Do you eat your workout calories? If you do are you still lo

SMcWain22

I am trying to decide if I am doing the right thing by not eating my workout calories. Right now I eat just under 1200 and have just started Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred which burns approximately 246 calories for my body....what are your thoughts?

Thanks!

kylexii

I always eat back my workout calories, or at least most of them. I've consistently lost weigh doing this so it works for me. Try it out and see what you think of it. Do whatever works best for you

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I eat back most of my exercise calories, but I also zigzag (eat less on some days, go over on others, even out the week). This is mostly because when I have a big workout day I'm not as hungry that day, but I'm usually starving the following day. You shouldn't habitually eat under 1200 calories anyway.

alyssamiller77

The big thing is everyone is different. Much of this is trial and error. I personally would suggest you eat them back as that is the way MFP's calculations are designed to work. I lost all 34 lbs that I've lost while eating back my exercise calories. My wife joined MFP and lost about 41 lbs but then hit a plateau. She wasn't eating her exercise calories. She seems to have now finally broken her plateau and she did it by starting to eat her exercise calories. So take it for what it's worth but that's our experience.

DixiedoesMFP

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. But I eat a lot more than 1200 calories a day, also. Listen to your body. It will need energy to do those workouts and it will let you know if it's not getting it.

skygoddess86

That's the only reason I work out. Just kidding, sorta.

Chairless

That's the only reason I work out. Just kidding, sorta.

This.

yes and yes.

jacksonpt

The big thing is everyone is different. Much of this is trial and error. I personally would suggest you eat them back as that is the way MFP's calculations are designed to work. I lost all 34 lbs that I've lost while eating back my exercise calories. My wife joined MFP and lost about 41 lbs but then hit a plateau. She wasn't eating her exercise calories. She seems to have now finally broken her plateau and she did it by starting to eat her exercise calories. So take it for what it's worth but that's our experience.

this ^^

MaximalLife

I am trying to decide if I am doing the right thing by not eating my workout calories. Right now I eat just under 1200 and have just started Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred which burns approximately 246 calories for my body....what are your thoughts?

Thanks!

Simply stated MFP has already figured out your total calories you need to eat per day to lose 1lb etc. a week. That's WITHOUT exercise. You'll notice that when you actually add exercise in, the calorie limit goes up. Why? Because it's telling you to eat your exercise calories. Large deficits aren't really good to do because while you will lose weight, what kind of weight will it be? In many cases you'll lose lean muscle tissue which LOWERS your metabolic rate even more. Then you have to eat even less to compensate for less of a calorie burn to continue to lose the same amount of weight each week.
Be efficient. Exercise hard and eat back the calories. The hard exercise will RAISE your metabolic rate and burn more fat at rest.

sullivann

shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

kirstyg1980

I was a member of MFP through my phone for a good 5-6 months before finding the online version just a few days ago

I used to log my calorie intake, just about every day but wouldn't eat back my exercise calories (didn't realise I could) - I stayed the same weight for the whole time

now I am trying hard to eat most of those calories, as I think I really haven't been eating any where near enough food

TammyBee

That's the only reason I work out. Just kidding, sorta.

Yes! lol

ShaSimone

Take the trial and error approach, nothing you do is wrong!! So don't eat them and see what you feel like over two weeks or so...tired, lethargic, no energy? Start eating the calories or make sure you get to 1200 at least.
That was how my body reacted to not eating enough...tired, lethargic, no energy.

Justjoshin

As many as I possibly can!

Train like a beast so you can eat like a beast!

SammyPacks

I don't normally eat back all my workout calories, but it really depends how hungry I am that day

SammyPacks

That's the only reason I work out. Just kidding, sorta.

Yes! lol

LOL! It is a motivation to kick your butt during your work out!

JudyL5305

I agree with everyone above. The key is to listen to your body. Some days I free I need a little more so I eat a little bit more Some days I don't feel like I need to. I eat about 1400 calories a day. But it also counts as to what those 1200 calories are made up of that count. Do a trial and error and see what works best for you.

carolann_22

I wasn't for two weeks and weight loss stalled. I have been for the past four days, even though it puts me close to 2000 calories - and the scale has finally been moving!

maieranne77

No I typically don't. Maybe I should be though......

engineman312

As many as I possibly can!

Train like a beast so you can eat like a beast!

this

Bronx_Montgomery

Damn...I was way off. I would get close to eating back my calories but wasn't aware it was a necessity

Ral263

I don't because
A) I stop losing weight when I do and
I'm never hungry enough to eat more

I know a ton of people disagree with this and that's okay, this is just what personally works for me. You guys can hate on me all you want, but I truly believe that (at least for me) "starvation mode" is something you reach when you are at your absolute thinnest-- it just doesn't make sense to me that if you have excess fat, that your body wouldn't burn it.

I know that I lost 50 lbs in the past by not eating my calories back, and gained a ton of muscle and held at about 17.5% BF. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

ichorica

I have been wondering this too. According to mfp i burned over 1000 calories doing my king fu class. That's a lot of eating! I was hungry after so I did eat but nowhere near that.

csmith4567

This answers here are consistently good answers. Eat them and lose. If I go more than 4-5 days without meeting my calorie goals, my weightloss tends to slow down. My doc said if I make it a point to go over every 4-5 days (including exercise calories), I will keep my body from adapting to the lower calories and keep the weightloss consistent. Seems to be working fine for me.

ShaSimone

I think about a super athlete like Michael Phelps. I am nowhere near his fitness or workout nearly as much as he does. But I heard a news story once about what all he eats and how many calories he consumes to keep his body fueled.

That's all you need to really think about is Food is Fuel.

MissFit0101

Eat your exercise calories. I did. I do. I lost 25lbs and now I'm maintaining.

stormieweather

I don't because
A) I stop losing weight when I do and
I'm never hungry enough to eat more

I know a ton of people disagree with this and that's okay, this is just what personally works for me. You guys can hate on me all you want, but I truly believe that (at least for me) "starvation mode" is something you reach when you are at your absolute thinnest-- it just doesn't make sense to me that if you have excess fat, that your body wouldn't burn it.

I know that I lost 50 lbs in the past by not eating my calories back, and gained a ton of muscle and held at about 17.5% BF. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Most likely, this works for you because a) you are underestimating food intake or b) overestimating exercise burn or c) have your activity level set too high. Or all three. Additionaly, it could be that your metabolism has already slowed down due to low calories so you are stuck at the lower intake. These were true for me for a very long time, as well. :flowerforyou:

monkeymouse74

Get a HRM, and calculate your calories from there. mfp often over exagerates calories burned through exercise. And when you know how much you're burning, eat those calories back. You'll have better long term results. All the best for your journey:flowerforyou:

TidoWyla

I rarely eat my exercise calories, but everyone's different....do what works for you

MariFitBody

I lost 25lbs. I am now working on building lean muscle and I never ever eat back my exercise calories. I wouldnt want to sit there after all that work eating to then go to sleep on a full stomach. After my workouts I always drink a protein shake for recovery and Im good. In my opinon I feel like it defeats the purpose of working out. But then again thats what works for me and itsmy opinion. To each their own. Do what works for u.

wellbert

I gain weight if I eat them. Figure this is due to either underestimating calories, or, more likely, the site's own calorie information was a little too optimistic. I've recreated the exercises I do for myself and lowered the calories significantly. It's leveled out now.