Calorie question

LauraK216

I'm on a 1200 calorie/day plan, and that works perfect for me. My question is, when my calories are set at 1200, but then I burn say 200 a day, that takes my allotted calories upto 1400/day. Do I have to eat all of these calories? Or should I just always aim for my 1200? I'm perfectly content on the 1200 a day, but I just want to make sure I'm eating enough as well. My calories burned varies from day-to-day.

LauraK216

I'm on a 1200 calorie/day plan, and that works perfect for me. My question is, when my calories are set at 1200, but then I burn say 200 a day, that takes my allotted calories upto 1400/day. Do I have to eat all of these calories? Or should I just always aim for my 1200? I'm perfectly content on the 1200 a day, but I just want to make sure I'm eating enough as well. My calories burned varies from day-to-day.

CarolynD1986

Well to lose weight you need to eat less calories than you burn so it depends on whether or not you are looking to lose weight. Stay at 1200 a day if you want to lose weight but if you do not, try and eat those extra 200cals.

LauraK216

I definitely want to lose weight! I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't doing more harm than good by not consuming all of the ones I "earn" from burning! Thanks a lot!

awestfall

My doctor laughed when I asked him if I should eat them back.Hesaid why would you eat back what your burnt off.you are trying to lose weight .Hope this helps consult with your doc.

keiko

MFP builds in an automatic 500 cal deficiet that's why they say to eat back the exercise calories.
There are some good posts about it at the top of the General Diet & Weightloss.

Not everyone eats their exercise calories, some eat part. If after a few weeks you aren't losing you might try to eat them. Sometimes eating to little is just as bad as eating to many.

LauraK216

Thanks for the info! I aim to eat the 1200 a day, and I do. I usually eat back some of the ones I "earn" as well, just not all of them.

omid990

this is something that is debated constantly on this site. it pretty much boils down to three ideas
1) yes, you should them
2) eat them if you can, not a big deal if you don't
3) don't touch them

the way the site is set up, your supposed to eat them. your daily calorie allowance is set up already with a 500 calorie deficit per day allowing you to lose 1 pound per week. if you don't eat what you burn back, then you are increasing your deficit. be careful if you net falls below 1200 because that is hovering the starvation danger zone.

people on this site have found success eating and not eating the exercise calories. maybe try one and see how it works?
aisha

kerrilucko

The reason you are supposed to eat them is as follows:

MFP ALREADY has you at a deficit, even befor eyou exercise. I weigh 146lbs. If I want to maintain this weight I need to eat 1800 calories a day. I I exercise, and burn 200 cals, I then also need to ead those calories, so that I won't lose weight. Since I am TRYING to lose weight, MFP place me at 1400, I have a deficit of 400 calories. If I exercise and burn 200 calories, I am making my deficit larger, which can be dangerous, depending on just how large it becomes. Therefore, I will eat those 200 calories back, keeping my deficit as set by MFP.

1200 net calories is the absolute lowest amount a woman can consistently eat in a day WITHOUT STARVING TO DEATH. That means if you eat 1200 calories a day and then burn an extra 200 with exercise you are actually at 1000net calories, which is unarguably starvation level- which will slow your metabolism making weight loss very difficult. Not to mention over long periods of time you can LITERALLY STARVE TO DEATH.

I don't really get the big debate and I'm not sure what some above answers are getting at but trust me, if you want to lose weight, be healthy, and have the best possible chance of keeping the weight off - eat back your exercise calories.

SHBoss1673

My doctor laughed when I asked him if I should eat them back.Hesaid why would you eat back what your burnt off.you are trying to lose weight .Hope this helps consult with your doc.

did you tell him you were already at a deficit before you worked out?

MyaPapaya75

I'm on a 1200 calorie/day plan, and that works perfect for me. My question is, when my calories are set at 1200, but then I burn say 200 a day, that takes my allotted calories upto 1400/day. Do I have to eat all of these calories? Or should I just always aim for my 1200? I'm perfectly content on the 1200 a day, but I just want to make sure I'm eating enough as well. My calories burned varies from day-to-day.

If your content with 1200 eat those and if your hungry dip into the others. Basically everyone has a range lets say for example yours could be 1200-1400 a day regardless of excercise...so your fine ..in my opinion

awestfall

My doctor laughed when I asked him if I should eat them back.Hesaid why would you eat back what your burnt off.you are trying to lose weight .Hope this helps consult with your doc.

did you tell him you were already at a deficit before you worked out?

My doctor told me to eat 1200-1400 calories a day nothing more nothing less and to burn more than I am eating.

criztawl

If you don't eat your exercise calories then you are going to mess with your metabolism and your body will go into stravation mode and you won't lose as quickly as you want, or at all.

awestfall

Your weight is a balancing act, but the equation is simple: If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. Gaining and losing weight (W) comes down to the simple calculation of calories consumed (CC), or in other words, what you eat, minus calories burned (CB) through metabolism and physical activity.

W = CC – CB

If you eat more calories than you burn then you gain weight or if you eat fewer calories than you burn then you lose weight. In order to lose one pound of fat per week, you need to eat about 500 calories less than your typical diet. Since 3,500 calories equals about 1 pound of fat, if you cut 500 calories from your typical diet each day, you'd lose approximately 1 pound a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories). Remember, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you take in to lose 1 pound.

This does not mean that you need to eat less food. Instead, you need to consume fewer calories. With smart choices this is very doable. The key is to choose “low density” foods, which means foods that allow you to eat a larger portion sizes but that is lower in calories. These foods, including many fruits and vegetables, tend to contain more water and fiber. Try starting your meal with a low-density salad or soup (just watch the dressings and sodium) to help fill you up, so you eat less of your entrée.

kerrilucko

Your weight is a balancing act, but the equation is simple: If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. Gaining and losing weight (W) comes down to the simple calculation of calories consumed (CC), or in other words, what you eat, minus calories burned (CB) through metabolism and physical activity.

W = CC – CB

If you eat more calories than you burn then you gain weight or if you eat fewer calories than you burn then you lose weight. In order to lose one pound of fat per week, you need to eat about 500 calories less than your typical diet. Since 3,500 calories equals about 1 pound of fat, if you cut 500 calories from your typical diet each day, you'd lose approximately 1 pound a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories). Remember, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you take in to lose 1 pound.

This does not mean that you need to eat less food. Instead, you need to consume fewer calories. With smart choices this is very doable. The key is to choose “low density” foods, which means foods that allow you to eat a larger portion sizes but that is lower in calories. These foods, including many fruits and vegetables, tend to contain more water and fiber. Try starting your meal with a low-density salad or soup (just watch the dressings and sodium) to help fill you up, so you eat less of your entrée.

With all do respect hun, your doctor told you things that are intended for you ONLY. With the amount of weight you need to lose and the fact that you are under a doctor's care, I'm not going to argue with his decisions. But in general everyone else should be eating their extra calories. Don't forget, it's not just, or even mostly about what you burn in the gym, it's also about what your body does on it's own on a daily basis. Your body is constantly burning calories by digesting, breathing, thinking, blinking, standing, coughing, doing dishes, washing your hands and so on and so on. You need to make sure you're giving your body enough calories to live on. If you eat just 1200 calories a day and do not have the large fat reserves of an obese individual to draw from, you are, very simply put, starving your body.

Kasey42588

The way I see it, if you're content eating your 1200 calories a day, then do that. When I did Weight Watchers (it worked, but I got sick of counting points and paying the $), they said I HAD to eat ALL my points every single day or I wouldn't lose weight. There would be lots of time I wouldn't consume all my points, and I still lost weight for the week. As long as you're making healthy food choices and sticking to a workout regimen, you should be fine.

hmo4

I increased my cals to 1500, eat most of my exercise cals and am finally starting to lose again. If you are a more active person, eat more! It's a hard concept to get, but your body needs fuel. You don't want it taking it from your muscles! The more muscles you make, the more they burn. Simple concept. 1200 to me is too low. The body will steal from the muscles to give you energy, therefore less muscles-poorer calorie burning.Kapeesh?:flowerforyou:

SHBoss1673

My doctor laughed when I asked him if I should eat them back.Hesaid why would you eat back what your burnt off.you are trying to lose weight .Hope this helps consult with your doc.

did you tell him you were already at a deficit before you worked out?

My doctor told me to eat 1200-1400 calories a day nothing more nothing less and to burn more than I am eating.

then I question your doctors expertise on the subject. If I were you, and my doctor gave me that kind of set in stone advice, I would go see a registered dietitian to have a second opinion. Remember, GP doctors are generalists. Very few of them get any nutritional training (it's not in most med school curriculum's and most doctors don't go and get training after). There are a plethora of studies out there that poll doctors on their nutritional knowledge. You'd be shocked at how poorly doctors fair.
Not saying your doctor doesn't have the training or that he's wrong, but I would at least ask him what his nutritional training is.

MyaPapaya75

My doctor laughed when I asked him if I should eat them back.Hesaid why would you eat back what your burnt off.you are trying to lose weight .Hope this helps consult with your doc.

did you tell him you were already at a deficit before you worked out?

My doctor told me to eat 1200-1400 calories a day nothing more nothing less and to burn more than I am eating.

then I question your doctors expertise on the subject. If I were you, and my doctor gave me that kind of set in stone advice, I would go see a registered dietitian to have a second opinion. Remember, GP doctors are generalists. Very few of them get any nutritional training (it's not in most med school curriculum's and most doctors don't go and get training after). There are a plethora of studies out there that poll doctors on their nutritional knowledge. You'd be shocked at how poorly doctors fair.
Not saying your doctor doesn't have the training or that he's wrong, but I would at least ask him what his nutritional training is.

I wasnt going to chime in here but I feel the need because my Physician also stated the exact same as Awestfall....I know this may not be the case but if her Doctor has instructed her to do something and its working ...why would anyone question his medical advice or belittle her weight loss success? Again Im not saying that this was your attempt and I know your just offering from your experience.. and I am sure its much appreciated I just get the feeling that if her diet isnt according to your specifications that there will always be a slight debate when she posts something...this has also happened to me that is why I felt the need to comment...I think for the most part people like myself and Awestfall have the "knowledge" that is spoken of in many of your posts and we definately appreciate your insight and research ..but its safe to assume she is doing what works best for her and under a doctors guidance...afterall isnt that what the disclaimer at the bottom of this site suggests we do?....I in no way wish to offend anyone but again my doctor has informed me that I should eat 1200-1400 calories as well and continue with my workout routine..he does have experience working with obese individuals and nutrition that is exactly why I chose him....WTG Awestfall :drinker:

SHBoss1673

My doctor laughed when I asked him if I should eat them back.Hesaid why would you eat back what your burnt off.you are trying to lose weight .Hope this helps consult with your doc.

did you tell him you were already at a deficit before you worked out?

My doctor told me to eat 1200-1400 calories a day nothing more nothing less and to burn more than I am eating.

then I question your doctors expertise on the subject. If I were you, and my doctor gave me that kind of set in stone advice, I would go see a registered dietitian to have a second opinion. Remember, GP doctors are generalists. Very few of them get any nutritional training (it's not in most med school curriculum's and most doctors don't go and get training after). There are a plethora of studies out there that poll doctors on their nutritional knowledge. You'd be shocked at how poorly doctors fair.
Not saying your doctor doesn't have the training or that he's wrong, but I would at least ask him what his nutritional training is.

I wasnt going to chime in here but I feel the need because my Physician also stated the exact same as Awestfall....I know this may not be the case but if her Doctor has instructed her to do something and its working ...why would anyone question his medical advice or belittle her weight loss success? Again Im not saying that this was your attempt and I know your just offering from your experience.. and I am sure its much appreciated I just get the feeling that if her diet isnt according to your specifications that there will always be a slight debate when she posts something...this has also happened to me that is why I felt the need to comment...I think for the most part people like myself and Awestfall have the "knowledge" that is spoken of in many of your posts and we definately appreciate your insight and research ..but its safe to assume she is doing what works best for her and under a doctors guidance...afterall isnt that what the disclaimer at the bottom of this site suggests we do?....I in no way wish to offend anyone but again my doctor has informed me that I should eat 1200-1400 calories as well and continue with my workout routine..he does have experience working with obese individuals and nutrition that is exactly why I chose him....WTG Awestfall :drinker:

myastme,

I don't claim to be a registered dietician, nor a doctor. But I questioned my own doctor (I was about to put his name up, and his practice, but then I realized that, that might be unethical of me.) when he tried to talk to me and gave me bad nutritional advice. That's what prompted me to look up the statistics on doctors and nutrition.
That being said, I didn't put anyone down, I didn't even say the plan was wrong, all I said was it sounded a little set in stone to me, and that it might be a good idea to confirm that her doctor had the knowledge about the topic. What is the bad side of that? What works for you works for you, that's fine, I don't begrudge you that, but if someone posts in a public forum, I don't think it's wrong of me to post back in a polite, and respectful manner. Do you? Explain to me what I said that was wrong. And yes, I always question medical advice from my GP. As everyone should. Doctors these days are extremely busy and make mistakes all the time. My wife had to see 3 doctors and have 2 wrong opinions before she went to a specialist that diagnosed her with arthritis in her back. Our GP said it was a strain, refused to get an MRI for her (even though she requested it), and wanted to give her a cortisone shot.

SHBoss1673

fyi, the introduction to this study tells a story all by it self.

less than 50% of family practice doctors receive any nutrition curriculum.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/58/3/319