Since exercise cals are an estimate

BaldBehemoth
BaldBehemoth Posts: 21 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello I am new here and was wondering since exercise cals are an estimate should I underlog them for a little more accurracy. For example using an exercise bike for an hour and only logging 45 mins and so on.

Replies

  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    Hello I am new here and was wondering since exercise cals are an estimate should I underlog them for a little more accurracy. For example using an exercise bike for an hour and only logging 45 mins and so on.

    I think most folks do it by logging the whole exercise time, but only eating half to two thirds of the calories back so they are safely within their calorie limits - saves doing too much maths!
  • gxm17
    gxm17 Posts: 374
    IMO, everyone is different. For some people, not eating all their calories back works, but for other people it doesn't. You can start by under logging but if you find that's not working, you should tweak your approach.
  • AyaKara
    AyaKara Posts: 220
    I don't log exercise. I eat my required calories, which is anything less than my TDEE & above my BMI. I eat less on days where I don't strength train & eat more on days when I do!

    If I were you, I would try to get my TDEE/ BMI & follow that method -- or log exercise & eat back 1/3 of my calories. Good luck, & don't forget to strength train! :flowerforyou:
  • schmenge55
    schmenge55 Posts: 745 Member
    Pretty much everything is an estimate, including how many calories in your base. I would log the exercise.
  • MechanickyGal
    MechanickyGal Posts: 1 Member
    It may be helpful to try a Heart Rate Monitor and/or one of the new pedometers to track your calories. I have found that using both gives me a petty accurate calorie count.
  • KarenJean91
    KarenJean91 Posts: 283 Member
    I'm afraid of that too. I log what the machine tells me, but make sure i stay under my calories. Personally, I don't eat back my burned calories.
  • lovechicagobears
    lovechicagobears Posts: 289 Member
    I use a heart rate monitor, input 20% of the final reading it gives me, and don't eat my exercise calories back (unless my stomach is growling and I'm truly hungry). Most heart rate monitors are off by 9-13%, according to medical studies I've read, so I figure 20% is a safe bet.

    I tend to overestimate on food (if I can't measure it) and underestimate on calories. It's worked so far. :)

    Also, I'm allowed 1800 calories per day, so I usually don't need to eat my exercise calories. My exercise very rarely brings me below 1200 calories. If I do have the growling-tummy hunger, I just have some cheese or something filling but small.
  • HaleyJoAnn
    HaleyJoAnn Posts: 50
    I don't log exercise. I eat my required calories, which is anything less than my TDEE & above my BMI. I eat less on days where I don't strength train & eat more on days when I do!

    If I were you, I would try to get my TDEE/ BMI & follow that method -- or log exercise & eat back 1/3 of my calories. Good luck, & don't forget to strength train! :flowerforyou:

    I do EXACTLY this too :)

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