Surely eating more calories for exercise doesn't work?

arch53

My question is this - surely eating the 'extra' calories needed for exercise before or after the exercise means that the exercise is a waste of time ?

tabi26

MFP has a deficit already "built into it" when you start. So you could still lose weight even if you did nothing but stay under your calorie goal. I eat my exercise calories and still lose weight.....in fact I exercise so I can eat more lol.

tabi26

Oh, and exercise is never a waste. It helps get/keep your body healthy.

Lukazetta

No sure what you're asking exactly.

But I would answer that a calorie is a calorie...you burn it now or you burn it during your exercise.

I'd say carbs have a huge impact on your exercise though and protein/fats with recovery. So the best carbs (slow digestive) before with some protein and proteins/fats for your meal after you exercise.

Good luck!

arch53

MFP has a deficit already "built into it" when you start. So you could still lose weight even if you did nothing but stay under your calorie goal. I eat my exercise calories and still lose weight.....in fact I exercise so I can eat more lol.

I see, so in theory i only need to do the exercise if i want to be able to eat more?

my current limit is 1200 and something, if i was to burn 250 a day and not eat an extra 250, would that be ok?

therealangd

MFP has a deficit already "built into it" when you start. So you could still lose weight even if you did nothing but stay under your calorie goal. I eat my exercise calories and still lose weight.....in fact I exercise so I can eat more lol.

Yep. This.

Why would an app be so popular and have so many people succeed, eating their exercise calories, if it didn't work?

ETA: And don't call me Shirley.

Toddrific

I'd guess that the exercise itself is beneficial.

arch53

MFP has a deficit already "built into it" when you start. So you could still lose weight even if you did nothing but stay under your calorie goal. I eat my exercise calories and still lose weight.....in fact I exercise so I can eat more lol.

Yep. This.

Why would an app be so popular and have so many people succeed, eating their exercise calories, if it didn't work?

i know it works, it has worked for me for the last 3 weeks, but now my ankle is better (tore a ligament), i can exercise, but do i need to 'eat back the calories' as many other posts and sources say that you should?

therealangd

MFP has a deficit already "built into it" when you start. So you could still lose weight even if you did nothing but stay under your calorie goal. I eat my exercise calories and still lose weight.....in fact I exercise so I can eat more lol.

Yep. This.

Why would an app be so popular and have so many people succeed, eating their exercise calories, if it didn't work?

i know it works, it has worked for me for the last 3 weeks, but now my ankle is better (tore a ligament), i can exercise, but do i need to 'eat back the calories' as many other posts and sources say that you should?

http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/

arch53

MFP has a deficit already "built into it" when you start. So you could still lose weight even if you did nothing but stay under your calorie goal. I eat my exercise calories and still lose weight.....in fact I exercise so I can eat more lol.

Yep. This.

Why would an app be so popular and have so many people succeed, eating their exercise calories, if it didn't work?

i know it works, it has worked for me for the last 3 weeks, but now my ankle is better (tore a ligament), i can exercise, but do i need to 'eat back the calories' as many other posts and sources say that you should?

http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/

so the answer is yes? Why bother doing the exercise then , if im just going to put the calories burnt, back into my system? (That is my point from the start!)

BerryH

so the answer is yes? Why bother doing the exercise then , if im just going to put the calories burnt, back into my system? (That is my point from the start!)

1. So you can eat more and lose weight without feeling hungry.
2. So you can fuel your workouts and exercise harder, faster and longer.
3. To feel awesome.
4. To build muscle so you don't get "skinny fat".
5. So you lose the weight steadily and sustainably and don't want to quit after a couple of weeks because its' hard and you feel hungry all the time.

And a million other answers! But "Because it's worked for so many of the MFP success stories with amazing physiques" is a great one. Go and check some out right now!

therealangd

Because exercise is good for you and your heart. Because exercise changes your body composition. Because exercise gives you more food to eat.

ETA: What Berry said.

arch53

so the answer is yes? Why bother doing the exercise then , if im just going to put the calories burnt, back into my system? (That is my point from the start!)

1. So you can eat more and lose weight without feeling hungry.
2. So you can fuel your workouts and exercise harder, faster and longer.
3. To feel awesome.
4. To build muscle so you don;t get "skinny fat".
5. So you lose the weight steadily and sustainably and don't want to quit after a couple of weeks because its' hard and you feel hungry all the time.

And a million other answers! But "Because it's worked for so many of the MFP success stories with amazing physiques" is a great one. Go and check some out right now!

thank you for clearing that up for me!

But please can you explain what 'Skinny fat' is?

LoreleiWalks

I see, so in theory i only need to do the exercise if i want to be able to eat more?

my current limit is 1200 and something, if i was to burn 250 a day and not eat an extra 250, would that be ok?

If your current limit is 1200 and you burn 250 without eating them, you are left with 950, which is far too low (unhealthy). 1200 calories (net) is the MINIMUM that most women should consume. Going lower than that, you are messing with danger.

And yes, in theory - being able to eat more is definitely one reason to exercise (it's one of my favorites!) But here are lots of other reasons, as another poster has mentioned.

-General cardiovascular health
-Building muscle
-Increasing endurance
-Improving mood
-Sleeping better

etc.

LorinaLynn

Eat less so you can wear smaller clothes.

Exercise (and eat the calories earned) so you can look great when you're not wearing any clothes.

Most calorie counting plans use the amount of exercise you SAY you're gong to do as part of your calculated calorie goal. MFP only uses those calories AFTER you log your exercise. See for yourself... change your goals to doing no exercise at all, then change it to say you'll be exercising for two hours a day, seven days a week. Your calorie goal will remain the same.

Edited to add: And as a 20 year old young man... you shouldn't have any less than 1500 calories. Men - you lucky *kitten* - need more calories than women, thanks you your testosterone and higher muscle mass.

Pebble321

MFP has a deficit already "built into it" when you start. So you could still lose weight even if you did nothing but stay under your calorie goal. I eat my exercise calories and still lose weight.....in fact I exercise so I can eat more lol.

I see, so in theory i only need to do the exercise if i want to be able to eat more?

my current limit is 1200 and something, if i was to burn 250 a day and not eat an extra 250, would that be ok?

If you don't want to eat the extra 250, no one is going to make you... but if you read all the good reasons why you can and should.... why wouldn't you?
The risk of not eating them is that you aren't getting enough energy and nutrition into your body to stay healthy and full of energy.

And... what Berry said!

arch53

so if i consumed/ate 3500 calories in one day, but burnt 1500, should i then eat back that 1500? because that to me just makes the exercise seem pointless, as im still going the be over the daily calorie limit

Coco_Puff

so the answer is yes? Why bother doing the exercise then , if im just going to put the calories burnt, back into my system? (That is my point from the start!)

1. So you can eat more and lose weight without feeling hungry.
2. So you can fuel your workouts and exercise harder, faster and longer.
3. To feel awesome.
4. To build muscle so you don't get "skinny fat".
5. So you lose the weight steadily and sustainably and don't want to quit after a couple of weeks because its' hard and you feel hungry all the time.

And a million other answers! But "Because it's worked for so many of the MFP success stories with amazing physiques" is a great one. Go and check some out right now!

This is right on the money!!!! Your body needs fuel to burn fat!

hbarney

MFP has a deficit already "built into it" when you start. So you could still lose weight even if you did nothing but stay under your calorie goal. I eat my exercise calories and still lose weight.....in fact I exercise so I can eat more lol.

I do too! I tell people that I exercise because I like to eat not because I like to exercise!!!

BeautyFromPain

so the answer is yes? Why bother doing the exercise then , if im just going to put the calories burnt, back into my system? (That is my point from the start!)

1. So you can eat more and lose weight without feeling hungry.
2. So you can fuel your workouts and exercise harder, faster and longer.
3. To feel awesome.
4. To build muscle so you don't get "skinny fat".
5. So you lose the weight steadily and sustainably and don't want to quit after a couple of weeks because its' hard and you feel hungry all the time.

And a million other answers! But "Because it's worked for so many of the MFP success stories with amazing physiques" is a great one. Go and check some out right now!
[/quote

"you lose pounds in the kitchen, you lose inches in the gym."

joankpoirier

not necessarily. your body needs fuel to burn fat. and to PUSH thru the workouts.
I was amazed at the amount of food required when I started P90X.