Eat back all of your exercise calories or you WILL DIE.
Replies
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you will lose weight faster if you eat back those calsPretty much! Everyone has an opinion, I get that but some people make it seem like it's their way or it can't work. I have lost 110lbs and only eat 1200 calories even still. I don't eat back my calories. It works for me. I have tried to eat them back, don't work for me I gain weight doing that. Everyone's body works differently.
What part of I've tried that and it don't work for me, did you not read there? I tried it for 2 months and gained 10lbs. I have 15-20 more pounds to lose, I'm not interested in losing weight fast, I'm interested in losing weight period. I lose 2-3lbs a week and I have been doing it this way sense September of 2011, I've lost 110lbs over the course of 2 years but since September is when I got really serious. Losing more then 3lbs a week is not healthy, I'm under doctor care and he told me not to eat them back so take it up with him. I'm using MFP for the calorie tracker and the support. I am not bothered with the "Starvation mode" thing, my body is not in starvation mode, it gets what it needs.0 -
The only reason that wouldn't "work" is A) over estimating your calorie burns/exercise
you will lose weight faster if you eat back those calsPretty much! Everyone has an opinion, I get that but some people make it seem like it's their way or it can't work. I have lost 110lbs and only eat 1200 calories even still. I don't eat back my calories. It works for me. I have tried to eat them back, don't work for me I gain weight doing that. Everyone's body works differently.
What part of I've tried that and it don't work for me, did you not read there? I tried it for 2 months and gained 10lbs. I have 15-20 more pounds to lose, I'm not interested in losing weight fast, I'm interested in losing weight period. I lose 2-3lbs a week and I have been doing it this way sense September of 2011, I've lost 110lbs over the course of 2 years but since September is when I got really serious. Losing more then 3lbs a week is not healthy, I'm under doctor care and he told me not to eat them back so take it up with him. I'm using MFP for the calorie tracker and the support. I am not bothered with the "Starvation mode" thing, my body is not in starvation mode, it gets what it needs.
under estimating your food intake C) both A and B.
Your doctor probably does not understand the context of the question "Should I eat back my exercise calories?" unless they are intimately familiar with how MFP works.0 -
Ok, well the first 3 posters talking about how they don't follow MFP the way it is designed. Which is fine, but you're on MFP. That would be like going to a weight watchers meeting and arguing that MFP does it better.
Not to be rude, but if you are following another plan, why are you here? This is a plan. It's called MFP and is designed differently from other plans. I try to stick to it like the bible. Just like someone would treat Weight Watchers. Do what works for you! But don't bash what works for others.Now if one eats all their exercise calories back than how is someone loosing weight?
I am doing Jamie Easons lifefit plan and I sure a daisy don't eat all my exercise calories.
Lost 9 pounds so far, and with her eating plan, even with less calories your body does not have time to get starving.
Now where in the world do you read me bashing anything????
I just do something for a while that has worked for some people I know.
I did not know it was forbidden to talk about another weight loss approach.
You are already in a deficit when you start MFP. So if you eat those cals back, or at least most of them, then you will still lose weight. If not, then either something wrong, or plan not for you, which is fine. But, If you believe in MFP, then you follow it, right?. If not, then, you either 1.don't understand it, or 2. you do, but disagree with it.
I didn't know there was a rule on how we all have to do things here? I never claimed to use MFP as it was "Designed" but as the tool it was made for, you know the calorie counter? That's what first brought me here, then I made some friends, some in real life and some online, some great support here, but some nasty know it all's think just cus it works for them it has to work for everyone else. Seriously? I did say in my post that I did TRY to eat them back, I DID! It doesn't work for me, so until you are living in my body, I don't think anyone has the right to tell me how I should use this site. I use it how I see fit for me and I don't do it to please everyone. This right here is why my diary stays hidden to people not on my friends list.0 -
I listened to my body and my body wanted me to eat and now I am overweight trying to lose. lol
Because of course most people here have no problems just "listening" to their bodies...am I right? :indifferent:If i'm hungry I eat them back. If I'm not hungry I don't. Listen to your body.
How dare you go and be all reasonable and stuff...0 -
The only reason that wouldn't "work" is A) over estimating your calorie burns/exercise
you will lose weight faster if you eat back those calsPretty much! Everyone has an opinion, I get that but some people make it seem like it's their way or it can't work. I have lost 110lbs and only eat 1200 calories even still. I don't eat back my calories. It works for me. I have tried to eat them back, don't work for me I gain weight doing that. Everyone's body works differently.
What part of I've tried that and it don't work for me, did you not read there? I tried it for 2 months and gained 10lbs. I have 15-20 more pounds to lose, I'm not interested in losing weight fast, I'm interested in losing weight period. I lose 2-3lbs a week and I have been doing it this way sense September of 2011, I've lost 110lbs over the course of 2 years but since September is when I got really serious. Losing more then 3lbs a week is not healthy, I'm under doctor care and he told me not to eat them back so take it up with him. I'm using MFP for the calorie tracker and the support. I am not bothered with the "Starvation mode" thing, my body is not in starvation mode, it gets what it needs. under estimating your food intake C) both A and B.
Your doctor probably does not understand the context of the question "Should I eat back my exercise calories?" unless they are intimately familiar with how MFP works.
Well until I get a HRM that properly works because the POS I have says I burn 60 calories in 1 hour of zumba so yeah lol, that thing is screwed up. I can't properly count my workout calories so that could be it, but why would I fix something that isn't broken? I'm satisfied on 1200 calories, I eat till I'm full, and that is that. I'm still losing 2-3lbs a week so why would I change it?0 -
By the way, how do you get the ticker to show in your posts?0
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I think one thing dieters who greatly restrict their caloric intake need to routinely check rather than just the scale is whether or not they are maintaining their lean body mass. If someone drops 20 lbs, with half of that being muscle tissue, I would not consider that a successful approach.
^ That was a real concern for me from the beginning. I wanted to lose the fat and didnt really care what the scale was saying so I tried to keep my weight loss at 1 pound per week. If I was losing over that I would up my base calories and try to eat back what I felt was my actual calories burned.
Not saying that my way is the right way. Just saying that it still allows you to lose weight but just might be slower than some people want. I have had a few plateaus as well. So eating back your exercise calories does not always eliminate those.0 -
This is the best advice on hereIf i'm hungry I eat them back. If I'm not hungry I don't. Listen to your body.0 -
By the way, how do you get the ticker to show in your posts?
Click on "Settings" at the top of this page, and you should see "Show your MyFitnessPal ticker below each of your forum posts"0 -
Ok, I'm really new here and don't understand this whole eat back your calories thing. I eat 1200 a day and most days I try to exercise. One day I burned 180 cal (i know, not much but I'm new to exercise too:) ) ,does that mean I have some of those to eat back? This is really confusing...Oh and I just joined new 5 days ago.0
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The only reason that wouldn't "work" is A) over estimating your calorie burns/exercise
you will lose weight faster if you eat back those calsPretty much! Everyone has an opinion, I get that but some people make it seem like it's their way or it can't work. I have lost 110lbs and only eat 1200 calories even still. I don't eat back my calories. It works for me. I have tried to eat them back, don't work for me I gain weight doing that. Everyone's body works differently.
What part of I've tried that and it don't work for me, did you not read there? I tried it for 2 months and gained 10lbs. I have 15-20 more pounds to lose, I'm not interested in losing weight fast, I'm interested in losing weight period. I lose 2-3lbs a week and I have been doing it this way sense September of 2011, I've lost 110lbs over the course of 2 years but since September is when I got really serious. Losing more then 3lbs a week is not healthy, I'm under doctor care and he told me not to eat them back so take it up with him. I'm using MFP for the calorie tracker and the support. I am not bothered with the "Starvation mode" thing, my body is not in starvation mode, it gets what it needs. under estimating your food intake C) both A and B.
Your doctor probably does not understand the context of the question "Should I eat back my exercise calories?" unless they are intimately familiar with how MFP works.
Wanted to also add, my doctor isn't the only one who gave me this advice. He knew exactly what I meant by that. I asked him "If I eat 1200 like you told me to, then say I burn 800 calories, do I add an extra 800 calories to make up for the calories I just burned?" He replied with "There is no reason to do that, you can try it if you want, it works for some not for others." I tried it for 2 months, it didn't work for me. BUT I don't have a properly working HRM Like I said above, which could be the cause of it. However like I also said, I'm not about to "Fix" something that isn't broken. I eat when I'm hungry and I have days when I do go over my limit, and more times then none when I do go over because (Oh lord let the scale bashing begin) I weigh myself every day, and my scale is always up when I go over my calories, even if it's just by 100 calories when I burned I know at least 300.0 -
This thread isn't even a facepalm. It's a head-wall.
I eat 1800-2000 calories per day and I am a hot b*tch.0 -
I'm not suggesting you change a thing, we're all adults here and can make those decisions ourselves. If you eat back your exercise calories you should definitely either have a device that can count that with some sort of accuracy or only eat back a portion of them if you're estimating your burns, so that you're sure you aren't over counting burns and eating too much.
The only reason that wouldn't "work" is A) over estimating your calorie burns/exercise
you will lose weight faster if you eat back those calsPretty much! Everyone has an opinion, I get that but some people make it seem like it's their way or it can't work. I have lost 110lbs and only eat 1200 calories even still. I don't eat back my calories. It works for me. I have tried to eat them back, don't work for me I gain weight doing that. Everyone's body works differently.
What part of I've tried that and it don't work for me, did you not read there? I tried it for 2 months and gained 10lbs. I have 15-20 more pounds to lose, I'm not interested in losing weight fast, I'm interested in losing weight period. I lose 2-3lbs a week and I have been doing it this way sense September of 2011, I've lost 110lbs over the course of 2 years but since September is when I got really serious. Losing more then 3lbs a week is not healthy, I'm under doctor care and he told me not to eat them back so take it up with him. I'm using MFP for the calorie tracker and the support. I am not bothered with the "Starvation mode" thing, my body is not in starvation mode, it gets what it needs. under estimating your food intake C) both A and B.
Your doctor probably does not understand the context of the question "Should I eat back my exercise calories?" unless they are intimately familiar with how MFP works.
Well until I get a HRM that properly works because the POS I have says I burn 60 calories in 1 hour of zumba so yeah lol, that thing is screwed up. I can't properly count my workout calories so that could be it, but why would I fix something that isn't broken? I'm satisfied on 1200 calories, I eat till I'm full, and that is that. I'm still losing 2-3lbs a week so why would I change it?0 -
What is this business about starvation mode? I find myself wrapped up in these "debates" with people telling me that eating 1200 and not eating back my calories from exercise will make me starve. Not everybody eats their calories back, and they are fine. Is this just another example of people thinking they know everything and they know it best, or is this a legitimate concern?
I'm not going to read through 4 pages of responses, so maybe this has already been said.
1...there are NO hard and fast rules. Everyone is different. Everyone's body works different. Some people act like this is an exact science and that what worked for them must be what works for everyone else. Wrong.
2. There is nothing magical about the 1200 calorie mark. MFP set that as a lower boundary for calories on this website because at some point, eating to few calories will negatively impact everyone. Where that mark is for each person is different.
3. When you set up a weight loss goal on MFP, the calorie deficit to lose weight is built into your net calorie goal. That deficit is based from TDEE (as in TDEE - deficit = net calorie goal). You eat at a calorie deficit to lose weight. You exercise to improve fitness and build lean muscle mass.
4. Because of #3, you can eat your exercise calories back and continue losing weight. When you exercise you have increased TDEE by your exercise calories burned. When you eat to hit the net calorie, you are maintaining your necessary deficit to lose weight. TDEE + exercise - deficit = Net calorie goal + exercise. The deficit is still there, end of story. Eat you exercise calorie back, don't eat them back...that's up to you. My advice, try it both ways and see how your body feels.0 -
Ok, I'm really new here and don't understand this whole eat back your calories thing. I eat 1200 a day and most days I try to exercise. One day I burned 180 cal (i know, not much but I'm new to exercise too:) ) ,does that mean I have some of those to eat back? This is really confusing...Oh and I just joined new 5 days ago.
Here's what I recommend... set your goal to lose 1 lb/week, not 2. Then, don't worry so much about the exercise calories for now. The "eat your exercise calories back" thing is more an argument for when people have their targets set to 1200 but then they burn 600 or 800 or more calories from exercise too and don't eat any more than 1200.
If your burns are under 200, I'd set your goal to lose 1 lb weekly, just log the exercise to see where you're at but consider it a bonus burn and only eat them back if you are hungry or want to (i.e. at a party or event or want dessert or whatever). Get used to eating a reduced calorie diet before trying to restrict right back to 1200. I am assuming, of course, that your target is 1200 because your goal is set to lose 2 lbs/week. I could be wrong...0 -
If i'm hungry I eat them back. If I'm not hungry I don't. Listen to your body.
This^ ^ ^0 -
Huh. Well I eat 1640 daily plus all my exercise calories (~3500/week) and I lose about 1.5 lbs/week doing that. So I'll keep doing it so that I can eat a burger and a couple of beers at a summer BBQ.
Those of us who advocate eating more are trying to help those of you who advocate fairly significant restriction (given the amount of exercise most are achieving) to see that you can enjoy more food and still lose... if you want to.
But if you don't mind eating so little... keep it up!
It's so refreshing to see somebody here that EATS for a change :-) not to mention, dare I say eat a burger! lol Saw your diary and your pictures and that is proof that eating is the best thing to do. Thanks for posting that, so inspirational.0 -
You're really trying to tell me that you can tell a weight gain by going over 100 calories in one day, the next morning? I'd hope you're aware of the effects of exercise and sodium with relation to water retention in your body(which is meaningless...most people want to lose fat weight...not water).
The only reason that wouldn't "work" is A) over estimating your calorie burns/exercise
you will lose weight faster if you eat back those calsPretty much! Everyone has an opinion, I get that but some people make it seem like it's their way or it can't work. I have lost 110lbs and only eat 1200 calories even still. I don't eat back my calories. It works for me. I have tried to eat them back, don't work for me I gain weight doing that. Everyone's body works differently.
What part of I've tried that and it don't work for me, did you not read there? I tried it for 2 months and gained 10lbs. I have 15-20 more pounds to lose, I'm not interested in losing weight fast, I'm interested in losing weight period. I lose 2-3lbs a week and I have been doing it this way sense September of 2011, I've lost 110lbs over the course of 2 years but since September is when I got really serious. Losing more then 3lbs a week is not healthy, I'm under doctor care and he told me not to eat them back so take it up with him. I'm using MFP for the calorie tracker and the support. I am not bothered with the "Starvation mode" thing, my body is not in starvation mode, it gets what it needs. under estimating your food intake C) both A and B.
Your doctor probably does not understand the context of the question "Should I eat back my exercise calories?" unless they are intimately familiar with how MFP works.
Wanted to also add, my doctor isn't the only one who gave me this advice. He knew exactly what I meant by that. I asked him "If I eat 1200 like you told me to, then say I burn 800 calories, do I add an extra 800 calories to make up for the calories I just burned?" He replied with "There is no reason to do that, you can try it if you want, it works for some not for others." I tried it for 2 months, it didn't work for me. BUT I don't have a properly working HRM Like I said above, which could be the cause of it. However like I also said, I'm not about to "Fix" something that isn't broken. I eat when I'm hungry and I have days when I do go over my limit, and more times then none when I do go over because (Oh lord let the scale bashing begin) I weigh myself every day, and my scale is always up when I go over my calories, even if it's just by 100 calories when I burned I know at least 300.0 -
Granted I am maintaining now...but I tend to eat between 2400-3000 calories a day :drinker: :bigsmile: My tummy is still flat...Huh. Well I eat 1640 daily plus all my exercise calories (~3500/week) and I lose about 1.5 lbs/week doing that. So I'll keep doing it so that I can eat a burger and a couple of beers at a summer BBQ.
Those of us who advocate eating more are trying to help those of you who advocate fairly significant restriction (given the amount of exercise most are achieving) to see that you can enjoy more food and still lose... if you want to.
But if you don't mind eating so little... keep it up!
It's so refreshing to see somebody here that EATS for a change :-) not to mention, dare I say eat a burger! lol Saw your diary and your pictures and that is proof that eating is the best thing to do. Thanks for posting that, so inspirational.0 -
I am sure that not eating back all your exercise calories is no cause for alarm. There is a margin of error in everybody's diary to begin with so putting a buffer there is probably a good thing. My issue comes when lets say somebody is set for 1200 calories, burns 800 calories and eats none of it back... This severe deficit is not a good idea. However, if you are set for 1600 burn 800 and eat back 400, it should not be a big deal.. Depends on the person and the accuracy of the information. Most of the time if I am under what I should eat... My body tells me and I eat.0
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Great job!0
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You're really trying to tell me that you can tell a weight gain by going over 100 calories in one day, the next morning? I'd hope you're aware of the effects of exercise and sodium with relation to water retention in your body(which is meaningless...most people want to lose fat weight...not water).
The only reason that wouldn't "work" is A) over estimating your calorie burns/exercise
you will lose weight faster if you eat back those calsPretty much! Everyone has an opinion, I get that but some people make it seem like it's their way or it can't work. I have lost 110lbs and only eat 1200 calories even still. I don't eat back my calories. It works for me. I have tried to eat them back, don't work for me I gain weight doing that. Everyone's body works differently.
What part of I've tried that and it don't work for me, did you not read there? I tried it for 2 months and gained 10lbs. I have 15-20 more pounds to lose, I'm not interested in losing weight fast, I'm interested in losing weight period. I lose 2-3lbs a week and I have been doing it this way sense September of 2011, I've lost 110lbs over the course of 2 years but since September is when I got really serious. Losing more then 3lbs a week is not healthy, I'm under doctor care and he told me not to eat them back so take it up with him. I'm using MFP for the calorie tracker and the support. I am not bothered with the "Starvation mode" thing, my body is not in starvation mode, it gets what it needs. under estimating your food intake C) both A and B.
Your doctor probably does not understand the context of the question "Should I eat back my exercise calories?" unless they are intimately familiar with how MFP works.
Wanted to also add, my doctor isn't the only one who gave me this advice. He knew exactly what I meant by that. I asked him "If I eat 1200 like you told me to, then say I burn 800 calories, do I add an extra 800 calories to make up for the calories I just burned?" He replied with "There is no reason to do that, you can try it if you want, it works for some not for others." I tried it for 2 months, it didn't work for me. BUT I don't have a properly working HRM Like I said above, which could be the cause of it. However like I also said, I'm not about to "Fix" something that isn't broken. I eat when I'm hungry and I have days when I do go over my limit, and more times then none when I do go over because (Oh lord let the scale bashing begin) I weigh myself every day, and my scale is always up when I go over my calories, even if it's just by 100 calories when I burned I know at least 300.
It's not a real gain I know that, its a fluctuation I'm sure, I do weigh the same time every day. I'm aware of muscle retaining water and sodium and I'm always pretty good with my sodium, I'm not a fan of salt for starters but for the most part I'm really good with all my sodium, and I'm not stupid I know that sodium is more then just salt. I never count the little fluctuation on the scale, it's usually no more then an ounce or 2, but yes I do see it on the scale. Then again I just found out that my bathroom scale is totally effed up, so I'm going back to my wii fitness board, it's in-sync with my doctor's scale anyway. So it could just be a mess up there in that stupid POS scale of mine. Funny story though, my mom has the same one and her's says what my doctor's and wii scale says. Crazy that mine is so off.0 -
BUMP0
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I just assumed my 1200 cal for the day was because I don't move around much and am 4' 11", 160#. I picked 1 lb a week as what I thought would be reasonable, given the amount I have to lose and my age, 57. Thank you for your reply, it helps a lot to have some input from someone.0
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I just assumed my 1200 cal for the day was because I don't move around much and am 4' 11", 160#. I picked 1 lb a week as what I thought would be reasonable, given the amount I have to lose and my age, 57. Thank you for your reply, it helps a lot to have some input from someone.
If that's your 1 lb/week goal, stick with that. If you're hungry and want to eat your exercise calories, eat them. If you don't need them, don't eat them... the MFP calculations may not be exactly right. So when the amounts are relatively small there's less room for error.0 -
I think eating back your calories mean that if you are already lean and still exercise than u can afford to eat back the calories u burn thru exercise. But if u are trying to lose weight how would u ever create a calorie deficit if u eat back the calories u burn thru exercise. I'm puzzled on that one.0
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I just assumed my 1200 cal for the day was because I don't move around much and am 4' 11", 160#. I picked 1 lb a week as what I thought would be reasonable, given the amount I have to lose and my age, 57. Thank you for your reply, it helps a lot to have some input from someone.
If that's your 1 lb/week goal, stick with that. If you're hungry and want to eat your exercise calories, eat them. If you don't need them, don't eat them... the MFP calculations may not be exactly right. So when the amounts are relatively small there's less room for error.0 -
Ok, Thanks!!0
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I try to net my BMR based on a weekly average, not daily. I tend to eat out on weekends and consume more calories. As long as I hit a weekly total that averages out to my daily BMR, I don't sweat it.
Trying to figure and eat a cut from my TDEE was not working for me. I bounced the same 3 lbs for 2 months. Luckily I was doing strength training so I was able to keep lean muscle mass and lose fat.
If I haven't netted my BMR at days'e end, I will eat more if my body says it is hungry. But I don't worry about eating a certain amount. I eat until I feel satisfied, but not stuffed (either a protein shake or a spoon of peanut butter or a half glass of kefir).0 -
Seriously? Why is something like this still debated? Do you people not understand anything about Human Physiology?
How long have you people been here and you still haven't learned anything?
"Oh I'm different and unique. My body doesn't follow the laws of Thermodynamics because I say it doesn't."0
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