Calories gained by exercise

celeste15
celeste15 Posts: 51
edited September 18 in Health and Weight Loss
I only get 1200 calories a day but with exercise, I gain about 400 back. My main goal is weight loss so I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on whether it is smart to stay at the 1200 per day or go ahead and eat the extra amount of calories I've earned through exercise.

Replies

  • celeste15
    celeste15 Posts: 51
    I only get 1200 calories a day but with exercise, I gain about 400 back. My main goal is weight loss so I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on whether it is smart to stay at the 1200 per day or go ahead and eat the extra amount of calories I've earned through exercise.
  • tracypaprocki
    tracypaprocki Posts: 49
    also eat whatever you burn to keep net calories at 1200
  • janellybelly
    janellybelly Posts: 112
    I was a little confused about that too! I try and get my wokouts in every day and eat the 1200. If I go over I feel like those were "extra" calories. I have still been losing. Someone on here said that she was eating them all and still losing? I still am not sure which is best...hope this helps?



    Me again...I just came across this in another post! Makes sence!!!Should I eat all my calories?

    Yes. MFP is already figuring a deficit for you to lose weight. This deficit is based on what you need to eat based on your everyday activity, not counting exercise. In the end, it's all about "net calories" (you can view yours under reports)

    Example: you need to eat 2,000 calories to maintain your current weight (random number)
    MFP will tell you to eat 1,500 to lose one pound per week (500x7=3500=one pound loss).

    Let's say you exercise, and burn 500 additional calories.
    UH-OH, now you are at a 1,000 calorie a day deficit. You need 2,000 calories to maintian, are already restricted to 1500, so now your net calories are a 1,000 a day. This is starvation central. Your body, which is very good at keeping you alive, will store and save calories. You WILL stop losing weight. You WILL want to throw your scale out the window.

    Eat your exercise calories. At least eat most of them.
  • neverbeenskinny
    neverbeenskinny Posts: 446 Member
    You must eat those calories. The 1200 calories is what your body needs in order to sustain if you do not do anything but eat, sit, sleep. If you are active and exercise you must eat those calories in order to keep your metabolism up, otherwise your body will start storing calories because it thinks it needs to go into starvation mode.

    Isn't it great? Exercise and you get to eat more.:flowerforyou:
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