Newbie question

joeynigro1

MFP has a caloric deficit built in for weight loss, I get that. Working out burns up some of those calories and can widen the deficit to an unhealthy level. We then are supposed to eat back those calories. Why then should we do the exercise? (I know people are going to respond with "to be healthy" but I am speaking strictly in terms of weight loss.) Does exercise aid in weight loss even if you immediately eat those calories back? If so, how?

yarwell

You can find a clinical trial result where 12.5 % calorie reduction and 12.5% of exercise calories eventually got to the same place as a 25% calorie reduction. That would suggest exercise and eating less are equivalent, in which case eating your exercise calories would be regarded as pointless from the point of view of calorie deficit.

I haven't see a study that compares say 25% calorie reduction with 25% calorie reduction + 10% exercise + 10% eating back calories. That would be interesting.

Resistance training that builds muscle mass would give you a higher metabolic rate, perhaps ?

TeddyBear47

Exercise will help maintain or even possibly help gain more muscle which will burn more calories. The more muscle you have the more calories are burned throughout the day.

gaia3rd

Exercise can increase your body's metabolism, which means you will burn calories at a faster rate.

megsmom2

Exercise helps you burn calories better even when youre sitting still. Muscle burns calories more efficiently than fat. Besides that, a lean muscular body looks and feels good!