Eating back calories

So I'm a bit confused here. I'm normal calorie intake is 2300. But my workouts are trending twards 1000 calories. So does that mean I should be eating 3300 a day? How would I lose weight then?

What's the low down friends?

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  • Posts: 1,188 Member
    Do a search in this section; you'll find about 1000 threads with the same subject.

    Personally, I eat back some calories but not all.
  • Posts: 200 Member
    Do a search in this section; you'll find about 1000 threads with the same subject.

    Personally, I eat back some calories but not all.

    yes, that is what I do - some but not all....and that wonderful note when you end you diary if you don't makes you feel great as the you will weigh in 5 weeks amount is lower!
  • Posts: 77 Member
    I eat back my exercise calories, or at least most of them. It seems ridiculous to me that anyone should net less than 1000 calories, and I'm supposed to be on 1200, which is low enough I think!
  • Posts: 200 Member
    I eat back my exercise calories, or at least most of them. It seems ridiculous to me that anyone should net less than 1000 calories, and I'm supposed to be on 1200, which is low enough I think!

    Good point. I guess it depends if you are attempting to shed pounds or simply get more fit. In my case, I have many many pounds to go - therefore I like to ignore as many as I can - and not worry about the net for now. I don't want to get in the mindset that I can eat eat eat and then run run run it all off. (or swim in my case - I swim):glasses:
  • Posts: 331 Member
    I eat back my exercise calories, or at least most of them. It seems ridiculous to me that anyone should net less than 1000 calories, and I'm supposed to be on 1200, which is low enough I think!

    I agree with this. I eat back a good portion of my calories. There are days (today is one of them) when by the end of the day, I will burn 1500 calories +, and I certainly don't eat all of them back, but I do eat about 2000 calories on days when I'm allotted 2400.

    I really just listen to my body. If I am hungry, I am going to eat. If I am not, I am not going to eat out of boredom or "requirement."
  • Posts: 574 Member
    Yes, you will still lose weight, because your NET caloric intake will be the amount you need to lose weight. For example, my required caloric intake to maintain my body weight is something like 1700 (I don't remember the exact number). So, to lose weight, my required caloric intake is 1200. If I workout and burn 1000 calories, I've only had a net caloric intake of 200. That is not enough to lose weight and be healthy at the same time... in fact, it may even slow my metabolism and make it harder to lose weight if I do that long enough.

    As mentioned above, there are some great articles online and on this forum about this. I picked up a Jillian Michaels book from the library this weekend, and she said the same thing. One thing that someone pointed out that really changed how I thought about this is, what do successful people do? People who keep the weight off? You can pick them out in the success stories thread and look at their food diaries... I've done that recently. What do athletes do?? It makes sense... :)
  • Posts: 77 Member

    I agree with this. I eat back a good portion of my calories. There are days (today is one of them) when by the end of the day, I will burn 1500 calories +, and I certainly don't eat all of them back, but I do eat about 2000 calories on days when I'm allotted 2400.

    I really just listen to my body. If I am hungry, I am going to eat. If I am not, I am not going to eat out of boredom or "requirement."

    This is pretty much what i mean. If I'm doing rock climbing or weights at the gym my muscles are suffering, and if I don't give them what they need to recover I'm not going to reach my overall goals very fast. I only have around 3kg left to lose, but I want to be fitter and stronger, so netting too few calories is not helping me at all. If I exercise and I'm hungry and have the calories spare then I'll eat.
  • Yes I was curious about this topic myself. I am going to eat some back and see what happens with weightloss.
  • Posts: 400 Member
    i do sometimes, other times I don't and sometimes I eat over. And at the end, I still lose weight.
  • Posts: 17 Member
    You should eat them back... the program is designed so that if you tell it you want to lose, it will make the adjustment for you. I was not eating all my exercise calories back and I hit a plateau rather quickly. After a lot of research I saw that my mistake was NOT eating back all the calories I was burning. Your body needs at least enough to keep it alive--a net calorie intake under whatever this program is telling you to eat is NOT enough to keep your vital organs functioning. Once I upped my intake to match what the program was telling me to do the weight loss started again.

    The best advice you can get is to FOLLOW THE PROGRAM. It is working/has worked for a lot of people.
  • Posts: 122 Member
    depends how you set your calorie goal
    MFP uses net calories & assumes you are eating them back i.e. 1200 to lose 2lb/wk say so if you burn 300 cals that day you can eat 1500 cals

    but the alternative is to set your activity level higher to take exercise into consideration then the net daily goal is 1500 say, then don't eat back exercise cals - so on some days when doing a lot of exercise net will be really low - but over the course of a week should average out so your net comes out as 1100. The advantage of this approach is that you eat consistently about the same amount everyday even if your exercise levels fluctuate

    at the end of the day the numbers work out the same. what you shouldn't do is set a low net and not eat back exercise calories that is not a good long term approach to fitness - it will be hard to maintain
  • Posts: 1,079 Member
    Study below shows those who ate back exercise calories lost less weight when compared to those that did not. Eating back exercise calories is a myth created by MyFitnessPal. I've never seen a diet or a research paper that said you must eat them back. It's nonsense. If you want to eat them back, that's your preference, but it will not in any way help you reach your weight loss goals faster.
    http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/21/health/weight-exercise-loss/index.html
  • Posts: 315 Member
    Study below shows those who ate back exercise calories lost less weight when compared to those that did not. Eating back exercise calories is a myth created by MyFitnessPal. I've never seen a diet or a research paper that said you must eat them back. It's nonsense. If you want to eat them back, that's your preference, but it will not in any way help you reach your weight loss goals faster.
    http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/21/health/weight-exercise-loss/index.html


    Wrong. As an earlier post stated, it depends on how you set it up. When I set up MFP to lose 2 pounds a week it gives me a daily calorie goal of 1750. If I eat 1750 calories and then go burn 1400 in a 2 hour workout (which I regularly do) then essentially I have only netted 350 calories that day. Not nearly enough. (I actually did this for the first two months I was on MFP and didnt lose a single pound. I started eating 2600-2750 on days I work out and the weight started coming off) The 1750 calorie goal will give me a 2 pound a week loss WITHOUT working out. I could eat 1750 calories a day, sit and watch tv and lose 2 pounds a week. So, If Im going to workout, I need more calories. Or I could set my calorie goal manually to 2600 calories per day and that would take my workouts in to account. In which case, I would not eat back any exercise calories.


    Also that study was about exercise and had nothing to do with eating back exercise calories. The people in the study were instructed to NOT change their normal diets at all. Thats a completely different situation. It also stated that they probably ate more than they logged.
  • Posts: 1,079 Member


    Wrong. As an earlier post stated, it depends on how you set it up. When I set up MFP to lose 2 pounds a week it gives me a daily calorie goal of 1750. If I eat 1750 calories and then go burn 1400 in a 2 hour workout (which I regularly do) then essentially I have only netted 350 calories that day. Not nearly enough. (I actually did this for the first two months I was on MFP and didnt lose a single pound. I started eating 2600-2750 on days I work out and the weight started coming off) The 1750 calorie goal will give me a 2 pound a week loss WITHOUT working out. I could eat 1750 calories a day, sit and watch tv and lose 2 pounds a week. So, If Im going to workout, I need more calories. Or I could set my calorie goal manually to 2600 calories per day and that would take my workouts in to account. In which case, I would not eat back any exercise calories.

    What part am i wrong about? The study shows that those who did not eat their exercise calories back lost more weight when compared to those that did. You should also take note that the ones that did eat their exercise calories back also exercised harder. I have a study. What do you have other then your opinion?
  • Posts: 315 Member

    What part am i wrong about? The study shows that those who did not eat their exercise calories back lost more weight when compared to those that did. You should also take note that the ones that did eat their exercise calories back also exercised harder. I have a study. What do you have other then your opinion?


    The study had nothing to do with eating exercise calories and all three groups were instructed to not change their diets.
  • Posts: 1,079 Member


    The study had nothing to do with eating exercise calories and all three groups were instructed to not change their diets.

    Correct, the original study was not about exercise calories but the end result showed what eating exercise calories can to your weight loss journey. It's also +1 more study then what you have provided other then your opinion. In fact, I even challenge you to find a single study that says eating back exercise calories will in some form or fashion help you lose weight faster. I'm open minded and I'd be willing to read the study but I'm going to go out on a limb and just say that you will not find any.
  • Posts: 315 Member

    Correct, the original study was not about exercise calories but the end result showed what eating exercise calories can to your weight loss journey. It's also +1 more study then what you have provided other then your opinion. In fact, I even challenge you to find a single study that says eating back exercise calories will in some form or fashion help you lose weight faster. I'm open minded and I'd be willing to read the study but I'm going to go out on a limb and just say that you will not find any.


    I think you have a misunderstanding of how MFP works and also what the study is saying. Lets put it like this. Lets say Im a person in that study. I eat 4000 calories a day and thats why I got fat. Now, Im going to workout but Im still going to eat the same calories, plus because I worked out, Im actually going to eat more than that (which is what the study says happen) Obviously, thats going to hamper weight loss. Doesnt take a study to know that. Im working out but Im eating WAY over my TDEE.. My BMR is 2205. My TDEE is 3750. (those are my real numbers) So if I want to lose 2 pounds a week Im going to set my MFP goal at 1750 calories. Thats 1000 calories under my TDEE. If I eat 1750 calories, then i workout and burn 1000 calories, I now have a net calorie intake of 750 calories. Thats not going to work. I dont need a study to know that, as I mentioned earlier I didnt lose any weight my first two months on MFP because I wasnt eating enough. Now, if I eat 1750 calories, then burn 1000 in exercise, then eat another 1000, I still have a 1750 calorie net intake and will lose 2 pounds per week. So yes, if you set your calorie goal with a defecit already built into the equation then you can and probably should eat at least some of those calories back. Otherwise, you could find yourself way under eating and not losing a single pound.
  • Posts: 1,079 Member
    I'll give you a head start. I've listed some diets below and they all have 1 thing in common. Absolutely none of them say anything about eating exercise calories back.


    Atkins Diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkins_diet

    1200 calorie diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://www.everydiet.org/diet/1200-calorie-diet

    1500 calorie diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://www.womenandweight.com/1500-calorie-diet-plan/

    Vegan diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/g/Vegan.htm


    PSMF, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_Sparing_Modified_Fast


    Edit: I know how MFP works and it's created some type of myth that if you don't eat your exercise calories back, you will stop losing weight. At least, that's what your opinion seems to be. It's just nonsense and nowhere outside of MFP will you ever see such a notion, at least not from medical professionals or science journals.
  • Posts: 315 Member
    I'll give you a head start. I've listed some diets below and they all have 1 thing in common. Absolutely none of them say anything about eating exercise calories back.


    Atkins Diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkins_diet

    1200 calorie diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://www.everydiet.org/diet/1200-calorie-diet

    1500 calorie diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://www.womenandweight.com/1500-calorie-diet-plan/

    http://vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/g/Vegan.htm
    Vegan diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back

    PSMF, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_Sparing_Modified_Fast


    Well, if you dont understand how the MFP system works, why are you here? You can not eat a 1000 calorie a day deficit, workout on top of that and expect to lose weight. At least for any length of time. Its not gonna happen. There is no shortage of people here that have experienced just as I have that they started losing weight only after they started eating more. I cant eat 1750 caloried a day then burn 1000 calories working out and lose weight. Tried it, it doesnt work. Your body will hold onto everything if you dont eat enough. You will also experience a serious lack of energy. So, do as you wish, good luck.
  • Posts: 1,079 Member


    Well, if you dont understand how the MFP system works, why are you here? You can not eat a 1000 calorie a day deficit, workout on top of that and expect to lose weight. At least for any length of time. Its not gonna happen. There is no shortage of people here that have experienced just as I have that they started losing weight only after they started eating more. I cant eat 1750 caloried a day then burn 1000 calories working out and lose weight. Tried it, it doesnt work. Your body will hold onto everything if you dont eat enough. You will also experience a serious lack of energy. So, do as you wish, good luck.


    Edit: I know how MFP works and it's created some type of myth that if you don't eat your exercise calories back, you will stop losing weight. At least, that's what your opinion seems to be. It's just nonsense and nowhere outside of MFP will you ever see such a notion, at least not from medical professionals or science journals. Again, I've provided +5 diets and articles, and all of them say nothing about exercise calories. What do you have other then your opinion?
  • Posts: 315 Member
    I'll give you a head start. I've listed some diets below and they all have 1 thing in common. Absolutely none of them say anything about eating exercise calories back.


    Atkins Diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atkins_diet

    1200 calorie diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://www.everydiet.org/diet/1200-calorie-diet

    1500 calorie diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://www.womenandweight.com/1500-calorie-diet-plan/

    Vegan diet, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/g/Vegan.htm


    PSMF, says nothing about eating exercise calories back
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_Sparing_Modified_Fast


    Edit: I know how MFP works and it's created some type of myth that if you don't eat your exercise calories back, you will stop losing weight. At least, that's what your opinion seems to be. It's just nonsense and nowhere outside of MFP will you ever see such a notion, at least not from medical professionals or science journals.


    All I can tell you is for me and a lot of others, its no myth. I dont need a study to tell me that as I have my own experience. And yes, you will see a lot of medical professionals that will tell you that if you dont eat enough you will not lose weight.
  • Posts: 315 Member


    Edit: I know how MFP works and it's created some type of myth that if you don't eat your exercise calories back, you will stop losing weight. At least, that's what your opinion seems to be. It's just nonsense and nowhere outside of MFP will you ever see such a notion, at least not from medical professionals or science journals. Again, I've provided +5 diets and articles, and all of them say nothing about exercise calories. What do you have other then your opinion?

    I have experience. I have 52 pounds lost while eating most of my exercise calories back. Thats good enough for me.
  • Posts: 1,079 Member

    I have experience. I have 52 pounds lost while eating most of my exercise calories back. Thats good enough for me.

    You still lose weight eating your exercise calories back. I never said you don't. What I am implying is that you can lose faster if you don't eat them back.
  • Posts: 315 Member

    You still lose weight eating your exercise calories back. I never said you don't. What I am implying is that you can lose faster if you don't eat them back.

    I didnt lose faster not eating them back. I didnt lose anything when I didnt eat them back.
  • Posts: 303 Member
    Making no sense Lol.....
    Doing that why would you
    ever ever eat back your calories
    why even exercise than hmm!!
  • Posts: 1,079 Member

    I didnt lose faster not eating them back. I didnt lose anything when I didnt eat them back.

    I don't know everything about your diet and your exercise routine. It would be hard for to rely on what you say as truth and you could say the same about me. That's why is it much easier to rely on scientific studies to rule out any nonsense and miscalculations. I have provided a study to support my claim. What do you have or what can you find to support your claim other then your opinion?
  • Posts: 315 Member
    When most people start dieting, they slash their calories and add a large amount of exercise to their daily routine. That’s fine, but they usually cut their calories way too low. Add in the extra exercise, and all of a sudden you have an extreme calorie deficit that is working against you.
    Not eating enough calories causes many metabolic changes. Your body is a smart machine and senses a large decrease in dietary energy. Your large calorie deficit might work for a few days or even weeks, but eventually your body will wake up and sound alarms that it needs to conserve energy. It doesn’t want to just waste away. It needs that energy (fat) to survive. So, what does your body do when it senses prolonged energy restriction? Not eating enough calories…
    Slows down thyroid production – Your thyroid is responsible for fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism among other things. Your body has the ability to slow down thyroid output in an effort to maintain energy balance [1].
    Decreases muscle mass – Muscle is highly calorie intensive to maintain. In a prolonged extreme calorie deficit, it is one of the first things that your body looks to get rid of. Your body needs the fat, wants the fat, and the muscle can be spared. It breaks down the muscle tissue and uses it for energy.
    Lowers testosterone levels – An important hormone for both men and women, testosterone is just one of many hormones that are affected with severe calorie restriction [2]. Testosterone is anabolic to muscle tissue. Without it, it becomes that much harder to maintain, let alone put on muscle mass.
    Decreases leptin levels – Leptin is one of many energy regulating hormones. More importantly, it’s a “hunger” hormone that tells you whether to eat or not. High leptin levels signal that it’s OK to stop eating, while low leptin levels are a signal to eat more energy. Because of this, leptin levels decrease in calorie restricted environments [3].
    Decreases energy levels – There are many physical actions your body takes when you’re not eating enough calories to lose weight, but there are also some mental ones. Neurotransmitter production is limited, which can lead to a lack of motivation. It’s your body’s way of telling you to “slow down” – conserve your energy.
  • Posts: 315 Member
    Eating a calorie deficit and then adding exercise makes the deficit even bigger. Too big a deficit is not healthy and is counter-productive. If you dont want to eat exercise calories then dont eat them. I really dont care.
  • Posts: 315 Member
    Making no sense Lol.....
    Doing that why would you
    ever ever eat back your calories
    why even exercise than hmm!!

    Not sure who this is directed to or what your question is.
  • Posts: 1,079 Member
    Eating a calorie deficit and then adding exercise makes the deficit even bigger. Too big a deficit is not healthy and is counter-productive. If you dont want to eat exercise calories then dont eat them. I really dont care.

    The word "Healthy" is a broad term. What do you mean by healthy? What happens when you have a huge deficit that is "unhealthy" to the individual? I'll go out on a limb again and say nothing and I'm not talking about mental disorders. I'm talking about diseases that can literally hurt your metabolism or kill you. If we speak in my terms of "HEALTHY", having a huge deficit is not detrimental to ones health. However, eating more does, as eating more causes Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Diseases, and many more diseases that literally cause death.


    As for being counter productive, it's only your opinion. I've never seen a diet or study that has ever said you must eat exercise calories back in order to lose weight FASTER.

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