My doctor vs MyFitnessPal and calories

JDBLY11

I'd go with your doctor. He's the one with all the training, not all the people on here who pretend to be experts! (that's not a dig at you, that's a dig at everyone who seems to think they know best with no professional training whatsoever...)

As for eating back exercise calories. People on an average diet need to eat them back to keep their net calories above their bmr to prevent stalling, but you're eating below that anyway on a medically supervised so I don't think that applies to you.
Since I think mfp over estimates the calories burned anyway, I don't eat mine back unless I'm hungry, and then I only eat half back.
Of course if low cal is affecting your work outs - making you too tired to exercise, or making you light headed while you do - then you should probably eat them back

Remember that mfp is just a weight loss tool targeted at the general public and they have to protect themselves by not advocating super low calorie diets and such and while good is not always appropriate for everyone. Your doctor is giving you advice specifically for you.

^this!! MFP cannot be responsible for people developing issues or eating disorders...I believe that's why they have the generic 1200 cal situation and have the 'eat your calories' bit..because if I really wanted to, I could burn my 1200 in working out then have nothing for normal physiological function (brain, heart, etc). I don't think eating tiny amounts like 6-700 calories a day is ok, but your doc said 9-1000 is ok...and I would trust him. I think it's rediculous to try to cram food down your throat to make up for working out (and what's the point in working out to burn calories if you just have to eat them back?!)...I'm new here, but I never eat my calories back, not saying that if I was particularly hungry I wouldn't tap into them, but I don't force myself to eat them.

Well if you execise and burn almost as much as you eat or burn 400-500 calories or even less your body is only actually getting a very small amount of energy to sustain itself. That is not healthy. I think it would be better to net 900-1000 calories and eat the exercise calories back if the number are pretty accurate. Living off 400 or 500 calories for all body functions including the brain does not seem healthy, especially if you need to lose under 100 lbs. If I were you I would stick to the 900-1000 calories a day and eat my exercise calories back. That seems the healthiest to me.

yarwell

You need to choose who you're going to listen to.
If you want to listen to your doctor then just use MFP as a tool to track calories and ignore the warnings.
If you want to listen to MFP then don't go to your doctor any more.
I can't tell you who is right. You have to make that choice yourself.

+1

Follow only one path, as Confucius probably didn't say. MFP's calorie tracking is excellent. It's advice on calorie intake has inadequate guidance, it's 1200 calorie minimum is flawed and the forums have the whole spectrum of opinions from experts to fruitcakes. If you want 10 different opinions ask here. If you're confused, stick to your doctor.

_Zardoz_

So you have to choices a Doctor who specialises in the field with years of experience. Or the advice of a website and people on a forum who you don't know from Adam or have a clue about any of their real qualifications. I know which one I'd go for

MFP is a great tool but any advice you need to take with caution.

smalls9686

I have a serious issue on my hands my doctor has me on a 900-1100 calorie diet MFP wants me not to go under 1200. However, on days I exercise which is 4-6 days a week and I burn 500-800 and MFP wants me to eat back all of those calories. My doctor (who does specialize in weight loss)says no! She says of course if I feel hungry eat, but I should not "force myself" to eat all of them back if I am not hungry just because "the computer tells me so." But I have seen so many post that my weight lost will stall which it seems like it has. I am down 16 pounds my first month but in the last 2 weeks I have lost 4 so most of the weight I lost was in the first few weeks. I am really concerned that my weight lost will stall. My body fat is dropping so I am not losing muscle which is good. It is really hard to eat back that much calories.

So the question really isn't who to listen to, but more does anyone NOT eat all their exercise calories back and still have steady weight loss?

Medical doctors are NOT trained nutritionists. I would as soon allow my doctor to dictate calories to me as my dentist!

I guess you missed the parth that this is a medical doctor that SPECIALIZES in nutrtition and weight loss.

smalls9686

Before I switched to a steady caloric intake no matter what the exercise I had, I was regularly NOT eating my exercise calories back, and dropping weight like a stone. Since the change over, the landslide is slowing down, but so has my exercise (Being a student on campus makes the school gym that much more convenient, and since school is out right now, I'm not on campus as much.)

Even so, most days I struggle to hit my "goal", and I'm still loosing.

I know several of my friends list either don't count their exercise calories (post the exercise, then edit the calorie burn to 1), or don't eat back anywhere NEAR their exercise calories (Most have at least half of the exercise calories left when they close out their diaries.) And, as far as I can see we are all loosing - inches at least, but most are showing losses on the scale as well.

Hope this helps.

Thanks this was the REAL type of help I needed. Not useless random opinion of how I should or shouldn't just listen or not listen to my doctor. I really just wanted to know what people have tried in reguards to eating back the exercise calories and stalling or not stalling of their weight loss. Thanks!

smalls9686

I'd go with your doctor. He's the one with all the training, not all the people on here who pretend to be experts! (that's not a dig at you, that's a dig at everyone who seems to think they know best with no professional training whatsoever...)

As for eating back exercise calories. People on an average diet need to eat them back to keep their net calories above their bmr to prevent stalling, but you're eating below that anyway on a medically supervised so I don't think that applies to you.
Since I think mfp over estimates the calories burned anyway, I don't eat mine back unless I'm hungry, and then I only eat half back.
Of course if low cal is affecting your work outs - making you too tired to exercise, or making you light headed while you do - then you should probably eat them back

Remember that mfp is just a weight loss tool targeted at the general public and they have to protect themselves by not advocating super low calorie diets and such and while good is not always appropriate for everyone. Your doctor is giving you advice specifically for you.

Thanks most sane woman I have heard on here all day =-) Thank you I agree about MFD covering their butts. I think people think I am like going around hungry...I am NEVER hungry if I amhungry I eat and my doctors encourage that. They just discourage me eating if I am not hungrt just to please MFP. Thanks for your kidness, people here are suprisingly rude. =-(

_CrepeSuzette_

I have a serious issue on my hands my doctor has me on a 900-1100 calorie diet MFP wants me not to go under 1200. However, on days I exercise which is 4-6 days a week and I burn 500-800 and MFP wants me to eat back all of those calories. My doctor (who does specialize in weight loss)says no! She says of course if I feel hungry eat, but I should not "force myself" to eat all of them back if I am not hungry just because "the computer tells me so." But I have seen so many post that my weight lost will stall which it seems like it has. I am down 16 pounds my first month but in the last 2 weeks I have lost 4 so most of the weight I lost was in the first few weeks. I am really concerned that my weight lost will stall. My body fat is dropping so I am not losing muscle which is good. It is really hard to eat back that much calories.

So the question really isn't who to listen to, but more does anyone NOT eat all their exercise calories back and still have steady weight loss?

Diet calories: 1100
Burned calories: 800

1100-800= 300 Kcal.
I hope you can stand up with this little introit of energy

missymakayla

Listen to your Dr......

kjmenser

I never ate all my calories back from exercise. I stayed at 1200. I am now on maintain and still do not eat the calories I earn from my exercise.

smalls9686

[/quote]

Just an fyi, I had a friend who went through this. She adhered to her instructions, and was told she had to lose X amount on her own for her insurance to cover it. She did. Upon doing this, she was informed that they wouldn't be covering the surgery because she was losing just fine without it. At the rate you're losing, it's incredibly unlikely that your insurance would approve the surgery. Just telling you to prepare you. :flowerforyou:
[/quote]

=-)
Thanks, I figured that as well considering I have no health issues I was borderline anyways...but If I can avoid the surgery that would be awesome! How is your friend doing in her journey?

ken_hogan

Before I switched to a steady caloric intake no matter what the exercise I had, I was regularly NOT eating my exercise calories back, and dropping weight like a stone. Since the change over, the landslide is slowing down, but so has my exercise (Being a student on campus makes the school gym that much more convenient, and since school is out right now, I'm not on campus as much.)

Even so, most days I struggle to hit my "goal", and I'm still loosing.

I know several of my friends list either don't count their exercise calories (post the exercise, then edit the calorie burn to 1), or don't eat back anywhere NEAR their exercise calories (Most have at least half of the exercise calories left when they close out their diaries.) And, as far as I can see we are all loosing - inches at least, but most are showing losses on the scale as well.

Hope this helps.

Thanks this was the REAL type of help I needed. Not useless random opinion of how I should or shouldn't just listen or not listen to my doctor. I really just wanted to know what people have tried in reguards to eating back the exercise calories and stalling or not stalling of their weight loss. Thanks!

I wasn't going to throw in my useless, random opinion until I read this. When you ask something on a website, you are bound to get responses that you feel are useful. You will also get responses that you feel that are useless, random opinions. Just take the advice you feel is useful to you. No need to make negative comments to others that may feel that their comments are trying to help you.

jagh09

I have about the same amount to lose as you do. I got my primary doc to refer me to a nutritionist, so my insurance will cover our visits. I am being realistic and trying to create a life-long change, so it's a lifestyle I can stick with. We are working on about 1 pound per week of weight loss. She has me eating 1700 calories a day, with 60 minutes of cardio 3-4 times per week, and weights 2 times per week. No eating back the activity calories. When I stick with her plan, I lose consistently. (It's only my weeks of slipping up, going out to eat and having cocktails and crappy food for several days in a row that I don't lose).

The problem with those seriously calorie restrictive diets, is that they are hard to maintain long term. Right now your body just needs a reduction in calories and an increase in activity. When you lose some good weight, then you will readjust your calorie intake, to continue creating that calorie deficit. You should definitely have a realistic conversation with your doctor about how feasible this is to maintain long term and that you'd prefer to do something a little more manageable.

Good luck with it! Keep focused on you and your health. This is a life's journey, not a quick fix. You are working to change old habits and create new ones. We're all working for that. That takes serious time and long-term commitment.

MrsMohawk

I'd listen to your doctor. I started out using this site to track my carb in take because of my diabetes. It's a great tool to just to track food. You don't have to eat back all your calorie burned calories. To me it's like whats the point in exercising if your gonna eat back those calories. but sometimes i do ... you can manually change your food nutrition daily . you don't have to go by what the site gives you. Good luck on your journey

craigmandu

Before I switched to a steady caloric intake no matter what the exercise I had, I was regularly NOT eating my exercise calories back, and dropping weight like a stone. Since the change over, the landslide is slowing down, but so has my exercise (Being a student on campus makes the school gym that much more convenient, and since school is out right now, I'm not on campus as much.)

Even so, most days I struggle to hit my "goal", and I'm still loosing.

I know several of my friends list either don't count their exercise calories (post the exercise, then edit the calorie burn to 1), or don't eat back anywhere NEAR their exercise calories (Most have at least half of the exercise calories left when they close out their diaries.) And, as far as I can see we are all loosing - inches at least, but most are showing losses on the scale as well.

Hope this helps.

Thanks this was the REAL type of help I needed. Not useless random opinion of how I should or shouldn't just listen or not listen to my doctor. I really just wanted to know what people have tried in reguards to eating back the exercise calories and stalling or not stalling of their weight loss. Thanks!

Just an FYI, you will have stalls, it will happen at some point. I understand you are sensitive to it happening, but you really can't put "the cart before the horse" so to speak.

Do what is working for you until you stall, then make small changes (and not alot of those changes)...it may take you quite a bit more time to actually stall. Don't be afraid to bring up these concerns to the doctor you are seeing in regards to your weightloss.

Shari325

I'm not going to speak to the calorie issue.
I would like to suggest you SERIOUSLY reconsider the Lap Band. Ask your doctor about the band's success rate four and six years out. There are more long-term complications, caused by slips and erosions, four to six years out being reported all the time. I have heard whispers that the band (all versions) will be pulled from the market in the next five years.

I had a band for four year. I loved it and would have recommended to anyone. Then it eroded and tried to KILL me. After that I learned that statistics and success rates for any bariatric surgery are skewed. Most statistics only report for the first two years. If you have lost a certain percentage of your excess body weight within two years, it is considered a success. Any complications after two years, are not included in the statistics. You have to live with the decision (regardless of the type of surgery) for the rest of your life. If I had known long term success rates were so dismal, I never would have had surgery!

rakens1

When your weight loss stalls try increasing your exercise reps by an extra 2-5. If you're doing 2 sets of 25 for squats, increase it to 2 sets of 30.

IHTSM

My doctor says the same thing - DO NOT eat back the calories. I would listen to your doctor for all of it, she IS an expert

devil_in_a_blue_dress

I would tell your doctor you are uncomfortable with his/her plan because it doesn't really seem viable long term and see what the reaction is. I am unsure if you have an impeding medical crisis that requires a quick loss, but that is the only case in which I would personally (and I am not a doctor) feel comfortable taking on a very low calorie diet.

If your doctor dismisses those concerns I would seek a second opinion.

america_c

I started out not eating back my workout calories, that had me netting below 1000 calories! I started eating back anywhere from half to all of them and I've been slow and steady so far. I think each body is different and will react to calorie deficits and intakes differently. If you do not have any major health issues do what your body does better with. I personally (at 5'6") will not net below 1500 calories a day, but that is me and someone who is taller or shorter may need more or less. Good luck to you.

sunshine421969

Just this past Friday, I spoke to a good friend of mine who has a degree in nutrition.My weight had stalled many times, so I was asking her a few questions.I was at a 1200 cal. and burn anywhere from 300 to 500 cal. a day or around that.She said I was not eating enough calories.I should have 1600-1800 a day and excersise and burn about 500 cal. and eat 500 less calories..This was for me to try and lose 4 pounds by May 31, I did that starting on Saturday and I have already lost a pound and its just Wenesday.Even if I may not make it to the 4 pound loss its ok..because I am excited just to be losing again..If you don't eat enough you body can shut down and it affects you organs..There was days I only ate 900 calories and I felt terrible..sluggish and no energy..Now I feel great and have more energy just in 4 days time..Sorry for my ramblings..but you got to eat to lose...