eating exercise calories...

camelgirlmn

should i b eatin my exercise calories back? still a bit confused about all these calorie things

camelgirlmn

Anybody???

blazeybug87

Hi,

Yes you should

EDIT: I am always a little cautious though as sometimes I feel like MPF can overestimate how many calories I have burned so I just try to make sure that my 'Net' is over 1200.

Hope this helps x

minkakross

it really is a personal choice, I don't, in fact many here don't, but there is probably an equal number of MFP members who do. Each side has those who feel their way is the only way and then some who will say find out what works for you and do it. If there was a general rule I have for myself it is: Don't eat them back until I've reached near or actual goal weight and am trying to find my caloric balance to maintain.

MtnKat

Depends on how you set your goals.

If you set your goals to "sedentary" then yes, eat your exercise calories. MFP already configures the deficit in there for you.

If you set your goals to "active" then eat the cals given to you.

It will come out the same calorie wise - just different ways of doing it. Always make sure you get MINIMUM NET calories of 1200 to fuel your body.

Here's a math example:

1200 cals eaten + 300 exercise cals eaten = 1500 cals eaten (still 1200 net)

OR

1500 cals eaten - 300 cals exercise = 1200 net

Don't combine both methods though.

OR

You can find out your TDEE (google it) and use that.

There are a lot of posts on eating exercise calories....just do a search for that and you will learn tons!

Good luck!! :flowerforyou:

wellbert

Try and see what works for you. Stick with it 3-4 weeks each try.
Personally, I gain lots of weight if I eat exercise calories. (But I also feel better/stronger)
Though for many, NOT eating them will cause their weight loss to grind to a halt.

jordanreddick

I personally don't eat my exercise cals back because if I go anywhere near 1200 or over, I gain. I actually found that what works for me is to have a small negative net per day of a few hundred, if not I don't lose. But you have to find what works for you, your body is yours and your chemistry is different than anyone else's.

erickirb

it really is a personal choice, I don't, in fact many here don't, but there is probably an equal number of MFP members who do. Each side has those who feel their way is the only way and then some who will say find out what works for you and do it. If there was a general rule I have for myself it is: Don't eat them back until I've reached near or actual goal weight and am trying to find my caloric balance to maintain.

It shouldn't be a personal choice. MFP is designed for you to eat them, which is why your caloric goal is quite low prior to adding them. Other sites may not add them, as they included them in your original goal. MFP may give you1300 and say eat them back, whereas other sites may say eat 1700/day period. At the end of the week your deficit should be similar assuming you picked the appropriate activity level.

secretlobster

Depends on how you set your goals.

If you set your goals to "sedentary" then yes, eat your exercise calories. MFP already configures the deficit in there for you.

If you set your goals to "active" then eat the cals given to you.

This

I set my goals to "sedentary" so I can eat my exercise calories back. I have a heart rate monitor so I figured out how many calories I normally burn through exercise, and so I eat more on exercise days (which is a good idea in general).

NelehY

If I'm hungry I eat them all, if not I don't.

But I always make sure that I each my 'minimum' calories.

sandrajune72

I usually eat all mine back. I find I'm really hungry otherwise. I haven't had any problems losing weight this way, but yes I gree with others here, you need to find what works for you.

There are lots of threads on this, use the search function to read lots of opinions and advice! :happy:

erickirb

I personally don't eat my exercise cals back because if I go anywhere near 1200 or over, I gain. I actually found that what works for me is to have a small negative net per day of a few hundred, if not I don't lose. But you have to find what works for you, your body is yours and your chemistry is different than anyone else's.

What????? You should never have a negative net calorie intake. That is worse than not eating at all on days you don't workout. It would be like eating nothing and throwing up what you ate the previous day. Your body needs fuel to function. Most likely around 2000 cals to maintain your weigh with no exercise, once you exercise the amount you need to maintain is even higher, so if you eat 1200 and don't workout your would already be in a deficit of 800 or so calories (2000-1200)

If you gain on 1200 cals then you are:
either under estimating what you eat,
over estimating what you burn,
have a thyroid or other hormone issue

jkleman79

I wanted to add something on this...usually avoid this subject anymore since its over played. I have had a body media FIT now for 2 months and a friend of mine which is female has also bought one about the same time. For the past 6 months or more I have been fighting losing the last bit of body fat etc. I was following MFP calories suggestions as well as following my HRM as close as possible. Well I quickly learned after buying a Body Media Fit that I was drastically under eating and so was my friend. I was eating 2500-2800 calories a day which is what was suggested. After one week with a media fit I was averaging a TDEE of 3800-4700 calories a day. My friend which I mentioned is a female was burning 3600 calories on average a day and was only eating 1200-1600 calories a day. So in regards to the exercise calories in my suggestion eat them back because you are probably using more than you think you are in a day.

Mewcenary

Yes, eat them back.

I've been doing this and eating 2000-3000 calories per day as a result. And have lost, well, look at my profile!

Just be careful not to over-estimate your calories burned.

leejayem

HI there,

I'm new to this site so my input here may not be very helpful for you, but here it is anyway! My endocrinologist suggested I try this site as I have impaired insulin & I'm really struggling to lose weight. He recommended 1200 as my maximum calorie intake so regardless of exercise I stay under 1200. Please note, my exercise at this stage is fairly minimal, a 20-30 minute walk about 5 or 6 times a week. Today I did some hand weights as well, but not for long!!

hkevans724

Some times I eat them back sometimes I don't, just depends on if I feel hungry or not. I really feel that it is a personal choice and NO ONE can tell you what is right for your body! If you aren't hungry then don't eat them, if you are then go ahead. It truly is up to you.

Chetanpayne

I think men can do that much easier than women. I am still not convinced that eating them back if a good idea for me. We will see!

TeaBea

I eat ALL my exercise calories because:

1. I want to lose FAT .... not muscle. Eating too few calories will cause my body to burn muscle. I'm over 50 & need to preserve as much as I can. Health first!

2. I use a heart rate monitor ..... these don't over estimate calories burned

erickirb

I think men can do that much easier than women. I am still not convinced that eating them back if a good idea for me. We will see!

Gender has nothing to do with it, other than men typically burn more cals than women at the same weight.

The logic is you need a deficit of 500 cals/day to lose 1 lb/week. If you burn 600 cals from working out and just eat the MFP recommend cals your deficit would then be 1100 (500+600) simple math, so to keep your deficit at 500, you must eat the cals back.

TeaBea

I personally don't eat my exercise cals back because if I go anywhere near 1200 or over, I gain. I actually found that what works for me is to have a small negative net per day of a few hundred, if not I don't lose. But you have to find what works for you, your body is yours and your chemistry is different than anyone else's.

A negative net? Seriously ... you have some medical issues going on.

Most women require 1200 net calories for BASIC bodily function. Lungs ,heart, kidneys .... your body needs calories to build blood cells, for your nervous system to function properly .... the list goes on & on. Comatose people get a feeding tube. Your body cannot function on fat stores alone.