Silly question maybe but what are your thoughts?

Apples38

Ok so I understand that I should eat back my exercise calories. Some days (when I am playing netball) I can burn more than my 1200 calories. There is no way I could eat double that. I have tried hard to get some extra exercise in (walked 5 miles yesterday) but .... And don't shout... Apart from the health benefits, what is the point if I need to eat the calories that I burnt walking in order to lose weight?

Confused about what to do.com

pghfan

I only eat my exercise calories back if I am hungry. I am doing the 5:2 fast so two days a week stick to 500 calories and shoot for 1200-1500 the other days. Listen to your body, if you're hungry, eat. Just don't go WAY under your BMR every day of the week.

kmartinko

Bump

quirkytizzy

Starvation is an ugly thing to do to the body. Depending on how much you're burning and not eating back, you could be, quite literally, starving yourself.

MFP builds a calorie deficit into your goal automatically. So you if net your total cals (1200 in this case), even with exercise, you'll still have that calorie loss built in.

tisha_rae

I think eating under the 1200 or whatever your goal is, is okay SOMETIMES.

For me I was CONSITISTANLY eating under my goal and under 1200, so I changed my goal to my BMR number and strive every day to eat at least that much. I have been struggling with the same 6lbs for about 8 months, after losing almost 20lbs without much trouble.

I think it's only a problem if you “consistently” exercise and eat too little you could possibly slow your metabolism and stall your weight loss, but if what you have been doing is working for you - I wouldn't worry too much.
:happy:

WendyTerry420

You need a reasonable calorie deficit to lose weight. That means not too big and not too little. When you are netting under 1200 calories on a consistent basis, you are risking lowering your metabolism, making it even harder to lose weight. Also, it causes your hormone levels to go wacky, leading to a host of other problems, including making it hard to lose weight. Instead have a moderate deficit of 500-750 calories below your TDEE and learn to be patient.

WendyTerry420

Starvation is an ugly thing to do to the body. Depending on how much you're burning and not eating back, you could be, quite literally, starving yourself.

MFP builds a calorie deficit into your goal automatically. So you if net your total cals (1200 in this case), even with exercise, you'll still have that calorie loss built in.

Yep. If your calorie goal is only 1200, then you probably need to be eating back most of your exercise calories.

llkilgore

I think it's only a problem if you “consistently” exercise and eat too little you could possibly slow your metabolism and stall your weight loss, but if what you have been doing is working for you - I wouldn't worry too much.
:happy:

Problem with that thinking is eating too little CAN work for you, and often does until your metabolism slows and your weight loss stalls. Then the time lost from the resulting plateau cancels out any advantage you thought the higher calorie deficit had given you. It's like going over the speed limit: you make great time until the cop stops you.

cappri

I have tried hard to get some extra exercise in (walked 5 miles yesterday) but .... And don't shout... Apart from the health benefits, what is the point if I need to eat the calories that I burnt walking in order to lose weight?

Exercise gives you a smaller body and better metabolism. Plus regular exercise feels good.

jzammetti

I think it's only a problem if you “consistently” exercise and eat too little you could possibly slow your metabolism and stall your weight loss, but if what you have been doing is working for you - I wouldn't worry too much.
:happy:

Problem with that thinking is eating too little CAN work for you, and often does until your metabolism slows and your weight loss stalls. Then the time lost from the resulting plateau cancels out any advantage you thought the higher calorie deficit had given you. It's like going over the speed limit: you make great time until the cop stops you.

AND, you may eventually begin to GAIN weight at that very low caloric intake...

tafournier

I was told by my doctor that you need to eat back 100 calories for every full hour of exercise you do....so the amount of calories you burn seems to not be the mitigating factor for how much you need to eat to replenish your body but rather the time spent doing the activity.....just what I've been told to do, maybe not for everyone

kazitykaz

I was told by my doctor that you need to eat back 100 calories for every full hour of exercise you do....so the amount of calories you burn seems to not be the mitigating factor for how much you need to eat to replenish your body but rather the time spent doing the activity.....just what I've been told to do, maybe not for everyone

Did the doctor say you need to eat at least your BMR and on top of that eat 100 for every hour of exercise?

tafournier

Yes, your base calories plus an extra 100 for every hour....sorry, miscommunication on my part

kazitykaz

Yes, your base calories plus an extra 100 for every hour....sorry, miscommunication on my part

Brilliant, thank you. That's helped me so much with my decision especially as it was recommended by a doctor. Thanks again :-).

Sarauk2sf

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

sleepytexan

really? no way?

Hmm. I think I ate 2500 yesterday. oops. nope: 2745.

*winning*

CyberEd312

Yes, your base calories plus an extra 100 for every hour....sorry, miscommunication on my part

Brilliant, thank you. That's helped me so much with my decision especially as it was recommended by a doctor. Thanks again :-).

I would question what kinda of doctor this is first and foremost before excepting it as fact... When I crawled into my doctors office at 560 lbs 4 years ago. and asked for help, you know what the first words out of his mouth was?? I can help with the health issues but I won't admit to knowing the first thing about weight loss, I know just enough to get myself in trouble. We need to send you to a specialist" Not all doctors are well versed in weight loss. and another thing is using the MFP method your calorie deficit is already built in so eating your exercise calories back is for the benefit of fueling your body to allow it to preform what you are asking it to do... Best of Luck...

_SABOTEUR_

I only eat my exercise calories back if I am hungry. I am doing the 5:2 fast so two days a week stick to 500 calories and shoot for 1200-1500 the other days. Listen to your body, if you're hungry, eat. Just don't go WAY under your BMR every day of the week.

This is not how 5:2 works. This is how pro-ana diets work.

concordancia

The only reason for the exercise apart from the many, many health benefits, is so that you are still at least as strong at your goal weight as you are now! If you just cut calories, you will become weaker by eating at a constant deficit. You exercise to remind your body that you need the muscle.

vjohn04

really? no way?

Hmm. I think I ate 2500 yesterday. oops. nope: 2745.

*winning*

3k yesterday! LOL

tafournier

The doctor is Dr Yoni Freedoff, his specialty is bariatrics, which is the study of the science of metabolism. He uses a well rounded program of weight loss, diet, exercise, psychology and has dieticians, psychologists and fitness instructors that he uses to help people acheive their goals. He measures your resting metabolic rate in order to measure how many calories you need to just do your everyday living (including sleep) and based on that amount of calories adds diet and exercise to get your metabolism working more efficiently and cutting back on calories in order to lose the extra weight.....it's not a quick fix but it works for me because it incorporates a healthier life style and the big plus is that you work with food in a way that promotes weight loss without feeling like you're starving all the time.....so he is well versed in weight lose and everything about it.

misssiri

When these topics come up and someone says "listen to your body and eat when you are hungry", it's crap. None of us are here because we "know how to listen to our bodies". The other problem is with low calories for a long time is the "I'm not hungry and I can barely eat 1200". This is because people don't eat enough. After damage is done to the metabolism, this is what happens. I don't understand why people don't want to eat more when they can.

I wish we could let go of the mindset that one must suffer to lose weight. EAT THE FOOD!! Net at least your BMR.

llkilgore

The doctor is Dr Yoni Freedoff, his specialty is bariatrics, which is the study of the science of metabolism. He uses a well rounded program of weight loss, diet, exercise, psychology and has dieticians, psychologists and fitness instructors that he uses to help people acheive their goals. He measures your resting metabolic rate in order to measure how many calories you need to just do your everyday living (including sleep) and based on that amount of calories adds diet and exercise to get your metabolism working more efficiently and cutting back on calories in order to lose the extra weight.....it's not a quick fix but it works for me because it incorporates a healthier life style and the big plus is that you work with food in a way that promotes weight loss without feeling like you're starving all the time.....so he is well versed in weight lose and everything about it.

That doesn't mean that he'd want the advice he gave to you to be generalized to the rest of the species. He also knows you and your situation infinitely better than he knows the rest of us, assuming he doesn't have any other patients here. For one thing, he knows you are under medical supervision, and if he's any good at his job he has a pretty good idea of what sort of exercise you do. I doubt he'd give the same advice to a marathon runner that he would to someone whose idea of exercise is walking around the block a few times after dinner.