I don't want to eat up my calories burned from working out

kelfer80 · January 2013

I'M BRINGING UP THIS TOPIC B/C A FEW PEOPLE SEEM TO BE CONCERNED THAT I'M "STARVING" MY BODY B/C I'M NOT EATING UP MY WORKOUT CALORIES. I KNOW THAT THE "BEST" WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF IS TO ONLY LOSE 1-2 LBS A WEEK (500 CAL DEFICIT/DAY). I ALSO KNOW THAT WEIGHT LOSS IS A SIMPLE EQUATION. YOU HAVE TO CREATE A CALORIE DEFICIT! YOU CAN DO THIS BY LOWERING YOU CALORIES/INCREASING YOUR WORKOUT. MY QUESTION IS, IF I BUST MY HUMP BURNING AN EXTRA 700 CALORIES WHY WOULD I WANT TO EAT THOSE CALORIES? I DON'T THINK ANYONE WAS BEING MEAN ONLY CONCERNED. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO SEVERAL PPL WHO DON'T EVEN RECORD THEIR CALORIES BURNED FOR THIS REASON. JUST CURIOUS WHAT YOU ALL THINK?

foleyshirley · January 2013

I'm so tired of this topic. My question is why are you yelling. If you don't want to eat them, don't. When you stall, and you probably will, you can post another thread

.

Chief_Rocka · January 2013

I think you're going to eventually hit a plateau and become frustrated.

MidwestAngel · January 2013

You must be really frustrated to be yelling so much.

itsuki · January 2013

Go for it. Do what you want. You'll see short-term results and then nothing. I'll be waiting for your next post:

I'M BRINGING UP THIS TOPIC B/C I'M PRETTY CONCERNED THAT I'M NOT LOSING ANY MORE... I SWEAR I'M NOT STARVING MY BODY BUT THE SCALE WON'T GO DOWN. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

Ge0rgiana · January 2013

Then you must be aware that MFP already builds in your 500cal deficit. Right?

rileamoyer · January 2013

All of the above!

SuffolkSally · January 2013

You could just reset your activity level according to how often you work out, probably either lightly or moderately active. MFP will then give you the calories you should be eating and you won't have to deal withh the psychological factor of "eating back" calories burned.

TeresaWash · January 2013

Well, I wouldn't eat them back then. If you hit a plateau start adding some back.

p.s. (you don't have to read it or reply)

high5girl · January 2013

I struggle with the same thing - I usually don't eat any of mine back either! Everyone stalls or has a week or so where they didn't get the best results they wanted. I don't necessarily blame this on not eating back exercise calories though. Your body will let you know what it needs - do what you want.

kellyscomeback · January 2013

Ditto. This horse has been beaten to death, resurrected, and beaten again.

coe28 · January 2013

Go for it! I wish I could get by without eating back my calories. But sadly I work out just so I can eat a little more

Pookylou · January 2013

Then don't Shouty McShouterson

My1985Freckles · January 2013

Yep, you are starving your body. You might not be feeling hunger pangs, but the result is the same. You are slowly killing your metabolism this way.

victoriannsays · January 2013

I eat mine back and it worked out fine for me.

philhalsey · January 2013

wowooo · January 2013

I agree and I have thought the samething, why work hard and eat back all those calories? I do know why and when I hit a platue I may eat a few of them because this could be a sign of my body going into starvation mode, but most of the time I don't eat back my calories. You just need to know your body and pay attention to the signs. I do not log my workout cal. until after I am done logging all my calorie intake, this way I can see exactly how many calories I can eat. Fitnesspal adds the workout calories because they think you should eat back your calories, again know your body and watch the signs. You are suppose to lose weight even if you don't workout due to your deficit.

KelliA0628 · January 2013

I eat mine back because I like to EAT!!

beachlover317 · January 2013

You are free to do anything you want. You can work out every day to the point that you are in the negative for your net cals. People that you have friended have offered their advice. You are free not to follow it. I think this may be the way to respond to people who choose to NOT follow MFP guidelines for how THEIR program is set up.

So go - eat less - work out more - do what you want for this is a free country. You will never need to post this again. If you are reading this and netting below 1000 cals a day - you never have to post this again either.

fit4lifeUcan2 · January 2013

Then don't eat them back. Or don't eat them ALL back. I don't. I've consistently lost 64 pounds doing this. I don't do massive work outs like some people here do so I'm not starving after my work outs. I never feel the need to eat more.

Candy1629 · January 2013

This. I love to eat so it motivates me to workout. The calorie deficit is the weight loss. The exercise is for fitness/health reasons and you look better when the weight is gone.

ErinBeth7 · January 2013

This is true, MFP already gives you that 500 calorie deficit when it tells you what your calorie goal is. So, really any extra calorie burn (like your exercising) is gonna add to that 500 calorie deficit. Theoretically, If you followed all the rules and met the calorie goal every day that MFP gave you, then you would essentially lose weight without exercising.

I think you should just listen to your body. If you feel like you need to eat more, then eat more. If you feel fine exercising and not eating back the calories, then do it. Your body will let you know if you're not getting enough food. You'll feel it and see it.

wareagle8706 · January 2013

There is nothing wrong with not eating back your exercise calories.

Just know if/when you might stall you'll need to readjust your calorie intake.

It sounds like you have the hang of this.

Cassi_Eats_Apples · January 2013

eyeshuh · January 2013

You are not doing the "simple equation" correctly. The math is already built in to MFP. You don't have to add more math on top of the math and starve yourself trying to create a deficit that is already there.

Lifting_Knitter · January 2013

^^^ This

bronnyd · January 2013

:laugh: :laugh:

I echo these sentiments. You don't want to? Then don't. Nobody cares. I'll continue eating back my exercise calories and I'll continue losing, thanks!

WendyTerry420 · January 2013

So increase your daily calories instead of eating them back. Just don't let your deficit get too high, or your weight loss will stall. And don't forget that MFP gives you a deficit without your exercise calories built in. So if you don't want to eat them back, then don't burn more than 500 a day and change your settings to lose one pound a week instead of two.

LizL217 · January 2013

^this is good advice if the issue is that you feel like you're "wasting" all your hard work by eating more. I tend to think of eating more on workout days as fueling my body and giving my muscles some building blocks to get stronger, so maybe your issue is your relationship with food.

Either way, your strategy is either going to give you the long-term results you want, or it isn't, and that's how you'll know if it's the right strategy or not. The reason people express their concern to you is that many of them have personal experience with your strategy and have found that it didn't work. So take that advice as what it is (the voices of experience) or don't... whatever you want to do.

vjohn04 · January 2013

Your body, do what you want. But be warned.... like I want to tell my husband sometimes..... "I told you so"!

ChristinaR720 · January 2013

It's your body and your weight loss journey. What works for one person may not work for another, so if not eating back your exercise calories works for you, then don't do it.

I don't want to eat up my calories burned from working out

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