Debate - To eat back Exercise cals or not??

MinkyMoo13

I'm on a 1200 day plan at the mo i exercise back between 300 and 500 calories a day 4-5 times a week. I used to under eat so eating 1200 a day for me is really good. There are days (mainly Fridays) where i have a bit of a blow out and tend to go over my cal limit even with exercise.

Some people tell me i should eat back my cals from exercise others say i shouldn't. My probelm is if i keep feeding and feeding i am just going to put on more weight. Usually in the weeks the only time i hit my calorie limit or go over is if i have something naughty like a cake (if it's someone's birthday in the office) or a glass of wine.

I have only lost 2lbs since starting this Exercise plan in January. Some other people tell me my metabolism is shot and that it will take a while for it to get back to normal and burn energy correctly before i start to lose.

yarwell

The 1200 assumes a weight loss rate that you input and no specific exercise.

If you enter exercise in your diary it increases your food budget accordingly, ie the site assumes you're going to "eat back" the calories you exercise.

If you don't then you'll be trying to get a higher weight loss rate than originally specified.

sometimes_blondie

I wasn't eating back my exercise calories and I stalled very quickly. I started adding in higher calorie foods in like almond butter to my protein smoothie, so I didn't feel overstuffed but made up those calories. The point of the exercise is to build some muscle to burn the fat and keep your metabolism high. (and make you look great!) You would be able to maintain lean muscle if you don't eat enough. Just make sure you pick healthy high calories (almomd butter, nuts, avocado...) instead of processed junk. Once I stared to eat the calories my body desperatetly needed, it started to let go of the weight.

oldmanstauf

I think it varies from person to person. I virtually never eat any back on exercise days and I've had no issues.