For those of you who don't eat exercise cals back

rose313

Do you just not log your exercise, or do you log it at the end of the day? If you log it right after you complete the exercise does it get confusing when MFP says "You've earned 300 extra calories from exercise today" but you really haven't, so you have to keep a different number than it actually says in mind the whole day?

Just wondering because a lot of people are doing a cut from TDEE and not going by the MFP plan, but MFP is still going to add those calories in.

ladyraven68

Do you just not log your exercise, or do you log it at the end of the day? If you log it right after you complete the exercise does it get confusing when MFP says "You've earned 300 extra calories from exercise today" but you really haven't, so you have to keep a different number than it actually says in mind the whole day?

Just wondering because a lot of people are doing a cut from TDEE and not going by the MFP plan, but MFP is still going to add those calories in.

you can manually change the calories burnt, so some people log the exercise, and then change the calories burned to 1, so that it doesn;t affect their remaining calories.

AlicynH

I log my exercise but don't eat them back. I feel that if I'm eating back the calories I've burned, why did I burn them in the first place.

vade43113

I log my exercise but don't eat them back. I feel that if I'm eating back the calories I've burned, why did I burn them in the first place.

^^^^ this

jillianlovesyarn

I frequently add everything in the morning and adjust as necessary throughout the day because I like to have a plan in mind for my day and I don't find it too difficult to keep track. Just keep your remaining calories close to your exercise calories. Since MFP prints exercise calories right underneath food totals I don't tend to find it too challenging.

rose313

I use the mobile app which only shows me calories left including exercise, and I don't want to go in my diary and add up each amount of calories burned from each activity then subtract it from how many MFP says I have left. Adding the calories burned in as 1 is a good idea but I do want to know how many I burn so I can set goals, so I think I'll just stick to adding them in at the end of the day.

bradymeans

I log my exercise but don't eat them back. I feel that if I'm eating back the calories I've burned, why did I burn them in the first place.

^^^^ditto!!!

Impy84

i just know how much im allotted a day and when i hit that number the day is done.

IronSmasher

The very obvious answer would be to not log the exercise at all since you're rendering it pointless.

For those of you not eating back calories because the only reason you burned them was to create a larger deficit than is healthy, why do you bother eating?

dandelion39

Because I'm eating at a calorie level that takes into account my daily activity, including exercise, I just change the "calories burned" to 1 when I log my exercise. I like to log it, because I like looking back at what I was doing when, when I started specific programs, etc.

IronSmasher

Because I'm eating at a calorie level that takes into account my daily activity, including exercise, I just change the "calories burned" to 1 when I log my exercise. I like to log it, because I like looking back at what I was doing when, when I started specific programs, etc.

If you like, but wouldn't just writing it in the notes bit be easier?

rose313

The very obvious answer would be to not log the exercise at all since you're rendering it pointless.

For those of you not eating back calories because the only reason you burned them was to create a larger deficit than is healthy, why do you bother eating?

Because they're (well, some of them are) calculating activity already in their calories instead of using MFP's formula which automatically includes a deficit. Some people take a 15% or so cut from their TDEE and eat, say, 1900 calories a day, and therefore do not need to eat their exercise calories back unless they are doing a ton of exercise and netting below 1200.

HeidiMightyRawr

I don't eat them back any more (although I added an extra 300 calories to my daily intake to make up for it) I just want the same amount each day consistently, not to actually eat less.

To answer the question, I don't log it at all. I have a routine, I know what I do on certain days. I keep track of sets and reps (including how my workout went) all in my blog. There's no need to log it here, it would just confuse me.

HeatherHoskins

I try not eat too many of them back because I was not losing weight when eating them all back. I would like to not eat any of them back but I do sometimes dip into them.

At the top of the news thread page it will show how many calories eaten, adds excersise and totals you out. I just look at how many I have eaten in the day and ignore the rest.

psuLemon

If you follow a plan where you cut 15% from your TDEE, then you don't have to log them or if you do, then just set it at 1 calorie burned. I have never logged my exercise calories as I have it factored in my TDEE.

psuLemon

I try not eat too many of them back because I was not losing weight when eating them all back. I would like to not eat any of them back but I do sometimes dip into them.

At the top of the news thread page it will show how many calories eaten, adds excersise and totals you out. I just look at how many I have eaten in the day and ignore the rest.

MFP tends to over estimate exercise calories, that is why its suggested to eat 50-75% of them.

suzanne_oh

The very obvious answer would be to not log the exercise at all since you're rendering it pointless.

For those of you not eating back calories because the only reason you burned them was to create a larger deficit than is healthy, why do you bother eating?

My thoughts exactly! I've lost the recommended 1 lb. per week and ALWAYS eat back my exercise calories because that is what my body NEEDS. Slow and steady weight loss is the HEALTHY way to go.

suzanne_oh

The very obvious answer would be to not log the exercise at all since you're rendering it pointless.

For those of you not eating back calories because the only reason you burned them was to create a larger deficit than is healthy, why do you bother eating?

Because they're (well, some of them are) calculating activity already in their calories instead of using MFP's formula which automatically includes a deficit. Some people take a 15% or so cut from their TDEE and eat, say, 1900 calories a day, and therefore do not need to eat their exercise calories back unless they are doing a ton of exercise and netting below 1200.

So they are manipulating the calculations by making their settings for their activity higher? At the risk of sounding dense, what is TDEE?

tajmel

I get why MFP works the way it does, and it makes sense to me to eat back your calories (your calorie goal already includes a 500 calorie deficit per desired pound from your BMR, and exercise is primarily for health/physique/metabolism) but I don't. In fact, I don't log exercise. The estimates for calorie expenditure are wildly exaggerated on most sites, this one included. Not to say you shouldn't track how much you exercise; I do, I just don't add it to my caloric goals. On days that I'm relatively sedentary I may eat under my goal; on days when I work my *kitten* off I go a little over. Basically I just follow my hunger signals and include extra protein on days I work hard. At some point I'd like to get a fitbit or something similar to eliminate this problem.

gogojodee

I log my exercise but don't eat them back. I feel that if I'm eating back the calories I've burned, why did I burn them in the first place.

This. And I log my food. (When I decide to actually log or remember to haha)

BeckaT79

I usually try to keep an approximate of what I burned in my head and try not to eat into them too much.... For example if I burned 300 calories I try to make sure at the end of the day that number says no less than 300. Not sure if I explained that right but that way I know what I burned but also knew not to eat into it. Good Luck!!!

kayemme

I do not eat my calories back. For now this is working. There may be a time where I'll have to mix it up, but mostly I try to only eat when I'm hungry.

I log everything just so I can keep track and see if the MFP numbers agree with weight dropping. I follow more of a weekly guide (what is the deficit compared to what I've lost) and so far it has been reasonably accurate.

smilingalltheway

I don't eat back my calories burned, and I don't log my exercise I know what I've done and I don't need the record. I don't feel run down or have a lack of energy so I feel I'm doing what is right for me.

spicypepper

I log everything including exercise.

I don't eat the calories burned back in their entirety, I typically leave myself about 200-500 calories extra.

I am also of the same mindset that if I've burned them, why eat them back; but then I also understand as a nursing momma that I need those calories so I'm not a walking zombie too.

Last year when I lost 50lbs before getting pregnant (Thanks MFP!) I didn't eat back all calories burned and managed to lose weight without a problem. I'm trying that route again, modified because of the wee one though.

mandipandi75

I use the mobile app which only shows me calories left including exercise, and I don't want to go in my diary and add up each amount of calories burned from each activity then subtract it from how many MFP says I have left. Adding the calories burned in as 1 is a good idea but I do want to know how many I burn so I can set goals, so I think I'll just stick to adding them in at the end of the day.

I use the app also... in the page where you log your food, it has a section at the top that says GOAL (1200) then FOOD (which is actual food consumption) then EXERCISE and then adds the two for the TOTAL. You can just look at the food total to see where you are at. I don't eat back my calories.

suzanne_oh

I do not eat my calories back. For now this is working. There may be a time where I'll have to mix it up, but mostly I try to only eat when I'm hungry.

I log everything just so I can keep track and see if the MFP numbers agree with weight dropping. I follow more of a weekly guide (what is the deficit compared to what I've lost) and so far it has been reasonably accurate.

I'm always hungry so....LOL

dvisser1

The very obvious answer would be to not log the exercise at all since you're rendering it pointless.

For those of you not eating back calories because the only reason you burned them was to create a larger deficit than is healthy, why do you bother eating?

Because they're (well, some of them are) calculating activity already in their calories instead of using MFP's formula which automatically includes a deficit. Some people take a 15% or so cut from their TDEE and eat, say, 1900 calories a day, and therefore do not need to eat their exercise calories back unless they are doing a ton of exercise and netting below 1200.

I understand the rational. Understand that how MFP defines exercise is any and all physical activity above and beyond your normal daily activity level. If you accounted for said activity in your daily activity (and I do not care if it's a half mile walk to the bus stop every morning and evening or an hour on the treadmill) then it is not exercise as MFP looks at it. If you go the 15% less than TDEE route, you have to either be doing roughly the same caloric burn EVERY day or calculating a custom TDEE EVERY day.

If you put in a weight loss goal and have MFP calculate a net calorie goal, the deficit to lose weight is built into that. If you choose to not eat your exercise calories back, you are increasing that deficit. The problem is you might be providing enough calories to your body for it to function properly over a long period of time and could be effectively limiting your healthy weight loss by doing so.

Eating at a deficit is to lose weight. Exercising is to improve fitness. How you achieve these is up to you.

beccagable

I agree as well! I eat all of mine back and have steadily lost 2lbs a week, which is my goal.

If it helps, I use a monitor for my calories burned, not MFP, so maybe it's a little more accurate.

Also, you have to feed your muscles when you workout by eating back healthy, clean, foods. That's the whole point of eating back your calories. Do your research. It's science and I promise you it's not some cosmic ploy to stop you from losing weight.

Bobby_Clerici

I log my exercise but don't eat them back. I feel that if I'm eating back the calories I've burned, why did I burn them in the first place.

^^^^^^^^
NOT This
Because MFP already builds in your deficit.
Do what you want, but why make life harder than it has to be? No offense, and I wish you folks all the best in reaching your goals.
Losing weight is hard enough as it is. When you make it even harder, what's the pay off?
High deficits stifle metabolism, and then where are you?
I enjoy eating. And I EAT WELL :drinker:
I usually eat close to 3000 calories per day and still lose a pound per week. Again, do as you please, but as for me?
COUNT ME OUT!
I eat back all exercise calories, because the MFP plan expects you to. You are supposed to.
Read this to learn more.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo
Follow the recommendations on this site for safe, steady and lasting results.
You could lose weight faster, but what kind of weight would it be?
Muscle! And that stifles metabolism.
No, eat right, exercise - both cardio and resistance, lose weight in such a way that maintains health and preserves lean body mass which burns more calories at rest.
Good luck to you.:flowerforyou:
All Is Possible!

beccagable

I log my exercise but don't eat them back. I feel that if I'm eating back the calories I've burned, why did I burn them in the first place.

^^^^^^^^
NOT This
Because MFP already builds in your deficit.
Do what you want, but why make life harder than it has to be? No offense, and I wish you folks all the best in reaching your goals.
Losing weight is hard enough as it is. When you make it even harder, what's the pay off?
High deficits stifle metabolism, and then where are you?
I enjoy eating. And I EAT WELL :drinker:
I usually eat close to 3000 calories per day and still lose a pound per week. Again, do as you please, but as for me?
COUNT ME OUT!
I eat back all exercise calories, because the MFP plan expects you to. You are supposed to.
Read this to learn more.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo
Follow the recommendations on this site for safe, steady and lasting results.
You could lose weight faster, but what kind of weight would it be?
Muscle! And that stifles metabolism.
No, eat right, exercise - both cardio and resistance, lose weight in such a way that maintains health and preserves lean body mass which burns more calories at rest.
Good luck to you.:flowerforyou:
All Is Possible!

THANK YOU, person who's lost 76lbs...people should trust you.

angrodriguez92

I just use basic subtraction to keep track of how many daily calories I have left. It's pretty easy, and I like seeing the deficit right there, on the screen. I eat all day, veggies and nuts and things like that in moderation so that I dont get hungry and my metabolism stays active. If you don't feel hungry, why eat the cals you burned?