To eat your earned calories or to NOT eat your earned calori

sxynanaplay

I see that alot of people are striving to stay under their calories, i personally eat til i get as close as i can.... so with that said i DO eat my earned calories (calories i burn off after excercising) before i tried to stay way under and i was feeling hungrey, tired, etc, now that i eat close to it i feel like i have energy and i see that my body is responding well to weight lifting....

What are you guys thoughts out there????

Zichu

I used to eat about 200kcal below my goal even with a 250kcal deficit set. I actually didn't feel hungry to be honest and the results were pretty good. I think it depends on how many calories you are consuming anyway. My goal was 1620 I think, but was getting around 1400 a day. My maintenance goal was about 1870.

Even though I felt fine on 1400kcal, I knew I had to eat more so I tried harder each day and made it to my goal. I'm currently trying build muscle now though, so I've ditched the calorie deficit and stick to maintaining and maybe over eating a bit more on cardio and strength training days.


I don't suggest anyone go to low on calorie intake, you will most likely feel tired, won't see very good results and will most likely over eat on other days because you will be quite hungry.

monicaroozo

I usually eat back my workout calories ...unless I am not hungry for them. Sometimes I will save them up to use later in the week towards my weekly (instead of daily) goal.

TheDrBuchanan

I always eat my calories back. And if I'm not feeling particularly hungry, I'll just treat myself with some chocolate!

heybales

I see that alot of people are striving to stay under their calories, i personally eat til i get as close as i can.... so with that said i DO eat my earned calories (calories i burn off after excercising) before i tried to stay way under and i was feeling hungrey, tired, etc, now that i eat close to it i feel like i have energy and i see that my body is responding well to weight lifting....

What are you guys thoughts out there????

You are very wise listening to your body before it gave up and just slowed down.

MFP, if you selected a weekly weight loss goal, already has a deficit of 250, 500, 750, or 1000 in your daily goal.
If you exercise, to keep that same potentially safe goal, has you feed the workout.

Because deficit should come from daily non-exercise activity - the type that draws mainly from fat stores and doesn't need to be eaten back.
Exercise must be fed if you want the body to get stronger, which is usually the reason for exercise.
Exercise as a means of creating a deficit is not useful.

scottywor

I dont ever eat my calories back, and im constantly under my caloric goal, by 400 or so, I suppose I should eat more... but I have been getting constant results...

I do have a cheat meal every Friday of anything I want, and snacks that night. But clean all other days of the week. Gives me something to look forward too, and is a great reward!

sxynanaplay

I dont ever eat my calories back, and im constantly under my caloric goal, by 400 or so, I suppose I should eat more... but I have been getting constant results...

I do have a cheat meal every Friday of anything I want, and snacks that night. But clean all other days of the week. Gives me something to look forward too, and is a great reward!

That sounds more like your saving your calories for your weekly goal lol treating yourself on fridays so in essence you ARE eatting the total calories you need

slkehl

I listen to my body. If I'm famished and feeling weak, I'll eat them. If I'm doing okay, I don't.

watboy

I never eat my calories back. I'm usually stuffed after my usual daily intake. Think about it millions of people eat breakfast, lunch whenever , hit the gym after work then go home have dinner watch tv then go to bed. They are not sitting there on MFP freaking about "eating calories back" they don't even know what MFP is or what "eating calories back" mean.They live perfectly healthy lives. So I guess it depends on what your philosphy is. Some people on MFP seem to turn it into a religion and if they don't hit there last 200 calories or net a certain amount they might go to into diet purgatory or be carried away by a phoenix. So again depends on who you ask. If you can eat more feel fine and lose weight but most of all be healthy that's super but do what works for you.

nadiakim

I think its a good thing to eat back those calories. I just realized that I was eating way too little calories and not eating back my exercise calories and in essence plateaued myself for six weeks. Sucks to have that kind of set back. Now I have upped my calories and make sure to eat back my exercise ones. Crossing my fingers this helps me generate the loss I've been hoping for.

watboy

Good luck!

I think its a good thing to eat back those calories. I just realized that I was eating way too little calories and not eating back my exercise calories and in essence plateaued myself for six weeks. Sucks to have that kind of set back. Now I have upped my calories and make sure to eat back my exercise ones. Crossing my fingers this helps me generate the loss I've been hoping for.

kjbbdoll

I try to only eat back half of my exercise calories but if I am extremely hungry then I will eat them all back and not feel bad. Like others, sometimes I save them for the wknd when I know that I am going out to eat etc. I am almost always under my calories and am rarely hungry. If I am, then I eat. I just try to be careful as to what I am putting in my mouth. I have been 'dieting' for 3mos and have only had one week where I have not lost weight, so for me it works. Know your body and do what works best for you.

watboy

Yep

I try to only eat back half of my exercise calories but if I am extremely hungry then I will eat them all back and not feel bad. Like others, sometimes I save them for the wknd when I know that I am going out to eat etc. I am almost always under my calories and am rarely hungry. If I am, then I eat. I just try to be careful as to what I am putting in my mouth. I have been 'dieting' for 3mos and have only had one week where I have not lost weight, so for me it works. Know your body and do what works best for you.

Pebble321

Exercise must be fed if you want the body to get stronger, which is usually the reason for exercise.

This is a great quote and bears repeating... so I will!

LorinaLynn

It was my missing link.

The biggest difference over any other time I tried to lose weight is that I used to cut calories too much. I learned that I should eat at least 1800 calories to lose... which was around 1350-1500 plus exercise calories. If I ate any less and my body decided to stage an all-out mutiny.

I just had to increase my calories on maintenance because I'm still losing while eating 2000+ calories a day (1730 + exercise calories).

npeters519

The thing I love about MFP is that it is designed to be as simple as possible to lose. When you set up your account and told MFP how much you wanted to lose per week and how active you are on a daily basis the system calculated your calorie deficit for you.

When you log exercise you will see a little note pop up at the bottom of your Food Journal that says "You have earned 12 million (or whatever) calories from exercise today" It then ADDS these calories to your daily goal! So, yes, I believe you should eat back your exercise calories.

Keep it simple, don't over think it. Eat if you're hungry. Make good choices in food. Log everything and you should be good. With that said, everyone's body is different so if after a few weeks you aren't seeing the results you hoped for, change something. But only change 1 thing at a time so you can see what triggers a change for you.

MichelleRenee13

At the moment I am only doing a short body weight routine and am not adding an extra calories on. I don't think I am doing enough to need them. I am eating 1600 calories per day. When I really get in the swing of things with my weight training....I will add some amount of exercise calories back.

70davis

bump

emilystamp

I agree with those who said they will give their body what it needs. If I am hungry I will absolutely eat, especially after a workout. I typically do tap into those calories, but always have some left over. I personally don't allow myself to really overthink or obsess over every single calorie I am eating, I just try to make sure I am eating right to keep my body fueled and keep everything in reason. My main focus is to lose a few pounds, tone up, and maintain my weight consistently...and of course most of all to have energy and feel good.

Coco_Puff

I see that alot of people are striving to stay under their calories, i personally eat til i get as close as i can.... so with that said i DO eat my earned calories (calories i burn off after excercising) before i tried to stay way under and i was feeling hungrey, tired, etc, now that i eat close to it i feel like i have energy and i see that my body is responding well to weight lifting....

What are you guys thoughts out there????

You are one smart girl!!! Your body needs those burned calories for weight lifting!

Ghlt4

I usually ate half my calories back from exercise. I found if I didn't my weight loss either slowed down, or stopped. I have recently broken a plateau by eating them all back!

carlongo75

I do not count calories, I just follow one rule and is eat 5-6 times per day with intervals of 2 to 3 hours between meals and my post workout protein shake. I am in a low carbs diet so I do not eat bad carbs, sugars, or alcohol.

I train hard and I do cardio every day so my body needs fuel to function properly.

watboy

This topic will come up forever

mfoster1019

I dont ever eat my calories back, and im constantly under my caloric goal, by 400 or so, I suppose I should eat more... but I have been getting constant results...

^ same thing here. i never eat my exercise calories...well okay, i eat maybe 30 at the most. but typically i have 200-300 left from exercise. i've been at this for 8.5 weeks and have continued to see great results, so i will stick with not eating them until things start to change. do what works for you!

Kristen0526

I think it's a good thing to eat back your exercise calories, as long as you are filling yourself with the right kind of calories. If you go burn off 600 calories on the treadmill, then reward yourself by getting a chocolate milkshake, you are kind of defeating the purpose. But burn off those 600 calories, then eat some pasta or another form of complex carbs that will help you continue to burn the calories after your workout. Or have some veggies and light dip. It's all about choosing the right foods to help you reach your goal, not how many calories you can get in. I had a friend say "well, if I only have half of the Hershey bar, that's only half the calories, and better for me!" Yeah, it may be half the calories as having the whole candy bar, but it's still a candy bar. Not the best logic...

Karalopolous

I'm too hungry to not eat those calories!! I feel like I eat over my calories and then burn them off at the gym afterwards, is that ok?

Kristen0526

I'm too hungry to not eat those calories!! I feel like I eat over my calories and then burn them off at the gym afterwards, is that ok?

Yes, your body is letting you know that it isn't getting all the nutrients it needs to get through the day, so listen to it and give your body the fuel it needs to keep going. Like I said above, just eat the right things and I don't see any problem with eating over your goal then burning it off. I do it some days, too.

mcdonl

I can see marked results (negative) in my athletic output when I do not eat at least MOST of my calories back. Also, the whole concept of saving calories to snack on the weekends is not all that great.... The salt/sugar content of snacks have a longer impact then just the calories....

SassyCalyGirl

not a popular answer here-but I do NOT eat exercised calories back.

dlmadeja

I never eat my calories back unless I know I'm going to be in a situation where I will definitely be going over my calories. Normally I consider my exercise calories, bonus calories for my body and I'm never hungry at the end of the day so I never feel the need to eat them. I just make sure whatever I'm eating is low in calories so I can eat more of it and not tap into my "savings" of calories. So far I have had amazing results and I have lost over 70 lbs so I'm going to just keep doing what I'm doing

KANGOOJUMPS

I dont ever eat my calories back, and im constantly under my caloric goal, by 400 or so, I suppose I should eat more... but I have been getting constant results...

I do have a cheat meal every Friday of anything I want, and snacks that night. But clean all other days of the week. Gives me something to look forward too, and is a great reward!

this is EXACTLY what i do.