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Eating back all the calories you burn for a day...

DarkOctoberNight
DarkOctoberNight Posts: 111 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
A few people told me that you are supposed to eat all the calories you burn for the day because burning w. out eating them causes your metabolism to slow down and you gain weight and wont build muscle. Is this true? It seems counter intuitive. I eat 1100 calories a day and I burned over 1200 today with a 3 hr hike. I was able to eat all, but 200 by filling up on drinks, but this just doesn't seem right to me.

Replies

  • Mommyof3loves
    Mommyof3loves Posts: 276
    From what I have read on prior posts you need to at least eat the net calories which is 1200. If you burn that many calories I would try to eat some of them back if you can, if you aren't hungry don't force it though.
  • FabiolaEnvy♥
    FabiolaEnvy♥ Posts: 730
    i would just up your calories intakes to 1500 and dont go over that.

    from the look of it you burn a lot of calories from your hike. and eating 1100 calories is to little.

    even if the exercise adds up. just stick with it. before you know it you will be losing the weight.

    but, you dont have to eat back your calories. especially if it just a little burn, but if it is real big. i would just eat a little more. cause your body uses those food to regenerate your body from your workout. ♥
  • juliapurpletoes
    juliapurpletoes Posts: 951 Member
    http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/

    Research and read! You will be amazed at all the information already written about this.

    This link is to MFP posts on this very subject.
  • DarkOctoberNight
    DarkOctoberNight Posts: 111 Member
    Wow is all I have to say lol
  • BabyDuchess
    BabyDuchess Posts: 353 Member
    I've been eating back 1/2 - 3/4 of mine back since I started and I'm consistently losing weight. Your body needs the fuel. :flowerforyou:
  • DarkOctoberNight
    DarkOctoberNight Posts: 111 Member
    haha i love your bunny thingy! lol btw...is that you in your profile picture? I'd love to look like that.
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    Yes, you should at least net 1200. If you're eating 1100 and burning 1200, your net is -100. Plus, exercise out of the picture, you should be eating AT LEAST 1200 calories. This is the minimum for any woman.


    And yes you can eat too little. I was stuck in starvation mode for a good month last year because I wasn't eating my exercise calories and was overestimating my exercise calories and underestimating my food calories.

    Please, please research. You may feel fine now but if you keep it up, your energy and health will suffer.
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