Do you eat back your burned calories?

r0se125

I am just curious how many people eat back all of their burned calories? In general I try not to, but I am now trying to really burn them. I'm pushing myself harder I want these last 20lbs to come off. So just curious how others have lost the last bit of weight and if they ate back calories burned or stayed in their original calorie intake for the day?

DenyseMarieL

I eat back my burned calories. It says I can, so I do it. I've lost inches, but not that many pounds. I like to think I've built some muscle.... ; )

sophayz

i eat back some of it ... usually never more then half or i feel like i am cheating

kenazfehu

Not all of them. I like to leave margin for error.

phyllio77

I try to eat um all up....your muscles need them to do what ever it is muscles do when you are losing fat.

dg09

Yes. If you're using MFP correctly and logging your exercise calories, you should be eating them back.

PHXBlondie

I only eat a portion of them back. If I eat them all back, it tends to stall my weight loss.

BITEME_GRRR

you should eat them. over time your body will lose the weight...just consume a little less than what you use if you starve yourself then your metabolism will slow down...

rachelerwin

I never do.

ChancyW

Haha! Never!!

Lrdoflamancha

50 % of them, only

Erienneb

Not all of them. I like to leave margin for error.

This. I also try to focus on protein intake after a workout to make the calories most effective.

r0se125

Thanks for the responses. Kinda what I was thinking. Today was the first time since starting this that I really burnt a BIG number of calories so was not sure how to handle it lol. and I track EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth and any real exercise that I do.

boughtthedress

I try not to eat back my burned calories and stick to my original calorie goal. I have been "on again/off again" posting my food and activity, and find that when I post and do not consume my burned calories my weight goes down. I am down 10 lbs since the summer and looking to drop 15 more by the end of the year. :happy:

Alissakae

I don't. Although I am exercising five or six days per week, I count on that to help me burn the fat (I'm at the beginning of a long journey) so I stay within my calorie limit and consider what I burn off with exercise a bonus. Although......my trainer told me to increase my calories substantially from what MFP recommended, so maybe I actually AM eating my exercise calories, lol. I have lost almost 30 pounds since the end of July, so it's working for me.

determinedbutlazy

Yes. If you're using MFP correctly and logging your exercise calories, you should be eating them back.

^ The man who has lost 194lbs gets my vote for the correct answer.

I eat mine back unless it's over a thousand calories burned, just because I find it hard to eat that much extra food.

kjjm08

Yes. If you're using MFP correctly and logging your exercise calories, you should be eating them back.

^ The man who has lost 194lbs gets my vote for the correct answer.

I eat mine back unless it's over a thousand calories burned, just because I find it hard to eat that much extra food.

I agree with both of these posters

moontyrant

All the time, because I'm bad. Usually, though, it's because I'm not paying attention and I eat something that is astronomically bad for me, and I end up trying to burn it off so I can have dinner later.

Flowers4Julia

I always have! And, especially now with maintaining. If I didn't I'd be severely low in calories for the day as my maintenance cals are 1450. If I dance/exercise off 400 then it's just not enough to live on healthfully.

That said, I only eat back my net exercise calories. That means I subtract my resting calories from whatever my HRM says I've burned.

IT HAS DEFINITELY WORKED FOR ME :drinker:

rpm2012

Depends, I believe MFP over counts calories burned for exercise. When I eat all of the exercise calories back I lose weight very slowly, or maintain weight. This could be because MFP has not accurately determined my BMR. I have stopped eating my exercise calories back about a week and a half ago and have broken out of a slight plateau. When I originally lost 100 lbs last year I did not eat them back. I have about 20-25 lbs to go, when I reach that goal I will start eating back the calories burned.

r0se125

I ate back some. I've been eating 1200 calories for so long now its hard to eat more then that lol. Thank you again everyone who answered I read all the post and definantly taking them all into account. ur all awesome and great job with your weight losses

Motleybird

I don't, but only because I'm using the TDEE calculation that already has my exercise averaged in. It seems easier to have a set amount each day rather than the variation between workout and rest days.

megsmom2

I do. The system works. And I eat very well.

Pebble321

Why wouldn't you? If you are using MFP to calculate your daily calorie allowance then calories burned through exercise form part of your daily calorie allowance. By not eating them you are just picking an arbitrary number of calories to eat, so there's really no point in bothering to calculate a goal.

(I take the point that all the numbers we work with are estimates, but just ignoring what can be quite a significant part of your daily calorie intake doesn't makes sense to me. It's like saying I'll eat the calories burned by breathing but not by sleeping - not very logical!)

If you don't like the way that MFP calculates calories, then by all means use a different system (like Motleybird above) You are still "eating back your calories", you just don't have to separate them out from the other parts that make up your calorie requirements for the day. Saying "I don't eat back calories that I burn" just isn't true because we are all "eating back burnt calories" every day.

ElizaRoche

No I dont, never have.

Lyssa62

nope I am afraid there is too much error in the guesstimating of calories burned for any activity.

mjrkearney

I tend to eat back some of them, but rarely all. Some days I find it hard to reach my MFP calorie count without going over on my macros. Generally, though, I try not to go over 1400 calories per day, since my nutritionist had me at 12-1400 and MFP only has me at 1240. I figure if my body is burning those 1240 no matter what I do, a little extra fuel and building materials are needed for exercising.

Julicat6

I only eat a portion of them back. If I eat them all back, it tends to stall my weight loss.

This^^^
I eat back a portion of them..usually around 1/2. If I eat them all back I plateau and if I don't eat any of them I plateau(lerned this while using another plan) it seems to be holding true for MFP as well. It seems like most days that puts my calories 1500-1700, once I am at maintenance I'll eat back more. I have what I consider a very efficient metabolism. :huh: My body conserves every calorie and burns at little as possible, I could survive a famine:laugh: If i got a good bit of extra burn then I will eat a bit more, especially if I am feeling hungry.

DaisyHamilton

Hell yeah, I get hungry!

dorianaldyn

I eat some of them back, but not all. I don't use a heart rate monitor, so I'm operating under the assumption that my calories burned figure is way off, so I'd rather just err on the side of caution.

I listen to my body though, I'm not walking around starving and ravenous on those days that I'm below 1200 net. I'm also short (5'2") so eating 1200 doesn't feel like I'm really restricting myself as long as I make good food choices.

wazzanz

only if i'm hungry or going out and drink them.

I might also eat a bit more knowing i'm going to the gym. Say a banana before or protein shake afterward.

No point going through the McDonald's drive in to eat back for the sake of it.