Why You Shouldn’t Eat Back Exercise Calories

Kris1997

bump^^

Helloitsdan

a) this is a blog post on someone's tumblr, not an article

b) they are describing a tdee-based approach to calorie deficits which is a perfectly good approach (and in fact the one i follow)

But comparing this to MFP is sort of apples and oranges. The MFP calorie target is not TDEE; it's an estimate of daily activity sans exercise; therefore when following the MFP calorie target, one SHOULD eat back the exercise calories.

So, pick one - Eat a flat TDEE sans deficit; or Eat the MFP target + exercise calories. You don't mix and match both.

If you go by the MFP number and don't "eat back exercise calories", then you're doing it wrong.

Brunner26_2

I eat as little as I can stand every day. Sometimes that includes my exercise calories, sometimes not. What I don't like is people telling others what they should and should not do.

A better topic would have been: Why I Don't Eat Back Exercise Calories.

I disagree. People should lose weight in a healthy way, not just whichever way works. Would you complain about a topic being "Why you should not eat rat poison" vs "Why I should not eat rat poison?" Probably not.

If you eat your exercise calories back and you're not making progress toward your goal, it means your numbers are off. You're not accurately logging food or exercise, or your energy requirements are off, or both. This is assuming you're going by the MFP method of net calories, and not the average TDEE method.

I'm not saying that it won't work, but people who say "I don't lose weight if I eat my exercise calories" are mistaken. A more accurate statement is that without exercise they don't create a very big deficit and don't lose weight.

DebbieLyn63

If you eat your exercise calories back and you're not making progress toward your goal, it means your numbers are off. You're not accurately logging food or exercise, or your energy requirements are off, or both. This is assuming you're going by the MFP method of net calories, and not the average TDEE method.

I'm not saying that it won't work, but people who say "I don't lose weight if I eat my exercise calories" are mistaken. A more accurate statement is that without exercise they don't create a very big deficit and don't lose weight.

Good point. My TDEE without exercise is only 1600. Since MFP won't suggest less than 1200, then my deficit is only 400. If I want a larger deficit, then I have to exercise without eating back the calories. Does that sound better?

drgndancer

NEVER eat bananas.

Why would you not want to eat a little load of vitamins and minerals? I don't even like the things, but I eat them because they're such excellent little all natural vitamin pills.

AngryDiet

NEVER eat bananas.

Why would you not want to eat a little load of vitamins and minerals? I don't even like the things, but I eat them because they're such excellent little all natural vitamin pills.

I think of bananas as sugar sticks.

chivalryder

TavistockToad

a) this is a blog post on someone's tumblr, not an article

b) they are describing a tdee-based approach to calorie deficits which is a perfectly good approach (and in fact the one i follow)

But comparing this to MFP is sort of apples and oranges. The MFP calorie target is not TDEE; it's an estimate of daily activity sans exercise; therefore when following the MFP calorie target, one SHOULD eat back the exercise calories.

So, pick one - Eat a flat TDEE sans deficit; or Eat the MFP target + exercise calories. You don't mix and match both.

If you go by the MFP number and don't "eat back exercise calories", then you're doing it wrong.

this!

TheVimFuego

I don't exercise and try to avoid the pies.

It simplifies things for me greatly.

I also eat a large banana daily, top nutrition

allthenamesaretaken1

hmm banana isnt the same as a lollipop.

Anyway...

I eat back my calories. I am 188 lbs. On a sedentary level I need a little over 2000 calories to maintain this weight. I set my calorie goal to 1500 calories. Even at my goal of 120 lbs I need at least 1600 calories to maintain that weight.

If I eat 1500 calories and then burn 500 calories working out I am looking at netting 1000 calories for that day. A deficit of 1000 calories a day! A little too much weight loss for me thank you. If I keep going that way I will reach starvation mode. So yes. I eat some of my calories back.

AngryDiet

hmm banana isnt the same as a lollipop.

You're right. There's usually less sugar in a lollipop.

sujenwujen

a) this is a blog post on someone's tumblr, not an article

b) they are describing a tdee-based approach to calorie deficits which is a perfectly good approach (and in fact the one i follow)

But comparing this to MFP is sort of apples and oranges. The MFP calorie target is not TDEE; it's an estimate of daily activity sans exercise; therefore when following the MFP calorie target, one SHOULD eat back the exercise calories.

So, pick one - Eat a flat TDEE sans deficit; or Eat the MFP target + exercise calories. You don't mix and match both.

If you go by the MFP number and don't "eat back exercise calories", then you're doing it wrong.

^^This

chivalryder

hmm banana isnt the same as a lollipop.

You're right. There's usually less sugar in a lollipop.

It's also a completely different type of sugar - fructose instead of sucrose. Sucrose is broken down incredibly quickly in your digestive tract. Fructose breaks down nearly as slowly as protein. They will both have a very, very different effect on your body.

You cannot get a sugar high from eating bananas.

secretlobster

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Deipneus

"I disagree. People should lose weight in a healthy way, not just whichever way works. Would you complain about a topic being "Why you should not eat rat poison" vs "Why I should not eat rat poison?" Probably not. "

Wow. If you think the answer to this question is as clear cut as whether or not to eat rat poison, then have I got some broscience for you!

AngryDiet

hmm banana isnt the same as a lollipop.

You're right. There's usually less sugar in a lollipop.

It's also a completely different type of sugar - fructose instead of sucrose. Sucrose is broken down incredibly quickly in your digestive tract. Fructose breaks down nearly as slowly as protein. They will both have a very, very different effect on your body.

You cannot get a sugar high from eating bananas.

Sorry, I'm a macro kinda guy. I don't care about all that bro science... and to be clear, what you posted may or may not be bro science. Point is, I really have no way of knowing.

Hey, I eat lots of sugar. I'm not that fussy. But I do skip the bananas to get my carbs in more pleasurable ways.

sujenwujen

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

^^THIS!!! (Genius!)

chivalryder

hmm banana isnt the same as a lollipop.

You're right. There's usually less sugar in a lollipop.

It's also a completely different type of sugar - fructose instead of sucrose. Sucrose is broken down incredibly quickly in your digestive tract. Fructose breaks down nearly as slowly as protein. They will both have a very, very different effect on your body.

You cannot get a sugar high from eating bananas.

Sorry, I'm a macro kinda guy. I don't care about all that bro science... and to be clear, what you posted may or may not be bro science. Point is, I really have no way of knowing.

Hey, I eat lots of sugar. I'm not that fussy. But I do skip the bananas to get my carbs in more pleasurable ways.

Can't argue with that! I like my chocolate which too has a lot of carbs, but are jacked full of good things like anti-oxidants (mind you, I only eat dark because I have issues with dairy).

There's a reason why you see all of the cyclists in the Tour de France scarfing down bananas all day long!! They're also full of potassium which is vital for strong athletic performance!

PetulantOne

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

There should be a clapping smiley on here.

AngryDiet

There's a reason why you see all of the cyclists in the Tour de France scarfing down bananas all day long!! They're also full of potassium which is vital for strong athletic performance!

I thought maybe they helped mask the drugs.