Am I supposed to eat my exercise calories?

mamasita38

I went on a 40 minute hike carrying my baby in a hiking pack. It says I burned 300 calories. Am I supposed to eat those extra calories?

bhelmreich

I tend to eat half or more of my exercise calories. I lost weight not eating them but hit a plateau so I started eating the calories back and dropped more weight. This was from my last weight loss experience. I fell off the wagon recently.

registers

I went on a 40 minute hike carrying my baby in a hiking pack. It says I burned 300 calories. Am I supposed to eat those extra calories?

This depends, if you're hungry eat them. If you're not, then don't eat them.

megsta21

I always recommend eating 50-70% of them, as MFP tends to over estimate slightly..... :smooched:

For more info read this:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

olsontp

It really depends on your goal, but in most instances you do not need to eat those calories. If that deficit that you create by exercise adds up to 3500 calories then you should lose one pound. If you are meeting your calorie goal before exercise, then that weight loss will come almost entirely from excess body fat.

-Tom

mamasita38

I've been trying to lose the last 10 lbs. after my baby was born. He'll be a year on the 24th.
I've been trying to lose it for 7 months on Weight watchers. It's not working for me!!!!
So, signed up for MFP....hope this helps me get past my plateau and lost the last 10!

carmenstop1

Read a few of these and follow these peoples advice, I wasnt eating my exercise caloies back and actually ended up gaining weight. I changed my goal per week and started eating exercise calories and I am losing again.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/196502-for-the-people-who-work-out-like-crazy-and-are-not-losing

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/225156-so-you-want-to-be-successful

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/117726-eating-exercise-cals-slowing-your-weight-loss-read-this

ladyhawk00

MFP is designed for you to eat them.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics