Exercise Credits...

Monika135

I'm wondering if I should always eat my "extra credit calories" earned from exercise. Will I still lose weight at the same rate as not eating them? If I choose not to eat them, it would often leave me at consuming less than 1200 calories a day, I'm not sure how healthy this is for me. AND....I really like the fact that I get to consume a little more food when I earn it :ohwell:

CW: 146 (?) weighed on July 11, 2011 at doctor.
GW: 135 or under!

PanteraGirl

BUMP

eates

short answer- especially with the relatively small amount you have to eat you should definitely be eating them. Long answer- do a search for exercise calories...the experts explain it better than I can!

Doomfrog

I usually aim to eat about half my exercise calories back. Back in my WW days I would hit huge plateaus and then would start to eat back my exercise "points" and that would get me going again. I'm heavy enough that I highly doubt my body is heading into "starvation" mode if I'm not, but it seems to work for me. And plus, exercise is good for me and I figure that even if the motivation is for me to get to eat a couple hundred more calories, at least I'm doing it!

abellante_0205

I dont eat back my exercise calories often because I found that if I eat all of my exercise calories I don't lose weight but everyone's different. I lost weight when I was under my calories -- and I gained when I was over my calories so I try to be under my calories no matter what.

springtrio

I'm the odd one out and don't. I've been to a bariatric surgeon (when I was considering a lapband before doing it the old fashioned way), sports nutrionist, and regular PCP they all say don't...however, if I run over 5 miles a day I do eat a small meal to make up for it because I normally do get hungry. I've never heard of this til MFP. I'll listen to the health professionals - my body hasn't gone into starvation mode.

TeaBea

The term "net calories" is the food you eat less exercise calories - MFP (and other sites) set it up this way because your body already requires 1200 calories for normal everyday function. When you exercise you tax your body further. Think of extra calories as fuel for workouts. You want to burn "fuel" during your workouts - not existing muscle mass.

The reason some people eat back only half of their calories is because the "exact" number of calories you burned during your workout is tough to calculate. Eat back all or some ..... and then see how you feel going forward.

Monika135

The term "net calories" is the food you eat less exercise calories - MFP (and other sites) set it up this way because your body already requires 1200 calories for normal everyday function. When you exercise you tax your body further. Think of extra calories as fuel for workouts. You want to burn "fuel" during your workouts - not existing muscle mass.

The reason some people eat back only half of their calories is because the "exact" number of calories you burned during your workout is tough to calculate. Eat back all or some ..... and then see how you feel going forward.

This makes perfect sense, now I will aim to eat only 1/2 my earned calories just to be safe, and see how I feel.
Thank you for the reply.

Monika135

I've never heard of this til MFP. I'll listen to the health professionals - my body hasn't gone into starvation mode.

I'm always concerned about "starvation mode" and storing fat....and I never heard of this until MFP either.