1200-1500 calorie eaters...serious question...

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Replies

  • xSakura
    xSakura Posts: 288 Member
    I'm also 4'11" and I'm currently 189lbs. I personally have no problem with 1200 - 1300, but everyone's different :smile: I don't really get hungry, but if I do I just drink water or try to find something small to snack on.
  • JenniBaby85
    JenniBaby85 Posts: 855 Member
    I have a few questions for you...

    1. What's your height/ weight?

    2. Do you get REALLY REALLY hungry during the day? If not, was there an adjustment period?

    3. What do you eat to prevent feeling like death (if you answered that you're not hungry)?

    1) 5'6"/165lbs
    2) Not at all actually I usually feel really good on 1200 calories a day. Sometimes it's a struggle for me to get UP to 1200 calories.
    3) Lots of fresh fruits, veggies. Basically clean eating, and at LEAST 8 glasses of water a day. (I waver sometimes in the "clean" aspect)
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    I have a little under 100 pounds to lose and I eat 1300/day. Typically I find this satisfying, there are only some days where I feel kind of hungry. I'm sedentary (unemployed right now) and I have a lot of weight to lose. Not sure if that makes much of a difference. I eat whatever I want, nothing specific.
  • kdub67
    kdub67 Posts: 181 Member
    I'm 5'6" and weigh 134...I'm on 1200 a day and I burn about 450 calories exercising 6 days a week. I try to eat back about half of my exercise calories, which kind of evens out any "bad" meals I have on the weekends. No, honestly, I'm not hungry on 1200 (or 1400 eating back the exercise cals). I think for me it's that I eat a REALLY late breakfast; like 10:30 or 11. I work out around 9:00 every morning (stay at home mom) and I can't eat before working out. Since breakfast is late, lunch is late, too. I have an afternoon snack then dinner at a normal time. I always have a bit of chocolate after dinner if I've got the calories left for it.
  • WDEvy
    WDEvy Posts: 814 Member
    I eat between 1400-1600 depending of how big of a workout I do.. I'm really not hungry. I eat a big breakfast.. Smaller lunch ( I was never ever one for big lunches anyways and a big dinner and I always have a snack/dessert around 8-9 pm.. So I'm never hungry nor weak nor do I deprive myself of anything. I don't intend to go down from where I am right now unless I plateau ( then I'll go up)

    That said, I don't understand the 1200 cals

    I'm 5'6" 227 and I workout 6-7 days a week.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    when i first joined MFP, i did 1200 cals plus exercise cals...basically for two years or so. I went from Obese to "normal".... I don't remember feeling hungry a lot. I ate lots of low calorie foods= like salads and vegetables. If i wanted more food, I ate it...but I'd run for it. That whole thing worked for me.

    I ended up at a weight that was scary low (for me) and kinda freaked for two reasons (1) I was at a scary low weight, and (2) I still didn't look the way I wanted to. I don't want to be "skinny" I want to be "fit." So on the advice of others, I upped my cals to about 1800 (my TDEE at my goal weight) and started lifting weights. I ended up putting on 15 lbs and a little bit of body fat (and I'm sure some muscle too!).

    So after gaining 15 lbs, I freaked again and lowered my cals to 1300 plus exercise cals.

    I find this whole how to eat while lifting thing more complicated than it probably should be. I see ladies with ripped abs who eat way more than I do and of course that is exactly what I want....but I'm struggling a bit to find my groove there.

    Oh. And I catch myself feeling hungry more now than I did back then...probably because weight lifting takes more outta ya than just cardio does. And on lifting days, I let myself eat as long as I focus on protein. On non-lifting days, I try to stick to 1300 plus whatever I "earned" in cardio.

    I'm 5'4", 135 lbs.
  • xSakura
    xSakura Posts: 288 Member
    I eat average 700 calories every day in an average week

    That's really, really unhealthy.. :ohwell:
  • Fat2Fit145
    Fat2Fit145 Posts: 385 Member
    I have a few questions for you...

    1. What's your height/ weight?

    2. Do you get REALLY REALLY hungry during the day? If not, was there an adjustment period?

    3. What do you eat to prevent feeling like death (if you answered that you're not hungry)?

    That is all. It's always puzzled me that at only 4'11 and pretty petite I feel like DEATH if I eat under 1800 calories (to lose weight). I just cannot understand how people adhere to less than that and not cave after 12-16 hours. I think I'd become a binge eater overnight (and I'm being 100% serious). Maybe it's just that I don't have that kind of will power--or maybe it's an adjustment that's hard for everyone in the beginning stages.

    In any case, my main point in posting this is that I'm really curious if you are actually HUNGRY and you just resist or if you're fine with your intake.

    ***I'm not attempting a 1200-1500 calorie diet...I am just curious.***

    1. Height is 5'2, Weight is between 170-175

    2. No i dont get hungry AT ALL..... there was no adjustment.

    Not sure how, but im never hungry.... YES I've gone over 1200 at times, but not becasue I was hungry, just pure lack of self control.... if anything, you crave stuff, but its a difference to being HUNGRY.
  • trophywife24
    trophywife24 Posts: 1,472 Member
    have a few questions for you...

    1. What's your height/ weight? 5'2, 124 pounds

    2. Do you get REALLY REALLY hungry during the day? If not, was there an adjustment period? Nope

    3. What do you eat to prevent feeling like death (if you answered that you're not hungry)? I don't eat a lot of sugar (most days, everyone has their days) and eat a lot of protein. I feel best around 1400 cals if I'm trying to loose.

    Everyone's different.. you (general you) do what works for you, I'll do what works for me and we will all live in harmony... or something..
  • Wow, that is awesome. Any pointers on how to get started? I want to jump in and get it done, but motivation is hard to come by because I am a mom of 3 (13, 11 and 13 mo old), I have a full time job and I work 7a-5p, so by the time I get home, I tend to the baby, make dinner for the family and when that is all done, it's about 9pm.

    I am 5"8 and I weigh 207. My goal is to get to 170-175, but just starting is really hard :(
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    I just don't think that the vast majority of people need to restrict their calories that drastically.

    I was on your friends list too and got booted, not that I'm sore about it or anything, but you really should think about those of us who are not blessed with an active lifestyle and a fast metabolism. Most of us on this board probably wish we could eat like you, but we stick to eating when we are hungry and no more. We deal with a slight bit of hunger throughout the day, but we aren't starving.

    Most of us would gain or maintain on 1800 calories, simply from our lifestyle. I have a desk job, and between it and the car, I don't move probably 90% of the time I'm awake. And I hate it. But i like $ so I compromise with myself.

    If I were in your shoes, eating 1800+ I would probably feel the same way, HOW could all you people starve yourselves like that! what are you doing?

    I personally think that there is something fundamentally wrong with a TDEE and BMR calculator that doesn't take genetics into account. They are ballpark guesses, and as ballparks, I'd imagine they could be up to 20% wrong in either direction...

    20% of 1800 calories is 360 calories, or 1440 at the low end, and 2160 calories going the other way. That's a range in calorie content of 720 Kcal.. That's an entire meal or a meal and a half for some people!!

    You are a 175lb male wondering how a 110-120ish 4'11" female can eat more than you?

    Yes TDEE's are estimates. That is why you should use your own data over time to determine what you actually require. And constantly undereating doesn't really tell you a whole lot. I too thought I had a "slow metabolism" at one stage and maintenance of around 2000. It wasn't until I upped my calories that I realised that I could actually maintain at around 2700.

    This needs to be posted again. For all you very low cal dieters you should take a look. And no you don't need to be a bodybuilder to gain some knowledge from this.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QHHzie6XRGk
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    This was all when I wasn't pregnant:

    5'9" - weight ranged between 130-160.
    When I was losing I ate between 1200-1400 NET (ate my exercise cals back)
    I honestly wasn't hungry during the day and mostly stuck to coffee with milk and sugar until dinner time (on work days) and then I'd have a large, filling but healthy dinner. By "dinner" I mean all the food I ate between 6pm and 1am, not in one go, and it would usually be around 1200 or more calories. I never felt like I was starving and didn't need to exercise willpower.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I am 4'11" as well. 145lbs and 30 years old (not as well) My TDEE-20% right now is just under 1500 calories. I eat 1500 most days.

    I am satisfied on 1500 cals 90% of the time. But honestly, you have you realize (I know this from previously being on your friends list) that you are more active than the average female! I would be starving all the time if I was as active as you are. If I started being active at your age. I am 30 now and wasted alot of years and now I have to work up to being half as active as you are!

    Once I start upping my game when is comes to activity I will eat more calories and this conversation will become irrelevant! lol

    Anyway, I don't know if that is what you were looking for, but that is the truth!

    I'm actually HUNGRIER when I'm less active so I don't think that has much to do with why I could never do 1200 calories. I'd fail even worse if I was inactive since those are my highest calorie days.

    Hah, I am the same as you. I can easily keep below 1800 if I exercise, but when I have rest days or get unwell and cannot workout, I seem to be starving hungry.
    I have not done 1200-1500 since I came here, I could not do it and would not, I prefer to not mess my body around further than I already did in my past. And low calorie intakes do eventually mess with the metabolism and with the set point weight.
    I eat anywhere from 1670 - 2200 a day and with exercise can maintain a lower end bmi on that, so never felt any need to follow the 'adjust to being hungry' route. Heck, I get hungry on 1670 on rest days, lol.
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    You are a 175lb male wondering how a 110-120ish 4'11" female can eat more than you?

    Yes TDEE's are estimates. That is why you should use your own data over time to determine what you actually require. And constantly undereating doesn't really tell you a whole lot. I too thought I had a "slow metabolism" at one stage and maintenance of around 2000. It wasn't until I upped my calories that I realised that I could actually maintain at around 2700.

    This needs to be posted again. For all you very low cal dieters you should take a look. And no you don't need to be a bodybuilder to gain some knowledge from this.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QHHzie6XRGk

    I think the defenition of "constantly" needs to be revised, I don't conssitently eat at 1200 or below ALL the time. This last weekend I threw out the rule book and ate above what I normally do to try and get my body back to losing consistently. I could have eaten as many as 2500 calories each day this last saturday and sunday, not to mention about 1800 calories on friday evening. Mostly white rice, tuna, avocado, crab, some bacon, tomatoes, a little cucumber.

    I had sushi.

    So no, I am not "constantly" undereating, I am "frequently" creating a calorie deficit, with periodic refeeds.

    My fewd journal is open, wtf? Is it that hard to check the log of someone who you're going to b!tchslap for being an overweight guy who is eating less?
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    I just don't think that the vast majority of people need to restrict their calories that drastically.

    I was on your friends list too and got booted, not that I'm sore about it or anything, but you really should think about those of us who are not blessed with an active lifestyle and a fast metabolism. Most of us on this board probably wish we could eat like you, but we stick to eating when we are hungry and no more. We deal with a slight bit of hunger throughout the day, but we aren't starving.

    Most of us would gain or maintain on 1800 calories, simply from our lifestyle. I have a desk job, and between it and the car, I don't move probably 90% of the time I'm awake. And I hate it. But i like $ so I compromise with myself.

    If I were in your shoes, eating 1800+ I would probably feel the same way, HOW could all you people starve yourselves like that! what are you doing?

    I personally think that there is something fundamentally wrong with a TDEE and BMR calculator that doesn't take genetics into account. They are ballpark guesses, and as ballparks, I'd imagine they could be up to 20% wrong in either direction...

    20% of 1800 calories is 360 calories, or 1440 at the low end, and 2160 calories going the other way. That's a range in calorie content of 720 Kcal.. That's an entire meal or a meal and a half for some people!!
    Cry me a river.

    I work at a desk, my only active time is 1 hour to and 1 1/2 every other day training. I sit on my *kitten* the rest of the time, playing xbox or watching tv.

    I am consuming 3000+ calories and I still can't hold my weight at 200lbs.

    You're just scared of "getting fat".

    Oh and regarding the genetics comment. I use to be one of those people who cried genetics! I actually researched and put what I learned into action.
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    .
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    I just don't think that the vast majority of people need to restrict their calories that drastically.

    I was on your friends list too and got booted, not that I'm sore about it or anything, but you really should think about those of us who are not blessed with an active lifestyle and a fast metabolism. Most of us on this board probably wish we could eat like you, but we stick to eating when we are hungry and no more. We deal with a slight bit of hunger throughout the day, but we aren't starving.

    Most of us would gain or maintain on 1800 calories, simply from our lifestyle. I have a desk job, and between it and the car, I don't move probably 90% of the time I'm awake. And I hate it. But i like $ so I compromise with myself.

    If I were in your shoes, eating 1800+ I would probably feel the same way, HOW could all you people starve yourselves like that! what are you doing?

    I personally think that there is something fundamentally wrong with a TDEE and BMR calculator that doesn't take genetics into account. They are ballpark guesses, and as ballparks, I'd imagine they could be up to 20% wrong in either direction...

    20% of 1800 calories is 360 calories, or 1440 at the low end, and 2160 calories going the other way. That's a range in calorie content of 720 Kcal.. That's an entire meal or a meal and a half for some people!!
    Cry me a river.

    I work at a desk, my only active time is 1 hour to and 1 1/2 every other day training. I sit on my *kitten* the rest of the time, playing xbox or watching tv.

    I am consuming 3000+ calories and I still can't hold my weight at 200lbs.

    You're just scared of "getting fat".

    Oh and regarding the genetics comment. I use to be one of those people who cried genetics! I actually researched and put what I learned into action.

    Eat my *******.

    I'm 5'5" tall and I look like porky the pig. Beer guts and chunky face.

    I'm not scared of getting fat i AM fat
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    I just don't think that the vast majority of people need to restrict their calories that drastically.

    I was on your friends list too and got booted, not that I'm sore about it or anything, but you really should think about those of us who are not blessed with an active lifestyle and a fast metabolism. Most of us on this board probably wish we could eat like you, but we stick to eating when we are hungry and no more. We deal with a slight bit of hunger throughout the day, but we aren't starving.

    Most of us would gain or maintain on 1800 calories, simply from our lifestyle. I have a desk job, and between it and the car, I don't move probably 90% of the time I'm awake. And I hate it. But i like $ so I compromise with myself.

    If I were in your shoes, eating 1800+ I would probably feel the same way, HOW could all you people starve yourselves like that! what are you doing?

    I personally think that there is something fundamentally wrong with a TDEE and BMR calculator that doesn't take genetics into account. They are ballpark guesses, and as ballparks, I'd imagine they could be up to 20% wrong in either direction...

    20% of 1800 calories is 360 calories, or 1440 at the low end, and 2160 calories going the other way. That's a range in calorie content of 720 Kcal.. That's an entire meal or a meal and a half for some people!!
    Cry me a river.

    I work at a desk, my only active time is 1 hour to and 1 1/2 every other day training. I sit on my *kitten* the rest of the time, playing xbox or watching tv.

    I am consuming 3000+ calories and I still can't hold my weight at 200lbs.

    You're just scared of "getting fat".

    Oh and regarding the genetics comment. I use to be one of those people who cried genetics! I actually researched and put what I learned into action.

    Eat my *******.

    I'm 5'5" tall and I look like porky the pig. Beer guts and chunky face.

    I'm not scared of getting fat i AM fat
    I am 6ft and was 315lb.

    What is your point exactly?
  • Danilynn1975
    Danilynn1975 Posts: 294 Member
    Chris usually has a very healthy, nice looking food diary. He is an upbeat person and a positive friend.

    Try being nicer to people you don't know. Blanket judgements about how someone eats without an eating disorder isn't cool.

    He knows his body, he lives in it 24/7. He also is learning just like most of us what works for him and what doesn't.

    Chris keep on keeping on. Do what works for you.
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    I have a great idea!
    How about everyone do whats best for them and save the judgement for the mirror.
  • TylerJ76
    TylerJ76 Posts: 4,375 Member
    I just don't think that the vast majority of people need to restrict their calories that drastically.

    I was on your friends list too and got booted, not that I'm sore about it or anything, but you really should think about those of us who are not blessed with an active lifestyle and a fast metabolism. Most of us on this board probably wish we could eat like you, but we stick to eating when we are hungry and no more. We deal with a slight bit of hunger throughout the day, but we aren't starving.

    Most of us would gain or maintain on 1800 calories, simply from our lifestyle. I have a desk job, and between it and the car, I don't move probably 90% of the time I'm awake. And I hate it. But i like $ so I compromise with myself.

    If I were in your shoes, eating 1800+ I would probably feel the same way, HOW could all you people starve yourselves like that! what are you doing?

    I personally think that there is something fundamentally wrong with a TDEE and BMR calculator that doesn't take genetics into account. They are ballpark guesses, and as ballparks, I'd imagine they could be up to 20% wrong in either direction...

    20% of 1800 calories is 360 calories, or 1440 at the low end, and 2160 calories going the other way. That's a range in calorie content of 720 Kcal.. That's an entire meal or a meal and a half for some people!!
    Cry me a river.

    I work at a desk, my only active time is 1 hour to and 1 1/2 every other day training. I sit on my *kitten* the rest of the time, playing xbox or watching tv.

    I am consuming 3000+ calories and I still can't hold my weight at 200lbs.

    You're just scared of "getting fat".

    Oh and regarding the genetics comment. I use to be one of those people who cried genetics! I actually researched and put what I learned into action.

    Eat my *******.

    I'm 5'5" tall and I look like porky the pig. Beer guts and chunky face.

    I'm not scared of getting fat i AM fat

    Mature one, you are..
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I just don't think that the vast majority of people need to restrict their calories that drastically.

    I was on your friends list too and got booted, not that I'm sore about it or anything, but you really should think about those of us who are not blessed with an active lifestyle and a fast metabolism. Most of us on this board probably wish we could eat like you, but we stick to eating when we are hungry and no more. We deal with a slight bit of hunger throughout the day, but we aren't starving.

    Most of us would gain or maintain on 1800 calories, simply from our lifestyle. I have a desk job, and between it and the car, I don't move probably 90% of the time I'm awake. And I hate it. But i like $ so I compromise with myself.

    If I were in your shoes, eating 1800+ I would probably feel the same way, HOW could all you people starve yourselves like that! what are you doing?

    I personally think that there is something fundamentally wrong with a TDEE and BMR calculator that doesn't take genetics into account. They are ballpark guesses, and as ballparks, I'd imagine they could be up to 20% wrong in either direction...

    20% of 1800 calories is 360 calories, or 1440 at the low end, and 2160 calories going the other way. That's a range in calorie content of 720 Kcal.. That's an entire meal or a meal and a half for some people!!

    I have a desk job and am lazy outside the gym. I have a pretty average metabolism (the whole fast metabolism is usually bs tbh). I strength train 4 - 5 days a week for about 1 - 1/12 hours. I maintain on about 2,200 calories. And I am a 45 year old woman. I do not get how a 27 year old male who weighs more than me maintains on only 1,800.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    I just don't think that the vast majority of people need to restrict their calories that drastically.

    I was on your friends list too and got booted, not that I'm sore about it or anything, but you really should think about those of us who are not blessed with an active lifestyle and a fast metabolism. Most of us on this board probably wish we could eat like you, but we stick to eating when we are hungry and no more. We deal with a slight bit of hunger throughout the day, but we aren't starving.

    Most of us would gain or maintain on 1800 calories, simply from our lifestyle. I have a desk job, and between it and the car, I don't move probably 90% of the time I'm awake. And I hate it. But i like $ so I compromise with myself.

    If I were in your shoes, eating 1800+ I would probably feel the same way, HOW could all you people starve yourselves like that! what are you doing?

    I personally think that there is something fundamentally wrong with a TDEE and BMR calculator that doesn't take genetics into account. They are ballpark guesses, and as ballparks, I'd imagine they could be up to 20% wrong in either direction...

    20% of 1800 calories is 360 calories, or 1440 at the low end, and 2160 calories going the other way. That's a range in calorie content of 720 Kcal.. That's an entire meal or a meal and a half for some people!!

    I have a desk job and am a lazy bish outside the gym. I have a pretty average metabolism (the whole fast metabolism is usually bs tbh). I strength train 4 - 5 days a week for about 1 - 1/12 hours. I maintain on about 2,200 calories. And I am a 45 year old woman. I do not get how a 27 year old male who weighs more than me maintains on only 1,800.
    It's funny you mentioned. I remember reading one stating that the variance between individuals is only like 1-3%. Of course you have your metabolic "genetic" freaks. I just need to find that study.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member

    You're just scared of "getting fat".


    Wait, are you mocking people for being afraid of getting fat? On a weight loss forum? Where most of us are trying to, you know, lose fat and then not get fat again?

    Dude, I think you need to check your browser. You obviously forgot that you're on MFP, where the fat people go.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    not really but I mup the cals when I workout and keep them lower on days I don't 5 foot 8 eat about 1300 cals a day 1500 on days I workout
  • Siege_Tank
    Siege_Tank Posts: 781 Member
    It's funny you mentioned. I remember reading one stating that the variance between individuals is only like 1-3%. Of course you have your metabolic "genetic" freaks. I just need to find that study.

    If you used to be 315 lbs, then you're now on the other side of the looking glass Alice. Don't forget how it felt to be over on *this* side
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I eat average 700 calories every day in an average week(I class binge week) and I don't get hungry? I'm only 4" 11 as well. Maybe it;s because I go for 24 hours without eating every week at one point, so my body's just relieved to get food.. ormaybe my stomach has shrunk

    700? is that a typo?

    It is not a typo, if you check her profile, she has an eating disorder and is aiming to be 80Ibs at 5'.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member

    You're just scared of "getting fat".


    Wait, are you mocking people for being afraid of getting fat? On a weight loss forum? Where most of us are trying to, you know, lose fat and then not get fat again?

    Dude, I think you need to check your browser. You obviously forgot that you're on MFP, where the fat people go.
    Me mocking? Of course not. I am not going to explain my life story but I have been there. Drastically cutting calories, endless hours of cardio, so I wouldn't get any more fatter.

    So, I suggest you read the profile of the poster before you speak... Commander Shepard.
  • splitdog79
    splitdog79 Posts: 106 Member
    1. What's your height/ weight?

    5' 7", currently 229 lbs.

    2. Do you get REALLY REALLY hungry during the day? If not, was there an adjustment period?

    Sometimes I get hungry, but usually by the time I do it's either time for a meal or I eat a snack like a hard-boiled egg or some popcorn or something.

    3. What do you eat to prevent feeling like death (if you answered that you're not hungry)?

    I find it beneficial to eat the majority of calories in heavy breakfast and lunch, and snacks. I usually eat a light dinner unless I have a ton of calories to spare.
  • ohheyy125
    ohheyy125 Posts: 295 Member
    1. What's your height/ weight?
    5'2", 131.4 lbs today

    2. Do you get REALLY REALLY hungry during the day? If not, was there an adjustment period?
    Some days are easier than others. But yes, now that I'm USED to logging everything and staying under for so long, it's become a heck of a lot easier. I snack on healthy things if I'm hungry and I learn to ignore cravings. If I know I'm going to be ordering pizza with friends later or going out to eat, I "save" my calories, meaning I basically eat as little as possible throughout the day in order to be able to stay within calories. It's not as hard as it sounds. It's very worth it.

    3. What do you eat to prevent feeling like death:
    Most days, I don't plan on "saving" my calories, I just like to eat a bunch of well planed healthy mini-meals. Cut up cucumber, grapes, nuts, odwalla fiber bars are my current favorite thing. Apples, nature's promise snacks, wolfgang puck organic soups (yum btw), I eat goldfish crackers because I love them. Just as healthy and delicious as possible.

    I workout about 4 times a week, sometimes 3 sometimes 5, and I try to burn about 300 calories. Nothing too crazy so that's why staying within calories and making healthier choices is important. I don't eat back my exercise calories. HOWEVER, since my diet was never TOO out of control and I've only been making small changes in my diet such as less fatty coffee, whole grains over white, logging everything that enters my mouth, etc, the gym has been incredibly helpful. I know they say its about 80% diet, 20% exercise, but in my case it's about 50/50. Gym has toned my giggly legs faster that I ever imagined and dropped inches real quick! And I mostly stick to cardio!