gaining cals from excercise?

dllarue
dllarue Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
I know this is probably a dumb question, but my friend said that I gain calories to eat from working out. If I eat what I lose at the gym how can I lose weight? I'm confused!!! Also do I have to eat all my 1200 calories if I'm not hungry?

Replies

  • SmileyFaceGuy
    SmileyFaceGuy Posts: 201
    I know this is probably a dumb question
    It's a common question, so if it is stupid, then at least you aren't alone.
    If I eat what I lose at the gym how can I lose weight?

    There is already a caloric deficit built into your daily calorie goal. Exercise calories are just bonus calories, although MFP supposedly wildly overestimates how many calories are burned from exercise, so perhaps eat back only 75% of them.
    Also do I have to eat all my 1200 calories if I'm not hungry?

    It won't hurt every once in a while, but don't make a habit of it. If you regularly can't reach your calorie goal, you should eat more calorie-dense foods, like peanut butter for example.
  • kacarter1017
    kacarter1017 Posts: 651 Member
    This is a question that can get some pretty fierce, opinionated responses. MFP is set to have you lose weight eating the number of calories it has set for you based on your settings. Exercise wears off more calories yet, so yes, you can eat those back. People have very strong opinions about this, but in general, I think you should at least eat back 1/2 of them. Otherwise, you can end up not giving your body enough calories and that can stall your weight loss. This ties into your next question about eating the 1200 calories. 1200 is an average that we should eat. Each of our bodies has a different "minimum calorie I can tolerate" level, but it's usually pretty close to 1200. Some people are closer to 1000, some need 1400. If you're not hungry, go for a high density food that will pack in calories in a small amount of food.
  • bearwith
    bearwith Posts: 525 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.

    Also, untrue.

    OP: The body burns calories just by living. Breathing burns calories. Sleeping burns calories. Going pee burns calories. So you will naturally be burning calories throughout the day - your sole burn does NOT come through just exercise alone.

    Exercising creates a deficit. If you are using diet to create a deficit on top of it, then eating back your exercise calories can be a wonderful way to make sure that your body receives enough energy to maintain the muscle repair that comes with exercise.

    Some people do not eat the exercise calories back, but those people have already accounted for their entire deficits.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.

    This is wrong.

    1200 is a really low goal. Your calorie deficit is already large, so if you don't eat back your calories then your deficit will be too big. MFP gives you enough of a deficit to lose (probably 2 lbs per week) without exercise.

    You should try to at least make 1200 calories NET (that is, 1200 plus whatever you burn off in exercise, so if you earn 200 from exercise, you'd eat 1400 calories).
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    If you want, check out this link by MFPer Heliotsdan - It'll give you a detailed walkthrough (with pictures even) on finding your TDEE and calculating what you should be eating.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    Or for a different version to figure out your TDEE, as well as some great advice...check out:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833500-what-do-i-do-common-sense-cliff-notes


    Also, if you are worried about the calorie intake, I also suggest you read this thread that has numerous people who met their goals and are maintaining. Some for years and they also provide their calorie intake and how often they work out.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/816542-let-s-hear-it-for-maintainenance


    For more information about fitness and nutrition, I highly suggest checking out and joining this group: (Read all the stickies. It's great information to know.)
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress


    For those eating below their BMR (which I think 1200 is below your BMR to be honest), not going to preach at you, but here's something you might want to look at:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/81391-starvation-mode-myths-and-science

    Yes, this is can all be overwhelming and complicated , but you are more than welcome to ask questions on the post.
    One of the things that I have found that has been one of the best methods for me to get fit is to understand fitness. To understand where all these figures, etc come from.

    The good thing is once you get the hang of it - it is something you'll be aware of constantly and you'll get a better understanding about your eating habits.

    So I HIGHLY suggest making the effort to take every chance to educate yourself. Even if you don't end up going with any of these methods, calculations, etc - at least you understand what they are, where others are coming from, and maybe they will still be able to help you figure out what is best for you.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.
    Wrong.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • Crankstr
    Crankstr Posts: 3,958 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.
    Wrong.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    I wish this person would stop giving potentially harmful advice
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.
    Wrong.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    I wish this person would stop giving potentially harmful advice

    ^this
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    OP - check out this thread and see if you still want to restrict your cals to 1200

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/859495-if-only-i-had-known
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.
    Wrong.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    I wish this person would stop giving potentially harmful advice

    ^this

    ^ Ditto. Nothing wrong with trying to help other members, but propagating bad advice, myths and old wives' tales doesn't do anybody good.
  • foleyshirley
    foleyshirley Posts: 1,043 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.
    Wrong.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    I wish this person would stop giving potentially harmful advice

    Amen!
  • blleadon
    blleadon Posts: 187 Member
    What is your activity level set at? From what I understand if you are at sedentary or lightly active, there should be no problem eating back your calories. In fact, I work out just so that I can eat more (it took a lot of reading and learning to get to that point). But I also know that everyone is different.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.
    Wrong.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    I wish this person would stop giving potentially harmful advice

    ^this

    ^ Ditto. Nothing wrong with trying to help other members, but propagating bad advice, myths and old wives' tales doesn't do anybody good.

    I've been thinking this all day.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    If you have heart rate monitor it will show you how much calories you have burnt through exercise. Don't trust the machines like treadmill showing how much you burnt as usually very incorrect.
    Start eating around 1400 calories and see how you go without eating back exercise calories.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Meh, I reconsidered my comment. Having given it some more thought, I'm not entirely convinced that the suggestion I challenged is actually a bad idea.
  • davidmac69
    davidmac69 Posts: 5 Member
    So just how far off is MFP in it's estimation of exersize calories? I took a two hour hike today and it put 1150 calories back on the table for me. That's over 2/3rds of what I am supposed to be eating for the entire day! I had a big supper and was still 600 calories short. There is no way to choke down another 600 calories today without stuffing myself sick or resorting to eating pure sugar.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    if you can help it then do not eat your exercise calories because then you won't lose that much wight. If you are starving then eat some of them.
    Wrong.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
    [/quote]

    I wish this person would stop giving potentially harmful advice
    [/quote]

    ^this
    [/quote]

    ^ Ditto. Nothing wrong with trying to help other members, but propagating bad advice, myths and old wives' tales doesn't do anybody good.

    I've been thinking this all day.

    Yes.

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