What's the point?

cheshirechic

This basically explains what I tried to say:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

ladyhawk00

I also work a wacky schedule 5pm - 3am. I work out at 3-330am when I get out of work for about an hour (typically burn 400-700 cals) I go home, have my protein shake. Relax and I'm in bed by 5-6am. So there isn't anywhere for me to add those calories in.

Just have to change your food choices a little bit. Increasing cals doesn't mean increasing volume a lot. A lot of people who have trouble meeting cal goals tend to fall short on healthy fats. Good fats are necessary! Add in natural oils (olive/canola), nuts and nut butters (almond, pistachios, walnuts), and avocados. And just increasing cals by 50-100 for each meal/snack adds up. Just takes some practice. It's a learning process.

chrisdavey

LOL Needed to quote this.

Totally depends on what sort of exercise and intensity also IMO.

If you are doing LISS cardio for hours then you are going to burn a lot of calories and hence make it pretty hard to eat them all back.

Alternatively, you could do some HIIT/resistance training for a much shorter time, (burn less cals initially but get the afterburn effect) stimulate some muscle growth, eat back your exercise calories much more easily and if you then get to net of zero remaining and you have your weight loss goal at 1 or 2lbs then you are achieving your deficit while still stimulating muscle growth to preserve lean body mass. This coupled with a decent protein intake should ensure that maximum weight lost is from fat and not muscle. (keeping your BMR higher and helps with maintaining weight when you reach goal weight)

minnie86

Sometime I eat back my calories and other times I don't. The thing is that MFP already calculates a deficit so I feel I would still lose weight if i eat some.
For example, let's say my BMR is 1600 cals. MFP tells me to eat 1200. That's a deficit of 400 cals
If I don't excercise:
Net Calories=1200 consumed-0 burned=1200 at a deficit
Let's say I excercise and burn 500 cals:
Net calories=1200 consumed - 500 burned=700. at a deficit
Say you eat back your calories
Net calories=1200 consumed +500 excercise calories consumed -500 burned= 1200 still at a deficit.
I would say that if you are not at a calorie deficit regimen and are trying to lose weight, then don't eat your excercise calories.
However, If you are already on a calorie deficit, such as MFP, then I feel it's up to you to eat them back. I do it based on how i feel.

runlorirun

I don't always eat back my exercise calories. I do make sure I get in the 1200 that I am suppose to, other than that the exercise calories are there if I need it and I will use it if I need it but if I don't or I am full I don't eat it back.

matina29

I don't eat my exercise calories. I have lost 50 pounds using this wonderful site to journal calories and have support. I am not saying that MFP is wrong. It just never worked for me...Individual metabolism and bodies are different.