Added Exercise Calories?

gracefullyjenn

I have a lot of weight to lose yet and was wondering if you should or shouldnt eat the extra calories you earn when exercising?

kingnatalie

Eat them, mfp already has you on a calorie deficit to lose weight without working out. You will need the energy and nutrients from these foods to fuel your body for the workout.

acureese

I agree, I always eat them, you don't want to be too low either. Your body needs those extra calories to restore glycogen levels/replenish muscles/re-energize...if you're too low in cals (like by not eating the added cals given with exercising), your body may hold onto the weight. However, I don't stress if, for example, I burn 600 calories and, with filling meals, am still under by 100...I just try and be close to it.

BrendaLee

Eat them, and enjoy! You're already feeding your body less than it wants, you don't want to create too big of a deficit or you'll never stick it out.

jillybeanruns

Eat them. I don't eat all of them though, usually around 1/2. I would try to eat them all and see what happens. It also depends on what your everyday calorie goal is as well though. I keep mine at 1600, so eating 1/2 puts me at 1900 or so. If you consume 1200 (which I wouldn't advise), you're going to need most if not all of those calories.

megzzwins

I usually eat about half of them.. If I burn 600 I will usually eat about 200 on a bar before I work out to give me energy to work out :-)

mom020305

I agree, eat them! I also was following the biggest loser online diet and it did not add your calories burned back in and had me at a 1200 cal diet (which based upon a professionals . For the past 2 weeks I actually gained 3 lbs! So I came back to MFP and I am eager to step on the scale Friday! Not sure when I was ever eager to get on a scale LOL

sdirks

Eat them. Just eat them.

See the post from Banks that I have in my signature. It's one of the most straight-forward, no-nonsense, easy-to-understand walk-throughs around. If you're still unsure, check the sticky posts under General Diet & Weight Loss. Those posts will talk what-to-eat until you're blue in the face, lol

freeflower3

I'm eating them. If I stop losing, I will re-assess.