why eat back calories???

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Replies

  • sexymuffintop
    sexymuffintop Posts: 636
    she knows what mfp is and she is going to advise others to not eat them back as well i dont feel that i am starving myself and i lose weight consistentlyi just think its silly to eat back so many calories whats the point of even burning them if your just going to eat them again ...

    I can't be bothered reading through this whole thread. Got to page one and already seen OP arguing with common sense several times. Why start a thread asking people's opinions then tell everyone who's opinion isn't what you want to hear that they are wrong? Pointless as a broken pencil....
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    MFP sets me a deficit of 500 calories a day which is to lose weight. I exercise to increase my fitness and hopefully achieve a lean toned body.

    I tend to eat most of exercise calories back - and always net over 1200 calories. I've lost 50lb so far = getting more toned and my fitness has increased no end. Because I eat my exercise calories back I don't feel tired and grumpy all the time and have the energy to work out again the next day.

    Not eating when not hungry can be hard - sometimes i dont feel hungry but will have a net of 800. this is when I'll have some nuts or fruit as I know the next day I'll feel weak and have muscle tiredness.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    she knows what mfp is and she is going to advise others to not eat them back as well i dont feel that i am starving myself and i lose weight consistentlyi just think its silly to eat back so many calories whats the point of even burning them if your just going to eat them again ...

    I can't be bothered reading through this whole thread. Got to page one and already seen OP arguing with common sense several times. Why start a thread asking people's opinions then tell everyone who's opinion isn't what you want to hear that they are wrong? Pointless as a broken pencil....

    Agreed. If they want to make their own program and not follow the MFP structure they should go elsewhere.

    If this idea of eating under 1200 a day was really a solution for long term weight loss and keeping it off than why is 1200 the minimum?
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    ya i get a little crazy on the cardio sometimes i just get so into it but i do want to start lifting i am just waiting until i can afford to get some used weights i do use hand weights but i know its not enough i want to start bench pressing

    If you thought about what you were saying, OP for one single moment you would realize that body weight training is FREE.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    judging from my diary does it seem like i should be eating more because i thought it seemed ok i just think eating calories back makes it more complicated and unpredictable because i workout different everyday...:smile:

    This program takes the thinking out of the equation, OP.
  • karlalband
    karlalband Posts: 196 Member
    Anyone recommending that you don't eat them doesn't understand that MFP is set up with a low calorie goal that doesn't include exercise. It is set up so that if you did no exercise at all, you would lose weight just by dieting alone. When you do exercise, you need to fuel it, otherwise you would be eating too little for all of the activity you did.

    This is different than most other methods where they figure energy needs including exercise and take a deduction off of that.
    I remember when I first started MFP, I dropped a lot of weight, then I got sick cause I was exercising so much and with every day things around the house. I wasn't eating enough and I'm still not because I have hit a plateau again. Scared to eat more. To me more means more weight. But starting to realize I'm wrong. I'm eating back some but it may not be enough. Hint to my brain when I first started the only exercise I got was walking and not fast pace. I added in cardio and my weight after a couple of weeks stalled. So this week I will make myself eat more to lose. And it better happen! I agree!!!
  • dawningr
    dawningr Posts: 387 Member
    I never understand why people ask for advice and then 'but I don't..........' to every response.

    Do what works for you.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    otherwise you are not just losing fat, you are losing water, fat, and muscle (not what you want).

    Don't forget bone density loss.

    Weakened bones, hormone function, brain function. lowered immune system, slower metabolism, muscle loss, on and on.

    Just so this does not get lost. ^^^
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Anyone recommending that you don't eat them doesn't understand that MFP is set up with a low calorie goal that doesn't include exercise. It is set up so that if you did no exercise at all, you would lose weight just by dieting alone. When you do exercise, you need to fuel it, otherwise you would be eating too little for all of the activity you did.

    This is different than most other methods where they figure energy needs including exercise and take a deduction off of that.
    I remember when I first started MFP, I dropped a lot of weight, then I got sick cause I was exercising so much and with every day things around the house. I wasn't eating enough and I'm still not because I have hit a plateau again. Scared to eat more. To me more means more weight. But starting to realize I'm wrong. I'm eating back some but it may not be enough. Hint to my brain when I first started the only exercise I got was walking and not fast pace. I added in cardio and my weight after a couple of weeks stalled. So this week I will make myself eat more to lose. And it better happen! I agree!!!

    There's no such thing as a plateau. You figured what you NEED to do to maintain your current weight (exercise, eating etc.) So you just need to figure out what to do to get back into a .5/week loss and go from there.
  • TashaUCanDoIt
    TashaUCanDoIt Posts: 20 Member
    As long as you're in tune with your body and listen to it... I personally think you dont have to eat back your calories! I eat them back a couple times a week when I want to go out and enjoy my self at a social gathering where there is food and drinks. I don't think it's how much you put in your body, but WHAT you put in your body... everyone is different... if you're satisfied and full of energy then who cares?

    Exactly! I agree

    So you are NOT of the calorie is a calorie is a calorie mindset? So if I ate 2,000 calories per day of things like rice, beans, fruit, veggies you are saying I would not gain weight. Ok, in what universe is this true? You are stating that when I need to eat no more than 1600/day (that's my maintenance cals, without exercise) as long as those were quality calories that I WOULD NOT EVER GAIN WEIGHT?

    what I am saying is exactly what I said. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY! Everyone is different. I'm not saying that a person that's working out everyday shouldn't eat back their calories... I'm saying that if you don't want to then don't! If you do, then do! If you're feeling fatigue then eat, if you're hungry then eat, if you went crazy in the gym and want that 2nd serving of lunch or dinner then EAT! I don't think it's that complicated to get to know your body! Try something, take notes and if it's not for you then change! We're all here for some type of change and if calorie counting isn't for me then I will try something else. If nothing else, you must know yourself.
  • chelseascounter
    chelseascounter Posts: 1,283 Member
    I don't eat back any of my burned calories. If I did I'd be eating non-stop. We burn calories just by doing nothing.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    As long as you're in tune with your body and listen to it... I personally think you dont have to eat back your calories! I eat them back a couple times a week when I want to go out and enjoy my self at a social gathering where there is food and drinks. I don't think it's how much you put in your body, but WHAT you put in your body... everyone is different... if you're satisfied and full of energy then who cares?

    Exactly! I agree

    So you are NOT of the calorie is a calorie is a calorie mindset? So if I ate 2,000 calories per day of things like rice, beans, fruit, veggies you are saying I would not gain weight. Ok, in what universe is this true? You are stating that when I need to eat no more than 1600/day (that's my maintenance cals, without exercise) as long as those were quality calories that I WOULD NOT EVER GAIN WEIGHT?

    what I am saying is exactly what I said. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR BODY! Everyone is different. I'm not saying that a person that's working out everyday shouldn't eat back their calories... I'm saying that if you don't want to then don't! If you do, then do! If you're feeling fatigue then eat, if you're hungry then eat, if you went crazy in the gym and want that 2nd serving of lunch or dinner then EAT! I don't think it's that complicated to get to know your body! Try something, take notes and if it's not for you then change! We're all here for some type of change and if calorie counting isn't for me then I will try something else. If nothing else, you must know yourself.

    And, I quote: " I don't think it's how much you put in your body, but WHAT you put in your body"

    That's going against science and all that is good and holy in the world.

    I will say it AGAIN. You are saying that if I ate over my maintenance calories (1600 per day with 0 workout) that I would not gain weight if all of my calories were quality.

    I know my body really darn well. I'm super healthy and I've never been overweight. Since I travel a lot for work I mostly use MFP to maintain or to lose a little after a bunch of travel.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    I don't eat back any of my burned calories. If I did I'd be eating non-stop. We burn calories just by doing nothing.

    Can you explain to me how I would survive and stay healthy on just 760 calories per day? This is what I'd have for fuel after a workout if I did not eat back my exercise calories. I do eat "non stop" (every few hours).

    Just please think what you are saying for a moment. You are suggesting that I (along with everyone else following this conversation) never eat back any of our exercise calories.

    For me in particular you are suggesting that I fuel my healthy body with 760 calories per day.

    #DarwinAwards
  • furniem
    furniem Posts: 145 Member
    I tried eating mine back, and gained 3 lbs........stopped eating them back again, and lost the 3 lbs I gained...some people swear by eating the calories back, but it didn't work for me at all !!

    I was the same way. I tried it and it did not work for me. I have lost 82 lbs so far so something good is going on! Everyone is different though so do what is best for you. If we were all the same we would not have different sized people and we would not have a need for this site. I do what I feel my body needs. Some days I am hungrier than others.
  • rassha01
    rassha01 Posts: 534 Member
    Find out what works for you. Unfortunately, coming here for advice will only keep you guessing at what direction to take. Try eating back for a month and try not eating them back for a month. Whichever one works best for you stick to it!!! In the end the only things that matter are that you want to lose weight, you do it safely, and you enjoy it!!

    Oh and don't be afraid to mix it up either, variety is the spice of life!!
  • misssiri
    misssiri Posts: 335 Member
    she knows what mfp is and she is going to advise others to not eat them back as well i dont feel that i am starving myself and i lose weight consistentlyi just think its silly to eat back so many calories whats the point of even burning them if your just going to eat them again ...

    Then why even ask if you've already made up your mind? Did you want to argue? smh
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    I tried eating mine back, and gained 3 lbs........stopped eating them back again, and lost the 3 lbs I gained...some people swear by eating the calories back, but it didn't work for me at all !!

    I was the same way. I tried it and it did not work for me. I have lost 82 lbs so far so something good is going on! Everyone is different though so do what is best for you. If we were all the same we would not have different sized people and we would not have a need for this site. I do what I feel my body needs. Some days I am hungrier than others.

    Depends what your net calories were.

    For me, my net calories would only be 760 after an hour long fitness class.

    If your net was 1400-1600 of course you were going to be able to lose weight and keep it off.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Find out what works for you. Unfortunately, coming here for advice will only keep you guessing at what direction to take. Try eating back for a month and try not eating them back for a month. Whichever one works best for you stick to it!!! In the end the only things that matter are that you want to lose weight, you do it safely, and you enjoy it!!

    Oh and don't be afraid to mis it up either, variety is the spice of life!!

    SHE'S WORKING OUT 3.5 HOURS PER DAY AND NOT EATING THEM BACK. SORRY FOR THE ALL CAPS BUT I HAVE TO YELL BECAUSE YOU FOLKS KEEP SUPPORTING THE OP OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND NOT LISTENING.
  • misssiri
    misssiri Posts: 335 Member
    I don't eat back any of my burned calories. If I did I'd be eating non-stop. We burn calories just by doing nothing.

    Exactly! Which is why you should eat back the calories you burn doing formal exercise, because you burn calories doing nothing. YOU NEED THE FUEL!
  • chelseascounter
    chelseascounter Posts: 1,283 Member
    I don't eat back any of my burned calories. If I did I'd be eating non-stop. We burn calories just by doing nothing.

    Can you explain to me how I would survive and stay healthy on just 760 calories per day? This is what I'd have for fuel after a workout if I did not eat back my exercise calories. I do eat "non stop" (every few hours).

    Just please think what you are saying for a moment. You are suggesting that I (along with everyone else following this conversation) never eat back any of our exercise calories.

    For me in particular you are suggesting that I fuel my healthy body with 760 calories per day.

    #DarwinAwards

    If you're stopping every few hours then you're not eating non-stop.

    Anyways, I never said YOU shouldn't eat back your burned calories. This way just works for me.


    http://keyfitnesstraining.com/should-we-eat-back-exercise-calories

    http://www.coachcalorie.com/calories-burned-during-exercise-meaningless/
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    So many special snowflakes in this thread.
  • abbyrae1
    abbyrae1 Posts: 265 Member
    I follow my body and how I feel.

    If I have a killer workout and I'm feeling famished, I will likely eat some of my calories back....usually not all. I use a HRM to determine my calories burned and then I log 90% of what that calculation is into MFP. If I burn 800 calories between my 2 workouts, I will likely end up eating about 1700 calories that day (daily goal is 1500) because I will be hungry. If i'm only doing 1 workout that day, I will just eat my 1500. It seems to be working for me...
  • karlalband
    karlalband Posts: 196 Member
    This thread is great. Someone add me to your friends. I need some tough love.
  • EmmaKarney
    EmmaKarney Posts: 690 Member
    I tried eating mine back, and gained 3 lbs........stopped eating them back again, and lost the 3 lbs I gained...some people swear by eating the calories back, but it didn't work for me at all !!

    All that means is that your numbers are wrong.

    If eating back your exercise calories is causing you to gain weight then you aren't at the deficit you think you are.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    This of it this way people: You want to eat the most amount of calories you possibly can, while still being able to lose at a reasonable pace... thats all there is to it.
  • sexymuffintop
    sexymuffintop Posts: 636
    This of it this way people: You want to eat the most amount of calories you possibly can, while still being able to lose at a reasonable pace... thats all there is to it.

    Yes but some people obviously struggle with this concept....
  • amandaanderson2786
    amandaanderson2786 Posts: 95 Member
    Find out what works for you. Unfortunately, coming here for advice will only keep you guessing at what direction to take. Try eating back for a month and try not eating them back for a month. Whichever one works best for you stick to it!!! In the end the only things that matter are that you want to lose weight, you do it safely, and you enjoy it!!

    Oh and don't be afraid to mix it up either, variety is the spice of life!!
    thanks this is what i decided to try and see what happens :) i also adjusted my cals last night to 1560 since i am pretty active so i can see if i will be affected by eating more. and thanks for everyones information its all alot to take in :):flowerforyou:
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    This of it this way people: You want to eat the most amount of calories you possibly can, while still being able to lose at a reasonable pace... thats all there is to it.

    Yes but some people obviously struggle with this concept....

    Take time to learn your body and stop stressing over is the scale moved. It's a marathon not a sprint.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    Find out what works for you. Unfortunately, coming here for advice will only keep you guessing at what direction to take. Try eating back for a month and try not eating them back for a month. Whichever one works best for you stick to it!!! In the end the only things that matter are that you want to lose weight, you do it safely, and you enjoy it!!

    Oh and don't be afraid to mix it up either, variety is the spice of life!!
    thanks this is what i decided to try and see what happens :) i also adjusted my cals last night to 1560 since i am pretty active so i can see if i will be affected by eating more. and thanks for everyones information its all alot to take in :):flowerforyou:

    Here is my suggestion for you. Slowly increase your calories over the next few months. Maybe like 50 cals per week. Either by eating more or working out less.

    What is going to happen after eating so few calories is you ARE going to gain weight if you jump to a normal amount of calories. Then you will be another one of these people that says "eating more didnt work for me". It didnt work for them because their bodies have already been trying to adapt to eating so little. Once they try eating a normal amount of calories the body wants to store it because of the months of malnourishment they have put themselves through.

    Give your body time to adapt to the increase in calories so you dont panic and go back to the unhealthy eating habits.

    Good luck.
  • vaquera19
    vaquera19 Posts: 14 Member
    OK, so there's a lot of bickering and negativity going on, but to all the people who've gotten quite passionate about what is healthy and what isn't, I do want to say thanks for your persistence :)

    I was reading this thread and originally chose to believe what I wanted to believe - that eating 1200 calories a day and then burning off 500 of those (resulting in fantastic results during my first two weeks of using MFP or even exercising/dieting ever) was OK. Many of you have made valid points, though, that what I really need to be looking at is my net rather than total calories. After a day to think about what you've all said, I've decided I so need to eat more. I just wanted to say thanks for preventing me from messing my body up instead of getting it in shape at a sustainable pace. :)