Eating your exercise calories

Kupe

I need an answer for this dilemma. Eating the calories generated by exercise; should you add them onto your daily calorie amount and eat them, or rather add them after the day is done to be counted as saved calories? Any and all answer are welcome.

StarryEyed500

Since MFP calculates a deficit before factoring in exercise, you should eat any additional calories. You will still be in deficit, if you don't go over your goal, and it will help stop your body slowing down your metabolism.

Example - You have a daily burn rate (TDEE) of 1700. MFP gives you net calories of 1200 to create a 500 deficit (which over a week shoujld add up to a pound). If you exercise and burn 500, and don't eat the calories, you have a deficit of 1000, and leave your body with only 700 calories to function.

susannamarie

If you are using MFP as designed (letting it generate your calorie count), and you are tracking food accurately, then yes. Eating the exercise calories will maintain the same deficit that mfp set for you. Not eating them could cause too large of a deficit, resulting in metabolic slowdown/ill health.

If you have included your exercise in your lifestyle, so that it has already been counted towards your calorie goal, then no.