weeks. Thats over 2pounds a day; 15pounds a week. I felt great and full and satisfied and never better; but suddenly i stopped losing... i messed up my metabolism for a number of years by doing this.. I couldnt loose weight no matter what i did... and just gained weight if i ate a normal amount of calories... gained and gained and gained and went up 35pounds i had never had before WITHOUT OVEREATING OR EATING BAD THINGS.

Im doing it the right way this time and ive lost more weight, I havent stopped... and as long you dont give yourself the excuse "its ok to eat this double cheeseburger and fries from mcdonalds because i have the calories for it" you are fine.... When I gain extra calories, it means I can eat some extra fruit that day; maybe have a larger portion of rice with dinner, or have some nuts as a snack instead of celery.

Its not about eating MORE, its about eating higher calorie healthy foods to take up more of your calories... nuts, rice, beans, potatoes, banana, raisins, prunes, avacodo, peanut butter are all higher calorie items, that are all natural from the earth.

ilsie99

:sad:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/264361-can-someone-check-my-math-please

it's not "science". it's science.

lol

PlanetVelma

Seriously people no need to get bent about other people's choices. The basic idea seems to be that you should net fewer than 1200 calories a day. If you do you get that annoying little message from MFP that you are eating too few calories and your body will think it's starving. Also, sometimes people use their exercise calories to treat themselves for special situations.

Here is the fact: they earned those calories, let them use them how they want, it has NOTHING to do with your weight loss success.

And just as a side note, some people with the "I'm not eating those calories back!" mentality will hit a plateau, then start eating some or all of their exercise calories, and begin to lose weight again. So sometimes eating those cheating calories is actually the best thing to do.

Bottom line: we are all on the same journey to be healthy. If that means not touching the exercise calories, fine. If it means you want to use what you have earned, fine. But whatever you decide, let's all be supportive instead of critical on here, ok?

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL Good grief!!!

dragonflydi

My average for the last 100days is 0.4lbs a day... Thats 2.8lbs a week averaged... If I were to loose more, it wouldnt be safe.

I also read a few studies that showed the slower it comes off, the more apt it is to stay off. That is HUGE in my book. It's taken a year and a half, and that is just fine with me ... because with the exception of a slight bobble last October (which has since been re-lost) when my body had to relearn how to process food w/out my messed up gall bladder that was removed, it has stayed off. That is a victory

PlanetVelma

I vote for consolidating all the mindless bull**** on this topic into one thread.

Amen to that!

lclarkjr

Look at it this way, if you take your car out on a roadtrip with a full tank of gas and then make it all the way back home with the gas gauge on E, you can't expect to get very far the next day if you never put more fuel in the tank. Your body is a machine and to keep it running at a high level, you need to put the proper amount and kinds of fuel in it. You body burns a certain number of calories just to keep you alive. If you only eat that basic amount and then go and burn another 500 calories through exercise and don't refill, then your body starts to break down. You body keeps your fat and starts burning muscle mass. You may lose weight, but eventually your body gets used to the low calories and your metabolism slows. If the only reason you are doing this is to make the number on the scale go down, then by all means don't eat your exercise calories. If you want to also get healthier and more fit, as well as making the number on the scale go down, then you should be eating back your exercise calories. It is not an excuse to eat more. It is the only sustainable way to keep your body performing at a high level while still losing weight.

Schwiggity

Calories in vs calories out. That's simple addition and subtraction right?

Which is correct?

2000 - 500 - 300 + 300 = 1500

OR

2000 - 500 - 300 = 1500

Angel1066

Eating back some of my calories hasn't done me any harm so far.

ruststar

Why? Because I don't want to have to keep losing the same pounds (plus some extra) that come roaring back when I stop eating like a prison inmate. Aiming for slow and steady loss at reasonable rates I can live with for LIFE (not to squeeze into a bikini for a trip to Cabo), is the strategy I would rather use. If I starve myself for a couple of months and lose 20 in two months, I will eventually quit eating that way, and gain back 30. At the end of a year losing one pound a week I will be down 50 pounds. I'd rather be -50 than +10 next year, thank you very much. You are free to do whatever you like.

ReadySara

Seriously people no need to get bent about other people's choices. The basic idea seems to be that you should net fewer than 1200 calories a day. If you do you get that annoying little message from MFP that you are eating too few calories and your body will think it's starving. Also, sometimes people use their exercise calories to treat themselves for special situations.

Here is the fact: they earned those calories, let them use them how they want, it has NOTHING to do with your weight loss success.

And just as a side note, some people with the "I'm not eating those calories back!" mentality will hit a plateau, then start eating some or all of their exercise calories, and begin to lose weight again. So sometimes eating those cheating calories is actually the best thing to do.

Bottom line: we are all on the same journey to be healthy. If that means not touching the exercise calories, fine. If it means you want to use what you have earned, fine. But whatever you decide, let's all be supportive instead of critical on here, ok?

I totally agree with you, most people who don't diet eat average 2,000 + calories a day, but when you set your goal on MFP, it then deduct to (depends this is a example) 1,500 so your already eating less from when you were befor you started dieting. Like she said above, they earn those extra calories & sometime they help when you do go over your calories, not everyone stays within the count everyday unless your starving yourself. I personally wouldn't eat my earn calories but like I said it does help time to time when I do go over or when I fell I need to treat myself for the hard work I've done. This site is just not to "Lose weight" it also help people become healthy so maybe there just hitting the gym to be in shape, you never know, so I wouldn't judge.

sarahbear1981

I agree with you 100%. Especially when people use every movement they make throughout the day to count as 'exercise'.
Making a sandwich 100 calories! Watching tv, 50 calories! Walking from the car to the store! 500 calories!
Life isn't a video game.

To be read to the tune of Final Fantasy victory song
You have leveled up!
Cooking and food preparation skills +1
Riding lawn mower skills +2
You have gained the skill: Posting on forums

annacataldo

I agree with you 100%. Especially when people use every movement they make throughout the day to count as 'exercise'.
Making a sandwich 100 calories! Watching tv, 50 calories! Walking from the car to the store! 500 calories!
Life isn't a video game.

My settings are sedentary; meaning my body needs to lay in bed and not move a muscle all day long in order to meet the correct bmr number... unfortunetly for me i work which means i get out of bed and get dressed and work all day; i drink 25cups of water a day and go back and forth to bathroom at least 15times each and every day; not the mention refilling my 2cup waterbottle over 12times a day; then i take care of two different houses meaning i vacuum and laundry; and all other cleaning responsibilites at two different houses on a daily basis, and i go back and forht between these houses.. not to mention everything else that is involved with LIFE. If I dont account for at least some of that, Im not eating enough calories and putting my body into starvation mode... if im over eating, why have i lost 40lbs in 3months? I dont go to the gym, im technically disabled and cant do strenuous activity; cleaning and cooking and those activities ARE my excercise... MFP is set to loose 2pounds a week, and im more than exceeding that.. WTF IM OVEREATING HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE OMG

godroxmysox

I have noticed this is a very touchy subject (just like whether flavored water counts toward your water intake). Everyone has their own opinions...I've just learned not to ask =\

TAWoody

I really don't understand why. There really is no "science" behind it. The only true science in weight loss is calories in vs. calories out. I feel like eating your exercise calories is an excuse to eat more. You already ate 1300 calories... why would you eat 500 more? Excuses to eat more is how we all got ourselves into this place! I bet that if people didn't eat their exercise calories, they would lose weight a lot quicker! I am sorry to sound rude, but why cheat? You are only cheating yourself!


EDIT: Ok, people are taking it too personally. It was a simple question. Sorry I asked.

You obviously need to keep doing some more research/reading. Let me put it stupidly simple for you and everyone else so they stop asking this question. Let's say your daily goal is 1200 calories. Let's say you burn off 1200 calories a day from work and exercise. Now how on EARTH do you expect your body to function properly with no remaining calories?

korgscrew

I agree with you 100%. Especially when people use every movement they make throughout the day to count as 'exercise'.
Making a sandwich 100 calories! Watching tv, 50 calories! Walking from the car to the store! 500 calories!
Life isn't a video game.

Love you!!!

How do I log gardening? Dont bother....

Woo hoo! Earned an extra 300 cals by doing light cleaning today!!

I have never eaten back my calories. He'll, I walk up and down 4 flights if stairs at least 10 times a day at work, should i log it? No.... I keep an eye on my cals burned on my hrm only to make sure I'm working out hard enough, but these numbers never make it into MFP. I've been loosing on average about 2.5 pounds a week which is healthy in my eyes and I don't feel bad for it. Ok, somedays I'll feel tired, burnt out etc, but who doesn't from time to time?! When I feel like this I'll take the next day off and have a rest day. I know how my body works and when to give it a break.

neuroticlin89

I really don't understand why. There really is no "science" behind it. The only true science in weight loss is calories in vs. calories out. I feel like eating your exercise calories is an excuse to eat more. You already ate 1300 calories... why would you eat 500 more? Excuses to eat more is how we all got ourselves into this place! I bet that if people didn't eat their exercise calories, they would lose weight a lot quicker! I am sorry to sound rude, but why cheat? You are only cheating yourself!


EDIT: Ok, people are taking it too personally. It was a simple question. Sorry I asked.

You obviously need to keep doing some more research/reading. Let me put it stupidly simple for you and everyone else so they stop asking this question. Let's say your daily goal is 1200 calories. Let's say you burn off 1200 calories a day from work and exercise. Now how on EARTH do you expect your body to function properly with no remaining calories?

lol that was kind of rude but it gets the point across.

amberlee2011

I am new at this but I'm planning on doing what my body tells me to until I stop losing. Then I will cut out using my exercise calories and see if that works. Right now if I'm hungry I will eat them back. If I'm not then I don't. I think this is a personal choice though as everyone's journey is different. I don't think there is any need to critsize anyone else for what they do.

TAWoody

[/quote]
lol that was kind of rude but it gets the point across.
[/quote]

Oh I know it was. But the thread she started was obviously uneducated and she was taking pot shots at people because she lacked the proper info to understand what she was talking about. I'm just getting tired of people thinking they know everything and won't take other views into consideration.

ilsie99

Ok, somedays I'll feel tired, burnt out etc, but who doesn't from time to time?!

Me. At my peak, I was losing 2 lbs a week, ate back my exercise calories because I can do math, didn't feel tired.

rainbowbuggy

Bump

taso42_DELETED

Bump

Really?

REALLY?

Schwiggity

Bump

WHY U DO THIS?!

Heather75

*sigh*

koosdel

For me.. it is so I can eat more. I enjoy eating.

wildon883r

I don't eat mine as i find it an excuse for people here who are by majority overweight to be able to eat more not because they need to but because a numbers game says you can. I don't view exercise as a motive for me to eat more if my energy levels are fine and i'm not hungry. I've never in my life ate more so i could exercise or exercised so i could eat more. I stay under my MFP calorie goals most every day whether i burn 1100 calories gardening for 3 hours or not. Listen to your body and not some iphone or website app.

myofibril

I really don't understand why. There really is no "science" behind it. The only true science in weight loss is calories in vs. calories out. I feel like eating your exercise calories is an excuse to eat more.

Eating your exercise calories really only makes sense if you view fat loss as being the goal as opposed to weight loss.

You are correct that in its simplest form weight loss is about calories in versus calories out. However you must ask yourself where this "weight" is coming from. Given that MFP calculates a deficit for you without factoring in exercise, if you don't eat back your exercise calories then your deficit will be greater than envisaged. This then causes your body to partition calories more towards loss of LBM as opposed to fat due to various physiological reasons.

If you don't want to eat back your exercise calories but still stay in the safe zone deficit wise just par down exercising. You will still lose fat just fine. However, if you want to work towards body recomp (changing the ratio of muscle to fat you have in your body thereby making yourself look better) then consider adding in resistance training as priority over cardio.

Good luck.

Jade_Butterfly

i ate them back for a bit , on others advice gain 4 pounds. stopped eating them lost 5.

That has been my experience as well. ..

Schwiggity

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Schwiggity