Help! Help me understand the calories and exercise thing!

missyjoy6988

Ok. I am allotted 1200 calories per day. If I exercise, I am then given "extra" calories that I can eat. Should I eat these? I thought that if I stuck with 1200 calories no matter how hard or often I exercised, it would just be a bonus and more weight lost. However, I am reading that some people say you have to eat the extra calories myfitnesspal gives you after you have exercised. Let's say for example, I have my 1200 calories, but then I have worked out and now I have 500 extra calories I can eat. If I eat the extra 500, so a total of 1700 calories, won't I be slowing down my weight loss? (You know, like me eating the extra calories will cancel out the exercise benefit.) Wouldn't I lose more quickly just keeping with the 1200 calories?
I am sorry if I am being confusing. Can anyone explain this concept to me?
Thanks!

Bub1971

What I do is if I need the extra calories I use them but I just stick with my normal allowance if I dont need them. I have had very active days which I needed the extra calories such as I went spearfishing one day and burned nearly 1800 calories and then later went to the gym i had to have an additional 500 calories just to get through the day. If you dont need them I dont use them because it just helps me with my calorie defiency for the week. Hope this helps.

missyjoy6988

Someone told me that if I don't eat the extra calories, my body will go into starvation mode and I won't lose weight like I should. Has this happened to you? Thanks for your answer.

Char_marcus

i usually eat about 80% of my exercise cals back as you are already at a calorie defecit before exeercise and you need to fuel basic functions of the body or your body will burn the muscle not the fat as it's quicker for fuel.

alot of people have opinions about this and you need to find what's best for you

Char_marcus

i usually eat about 80% of my exercise cals back as you are already at a calorie defecit before exercise and you need to fuel basic functions of the body or your body will burn the muscle not the fat as it's quicker for fuel.

alot of people have opinions about this and you need to find what's best for you

sissy0107

What you ate - What you lost exercisiong = Daily allowance.

Because your body needs calories to function and if you don't get enough of them, you might feel tired, or depressed or even get sick. So, I know there are two schools in MFP : people who eat back the exercise calories and people who don't. I made the first choice because I want to lose weight but i don't want to risk harming my body on the way.

But yeah as Char_Marcus said, you need to find what works the best for you.

sumeetn

your body will go instarvation mode if you eat too little I think about approx 700 calories a day,

roachhaley

Someone told me that if I don't eat the extra calories, my body will go into starvation mode and I won't lose weight like I should. Has this happened to you? Thanks for your answer.

Starvation mode defies laws of physics.

You will lose weight faster if you dont eat them back. However, if you are exercising, you will probably need the extra energy from the extra food you can eat. Listen to your body - if you FEEL like you need energy, eat more! If you dont, then dont. If you feel like being cautious then eat them back. However, you will not "stop losing weight". As you get thinner your metabolism slows down because .... duh, you're thinner! Your body doesn't need as much energy!

invisibubble

Personally I eat my alloted and half of my exercise calories. While I don't believe your body will go into starvation mode should you not eat any of them back, I don't believe it's good for you. Whether cutting, gaining or maintaining, your body needs fuel. The more output, the more you need to put in. Plus, if you don't eat properly, you'll lose muscle mass as well as fat, and that's not helpful.

tami101

Mfp is designed for you to eat your exercise calories back. If you don't, I personally don't believe you are going to go into 'starvation mode' but your metabolism is going to slow down and make your weight loss slow down. Plus your body needs more fuel when you exercise more. I try to eat at least half of them back. You will probably just have to try it both ways and see what works best for you. Good luck!

bathsheba_c

It basically depends on how active you are. If you are getting an additional 200-300 calories back per day, it's probably fine not to eat all of them. But if you are extremely active, it's probably better to eat back the calories since your body needs the extra nutrition to function and repair itself from the exercise. I think the website emphasizes the whole possibility of starvation mode in order not to enable unhealthy dieting behavior.

By the way, I have seen people go into starvation mode. However, they both suffered from eating disorders. If you are doing everything in moderation, you are not likely to go into starvation mode, which is why I think so many users of this site are incredulous that it exists.

sarahcuddle

Exercising has more effects than just the calories you burn. Even if you eat all of them back you will still see a benefit. Exercise INCREASES your metabolism so you will burn fat more efficiently and lose more weight. It also tones and helps you to either maintain muscle or build muscle depending on how much you do.

chuckyp

MFP already calculates and includes a daily Calorie deficit based on the weekly rate of weight loss you specified. If you exercise and don't eat those Calories back, you are going into a larger Calorie deficit than planned which may or may not be providing you with the intake you need.