do you or don't you??

bcattoes

yesterday I drank them . . . :drinker:

Yep, that's me most days. I like to eat, drink and be merry. But I can't be merry when I'm fat. So, I exercise.

chattyKathi

I was wondering the same thing! I know it says we "earned " them but isn't the point of exercise to burn off calories that we take in? I don't know. usually I don't eat those calories but it depends on the time of the month. lol really.

You are already eating a deficit, so you will lose weight with out exercise.

yeah that's true I guess.

mariapuhl

On a regular day-to-day basis, no I don't.

If I am going out though, with my boyfriend or something (which is rare, since I am cheap and don't love to eat out), then I do eat them back.

Or on the days I burn double my normal amount, then I'll eat some back, or else I'd be sooo tired.

bookyeti

Yep. It's worked pretty well for me. Some days, like yesterday, I run out of hours in the day and don't eat them ALL back.

No appetite in this heat! :grumble:

Same here!

marshallexi

I just listen to my body, if I'm hungry I do and if I'm not I don't.

^^This.

ladybg81

Some days I do, some days I do not. I am in maintenance mode right now and have dropped another 2 pounds so it has become obvious to me that I have to eat them back. But I don't like to eat a lot right before bed so, some days I am just below.

Amo_Angelus

ummm...well, for me it's a bit of yes and a bit of no. I eat the same as I usually eat, but if I've got excercise calories there I'll be more inclined to eat pasta rather than low calorie foods as pasta is my favourite, or have that chocolate bar I want. I don't feel the need to eat them and I don't feel the need not to, I see them as there to use if I want to, but more weight los if I don't. So it all depends on the day, time, feelings, where I am, what I'm doing, etc etc

tracikearns

I typically do, I am at 1300 calories and feel like I need a few more to get my meals and snacks in...I also am afraid if I don't eat some of them my metabolism with slow down too much

FearAnLoathing

More often than not I do not eat them.Infact its been 8 months I feel great,I have more energy than ive had in years,and my weightloss has been going just fine

CharlieBarleyMom

If I'm not hungry I don't force myself to eat back exercise calories... but eating your exercise calories help you stay in line with your goals. MFP already has a deficit built into your calorie guide. You were the one who said "I want to lose x amount each week" and MFP then figures your calorie intake with a daily deficit to lead you to that goal. When you exercise you are kick starting your metabolism, you are building strength, you are getting oxygen moving around in your muscles and your muscles stop atrophying. Eating your exercise calories helps you stay on track with your pre-determined loss schedule. If you don't eat back your calories your body may start to save fat because you're eating less than you should for the amount of movement you have in your daily life.
There are some great posts relating to this... search exercise calories and read the "newbie" MUSTS. Information is there for you that will help you make the right decision for you.

liftingbro

I eat up to 50% of my exercise calories. The problem with eating exercise calories is that most of the estimations are not close and it may say you burned 500 calories when you actually are only burning 350. Over the long haul that can slow you down.

keegrsmom

I've done it both ways, and have gotten about the same results. I generally do not eat back exercise calories. If I end up eating more and using some of the extra cals then so be it, no damage done. I just try to consume around 1200 cals a day, even if my net isn't that high after exercise.

VeganGal84

I do.

jjgirl76

I do. I figure that this gives me an option when I hit a plateau. We are already eating at a deficit and the benefit of exercise is that boost in metabolism. It is not just the calories I burn on the treadmill, it is the increased calories I burn at rest as well.

Qarol

I do not. But I'm on a low carb diet. Even though I track calories, I have to pay close attention to carbs. I don't track my exercise on here because not only does it increase my calorie allowance for the day, it increase the carb count, too. But my calorie count is already high enough so I'm not in any danger of going below 1200 net.

Punkedpoetess

Yes, I do!

stephyy4632

I try to eat most to all of them.

there is a GREAT post on here that explains in depth why you should eat them back I`ll see if I can find and and link it to the thread it was a huge help and I`m going down in weight really well and eatting more its great.

eta--

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/62929-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

saltorian

I do. They are delicious! Without them, I'd have only 1200 calories a day... :-/ Not enough for me to be happy consistently. In fact, sometimes I exercise just so I can eat more. ;-) Hasn't bothered my weight loss a bit!

jessradtke

Some days yes, some days no. It depends on whether I'm hungry or not.

ayshamc

No, never! I don't actually think I would lose weight if I did....

hollagolla

I definately do!!!! I still lose weight as well :-)

nagaisgich

I don't! After all the debate on here, I talked with my nutritionist and my doctor and both said I do not need to eat back my exercise calories.

Are your nutritionist and your doctor familiar with how MFP calculates for caloric needs (minus the amount needed to lose weight of course). Do they calculate your caloric needs the same way?

It just makes sense to me to eat back calories, it seems logical. I have set MFP to low activity level. So it tells me the amount of calories i need per day to SAFELY lose weight. So if I suddenly decide to go to a spin class three times in one week without adjusting that level, I'm going to be exhausted and unhappy and not wanting to do spin class three days next week. And look at nature: my dog used to be crated all day, and barely touched his supper every night. Now he is in a walk / play program every day and eats very hungrily at night and is actually slimmer than before.

Tree72

I usually try to eat back about half of my exercise calories. I don't have a HRM so am working with estimates. If I knew more accurately what I was burning I would aim to eat most of them most of the time. I'm working on getting more fit and adding strength as I'm losing weight, so I don't want to short-change my body of the energy it needs.