Exercising to Lose More Weight?

LittleFootHafner

According my height, weight & desk job, MyFitnessPal has calculated that I need to eat 1,770 calories per day to maintain my current weight. Therefore, to lose 1 pound per week, I am allowed 1,270 calories per day. I would like to increase my weight loss to 2 pounds per week. However, that would only allow me to eat 770 calories per day, which would not be healthy. Therefore, I am trying to eat my 1,220 calories each day, and then exercise for the other pound a week! However, a few people have been advising me lately that I am eating too little, and that I should be eating my exercise calories. What are your thoughts? Am I doing anything wrong if I only eat my 1,270 per day, and save all exercise calories earned?

Fochizzy

I eat mine back and I am losing weight. I also am only set on 1lb a week, and eat all the calories back. It is the only way I find it liveable. Now if you have accurate calorie counts, you will lose weight eating them back. If you do not your body *might* go into starvation mode, making you retain your weight. I always try to net 1200. I know plenty of people do not eat them back. I would say do it. But if you don't want to I would recommend eating at least some of them back.

KnottyJen

I've asked my dietician about eating back exercise calories. She basically said if you're hungry, eat them. If you're not, don't.

Bumblebee26

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Tarin626

1200 cals is the bare minimum that a healthy woman should eat in a day but all the numbers on here are based on an AVERAGE metabolic rate. According to this website I only burn 2140 cals sitting at my desk all day - which I know is too low - I burn over 2400 cals if I just layed down in bed all day according to a metabolism test I took a couple of years ago and I am the same weight now as I was then.

Don't worry about what others say - talk to your Dr if you are concerned but eat more if you are truely hungry (not eating because of emotional reasons/stress) - just try to make those extra cals healthy ones like fruit or veggies!

I find I am always hungry after working out - so I drink 500mLs of water and wait 20 mins to see if I am really hungry or just dehydrated.

Good Luck!

melaniecheeks

Kinda depends on where you are on your journey - if you have lots to lose, then not eating your exercise cals back is less of an issue. Imake sure I take in at least 1200 cals a day, and I sometimes eat a bit more if I exercise.


To be honest, 2lbs a week is a tough target!

mrowrmeowmrowr

I would absolutely not go lower than 1200 net calories. Weight loss is perceived generally as calories in-vs calories out...but in combination with other factors it sometimes just doesn't work that way. I suggest you stick to a little above 1200 calories and make your diet as perfect as possible.

schnarfo

this is the age old argument on mfp but what you have to think about is that mfp gives you a deficit already allowing you to eat your exercise calories.
Some people will tell you not to and others will say you must.

if you ea 1200 calories a day and exercise 300 and dont eat them back then you will only have net 900 calories which isnt great to be honest. Your likely to go into starvation mode in the long term and in the short term you cant be eating enough to give your muscles what they need from your work outs. You might not have the energy to continue your work outs in the long term...

In the short term you could get away with it but i think slow and steady wins the race... up the exercise anyway to give you more inch loss and stick to minimum 1200 calories net it works!

Painten

You shouldn't be trying to lose 2lbs a week at your weight. You need to be eating at least 1200 cals a day.

LittleFootHafner

Thanks to everyone for the great responses - gives me more food for though! haha
BTW - I have lost 50 pounds in the past, and still have about 50 to go...

weeziews

According my height, weight & desk job, MyFitnessPal has calculated that I need to eat 1,770 calories per day to maintain my current weight. Therefore, to lose 1 pound per week, I am allowed 1,270 calories per day. ?

1270 is net, so eat at the minimum those 1270. If I am working out a lot and burn a lot of calories and I find myself hungry then I eat more than my net. I just make sure it it healthy. I also try to drink a lot of water too! Everything I read said, calculate your calories and then eat 200 less and burn at least 300 in excercise. That is where your net calories come into play.

Everyone is different so you really have tweak it and find out what works for you. Good luck.

27strange

Different strokes for different folks. Some people lose with eating their exercise calories back, others don't. I have had success losing without eating calories back. Best rule of thumb I can come up with is eat them back if you feel hungry, if not then don't eat them. Try one way for 3 weeks and if you don't get results try the other way. Figure out what works for your body and do it.

jeannesfittypal

I like your goals! I haven't set a mileage goal, just working up to a century in October. Now I think I will, thanks!!

jeannesfittypal

The best way to lose the weight and keep it off is with exercise in tandem with proper eating habits. I would recommend at least 30 minutes of something everyday. Try walking if you are new to exercise, gently ramping up the miles/time each week as you feel stronger.