Eating back exercise calories... does it work?

bad_hair_bear
bad_hair_bear Posts: 56
in Health and Weight Loss
I see a lot of people on these forums saying that they don't eat back their exercise calories, or that they only eat half of them/some of them back. I just wondered if there was anyone on here who has eaten all their exercise calories back and still lost weight?
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Replies

  • quackers82
    quackers82 Posts: 55 Member
    I eat back almost all of them. Down 25lbs since January, so it works.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Yes - see ticker.
  • EmmaKarney
    EmmaKarney Posts: 690 Member
    Yeah I eat all of mine back.

    Why wouldn't you?
  • Logical_Integrity
    Logical_Integrity Posts: 48
    I just wondered if there was anyone on here who has eaten all their exercise calories back and still lost weight?


    Yes.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    Yes, it does work. See my ticker.

    It also acts as motivation ("if I exercise and extra 20 mins I can have a glass of wine") and a control ("If I eat that cake that's all the calories I earned from aerobics").

    If you are sedentary or lightly active eat them back. All (or most) of them. I sometimes keep some back for the weekend so i can be "on target" for the week even if I have a naughty day or two.:wink:
  • daniellemm1
    daniellemm1 Posts: 465 Member
    I eat all of mine back and I have lost 30lbs since Jan 7. If I didn't eat them back I would be netting like 500 calories and that would not be a good thing.
  • acrowder99
    acrowder99 Posts: 63 Member
    Another yes here. I have been eating them back, losing and feeling great.
  • bobbijodmb
    bobbijodmb Posts: 463 Member
    I think it depends. I lost weight this way, by eating them back, but it was much slower (for me). A couple months ago I stopped eating them back and dropped 40 more lbs. I was hitting a lot more plateau's by eating them back and when I met with a nutritionist, she said to not eat them back, so I stopped to try it and have found a lot of success in it.
  • rori_74
    rori_74 Posts: 111 Member
    i was wondering the same thing !! so i should eat them back even if i'm not hungry ?!!
  • Amy_Andrews
    Amy_Andrews Posts: 106
    I eat mine back too. And somedays add an extra 10 minutes so I can have dessert ;)
  • Oriole15
    Oriole15 Posts: 58
    exercise calories are the tastiest.
  • spirit05
    spirit05 Posts: 204 Member
    Bump
  • musicrocks133
    musicrocks133 Posts: 70 Member
    Most days I do and I have lost 16 pounds. I just depends on what foods you are eating your calories back on.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    It works if you don't factor exercise into the calculations when you figure out your daily calorie need/goal. If you do factor in exercise, then you shouldn't be eating them back.

    Ultimately what works is a calorie deficit. How you calculate that deficit and the manner in which you achieve it is up to you.
  • boboff
    boboff Posts: 129 Member
    This sounds wrong I know, but Who cares?

    If you don't you will loose weight quicker, this is probably only true if you're Obese and above.

    Otherwise you restrict your calories eaten so they are less than the calories you burn, to loose weight right?

    Well if that is the case and you want to loose more slowly then eat some or all of them back?????

    It's your choice.

    As I understand it, if you are slim and wanting to gain muscle then it's a must to eat them back. Clean food is nice, but not an absolute.
  • grandma0561
    grandma0561 Posts: 16 Member
    Yes I eat mine back and also plan my exercise around the meals that I want to eat. If I want red lobster I'll exercise a little harder and bank those extra calories and eat them up later just like a little ms. pacman (: It's worked for so far and I've lost 33 pounds since Jan 2013!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    This sounds wrong I know, but Who cares?

    If you don't you will loose weight quicker, this is probably only true if you're Obese and above.

    Otherwise you restrict your calories eaten so they are less than the calories you burn, to loose weight right?

    Well if that is the case and you want to loose more slowly then eat some or all of them back?????

    It's your choice.

    As I understand it, if you are slim and wanting to gain muscle then it's a must to eat them back. Clean food is nice, but not an absolute.

    You don't understand it. It's about calorie/energy balance, not current fitness level.
  • runningbs
    runningbs Posts: 132 Member
    Yes it works
  • mamasmaltz3
    mamasmaltz3 Posts: 1,111 Member
    I have always eaten back the majority of my exercise cals. I do have my settings as sedentary.
  • Kst76
    Kst76 Posts: 935 Member
    I think it depends. I lost weight this way, by eating them back, but it was much slower (for me). A couple months ago I stopped eating them back and dropped 40 more lbs. I was hitting a lot more plateau's by eating them back and when I met with a nutritionist, she said to not eat them back, so I stopped to try it and have found a lot of success in it.


    But but but...you gonna staaaaaaarv! Lol

    I'm sure that's what some of these "eat back all your calories or else" enthusiast's are thinking. Meanwhile you lost 140 pounds! :)
    Good job!
  • rougenoire
    rougenoire Posts: 114 Member
    As long as you still have a deficit then in theory you will be losing weight still albeit at a slower rate than if you didn't. You do need to make sure your calorie count is accurate though, if you use the readings from machines at the gym say then they are likley to over estimate the calories that you burn and then you will overeat. This is why a lot of people don't eat all of their exercises calories back to give them a margin for error.
  • kerrylippert1
    kerrylippert1 Posts: 2 Member
    did bmi and weight at 1 store said 249.8lbs.week later other store bmi/weight it said 325.2....wth ?????i i asked at first store if machine is calibrated and correct pharmist said yes......i know i did not gain that much weight in one week....any suggestions????:indifferent:
  • qcman5
    qcman5 Posts: 2
    I think its ok to eat them back, but i would stop if i'm full
    no reason to stuff your self
  • Kst76
    Kst76 Posts: 935 Member
    Yes I eat mine back and also plan my exercise around the meals that I want to eat. If I want red lobster I'll exercise a little harder and bank those extra calories and eat them up later just like a little ms. pacman (: It's worked for so far and I've lost 33 pounds since Jan 2013!

    That's what I do too :)
  • babyblooz
    babyblooz Posts: 220 Member
    did bmi and weight at 1 store said 249.8lbs.week later other store bmi/weight it said 325.2....wth ?????i i asked at first store if machine is calibrated and correct pharmist said yes......i know i did not gain that much weight in one week....any suggestions????:indifferent:

    It's not polite to hijack someone else's post. Start a new one!
  • cutchro
    cutchro Posts: 396 Member
    It depends on where your Goal is set. If you said you workout 3-5 times per week and set your calorie intake to be at that level the exercise is already counted in your numbers and you probably should not eat them back. If you said you were not working out for your goal but then do workout then you should eat them back.

    I have my Goal set at my activity level so only eat extra on the days I lift.

    You will have to play with your numbers and see where your optimum intake should be working out or not.
  • babyblooz
    babyblooz Posts: 220 Member
    Do I eat them back? Heck yes! Like others have said- see ticker! :wink:
  • auntygill
    auntygill Posts: 108 Member
    Yes i eat mine and i have lost so far .x
  • rori_74
    rori_74 Posts: 111 Member
    Bump
  • jamochalady
    jamochalady Posts: 11 Member
    I use mine as a cushion. I stay within the lower part of my caloric intake range and I workout. If I get hungry, I have the calories available to use and if I'm not hungry then I just burned an extra couple hundred calories for the day. You have to find what works for you.

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