My doctor vs MyFitnessPal and calories

KatLifter

Hunger is irrelevant.

:huh:

disasterman

To answer your original quesiton OP, I have had some success and usually don't eat all my exercise calories back. Sometimes I eat all of them, most times some of them, other times non of them. It depends mainly on whether I feel hungry or not but other factors come into play as well such as whether it's a weekend and I feel like drinking a beer or glass of wine and so on. But mostly, I like to leave some calories on the table because I don't believe MFP is precise enough. The exercise calorie burns are aproximate because I don't use a heart rate monitor and, although I often use a food scale and have my portion sizes down, I feel it's easy to undestimate calories consumed. A 150/overestimate of calories burned and 150 underestimate of calories consumed per day - just as an example-would add up to being 9000 calories off in a month. So I leave myself some "breathing room". For me, I found that leaving (not eating back) about 500 calories/day gave me the results I expected. Of course, your results may be different but I would point out that the numbers don't matter as much as the results. I use MFP as a tool to give me insight into my metabolism and as long as I can reliably get the results I'm trying to get, I don't really care what the numbers are.

smalls9686

If I ate that little I'd feel so sick plus it is an unrealistic amount of calories to maintain for the rest of your life. Eat much more but make it home cooked food, nutritious food and energy sustaining food.

II understand if you feel it wouldn't be enough for you but if I don't feel hungry why should I force myself to eat. I do cook most of the time..and when you cook at home and it's not processed your calories go a LOT further. You would be surprised how much food I can put on a plate that isn't processed and it be under 400 calories.

jonnythan

Hunger is irrelevant.

:huh:

In terms of weight loss, lean mass loss, and fat oxidation, it is irrelevant.

There are a lot of people who eat very low calorie and just aren't hungry. That doesn't mean that what they're doing is healthy. Whether or not you are hungry has no bearing whatsoever on whether your diet is healthy.

Tenae2001

I just restarted using Mfp. When I used it before I did not eat all my calories I burned back because I didn't feel I needed to. I was doing Insanity, which I am doing again, and I calculated my calories needed to lose according to the guideline listed in the book. I set my calories on Mfp and tracked my weight. Everytime I lost 10lbs, mfp recalculates the amount of calories I need to successfully lose weight and each time it gets less. Majority of the time I don't even the suggested amount of calories before exercise and I eat 5 times a day. Back then my weightloss was consistent and I look forward to doing it thesame way again.

askeates

First (and I'm not being disrespectful), I would be concerned that any Dr would tell you to eat less than 1200 calories a day! There may be a medical necessity for you to be AT 1200 calories a day, but under is dangerous (that comes from many of my own Drs being frustrated with me not reaching 1200 calories a day and constantly gaining weight).

Second, you should really follow what your body is telling you to do. Only you and your body know what is right for you. If after a workout you are hungry then eat. Pick wisely is my best advice, and make sure you are staying well hydrated during your workout.

Please, please, please talk with another Dr about a healthy calorie intake for you!!!!!

Thanks, no disrespect taken. I eat when I am hungry, and on day I work out I really do try to get at least 1200-1500. But sometimes I don't and if I am not hungry I don't fret over it. I drink 1/2-3/4 a gallon of water a day!

After I posted this I went and looked at your diary. I still think you should get a second opinion (medically, not just from us). Your eating is very nice!!! I do look at it and wonder about your protein intake. I looked through a little over a week of logging and there was only 1 day where you came close to hitting your protein, and the days you logged workouts there was no eating back, which when I was doing 1200 calories a day and going to the gym 4-5 times a week, plus walking 3 days a week I didn't do much of either (Like you, I struggled to make that 1200 calorie goal). But then I went 6 months with not only NOT losing weight, but steadily gaining 1-2 pounds a week! Talk about frustrating.... So I did start eating back about 1/2 my exercise calories. That helped with the gaining, but I still wasn't losing. After 4 months of this I changed things a little over a week ago I decided to try the TDEE method - 20%. You do not eat back exercise calories unless you do extremely intense workouts. In 2 days I dropped 3.5 pounds of water weight, and OMG the energy I've had has been amazing. I never realized that I was lacking energy until I changed this....

I have lost 50 pounds and need to lose another 50 (at least) and I know that I have royally messed up my metabolism by not eating enough, but I am working on fixing that. Are there times when I am not hungry at all... OMG yes, all day long! I am now eating 1743 calories a day, and it is a HUGE struggle to get there, however, it is very doable by the foods you choose. I have a good amount of protein with every single meal. I do carbs in the morning, and fat in the afternoon and evening (good fat from nuts and good oils).

Remember you need to listen to your body, and continue making smart food choices, but maybe switch it up a little bit. If you come to the conclusion that you do in fact need to at least try eating back your calories, choose high fiber fruits & veggies or do protein shakes. You may feel fine right now, but your body does in fact need extra fuel if you continue to eat 900-1100 calories and then workout heavily.

This is just MHO and my experience, so take it or leave it... Be healthy and good luck in your journey!

Magdaloonie

I don't eat back all my exercise calories because, after many failed diets, I know that MFP's requirement is actually my maintenance. I use it for tracking and it's great but one size NEVER fit's all. Your doctor is watching out for you and is a specialist so go with what she says.
Also - 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks is GREAT!

jonnythan

If I ate that little I'd feel so sick plus it is an unrealistic amount of calories to maintain for the rest of your life. Eat much more but make it home cooked food, nutritious food and energy sustaining food.

II understand if you feel it wouldn't be enough for you but if I don't feel hungry why should I force myself to eat. I do cook most of the time..and when you cook at home and it's not processed your calories go a LOT further. You would be surprised how much food I can put on a plate that isn't processed and it be under 400 calories.

You eat a ton of processed food, you know. Popcorn, white bread, yogurt, biscuits, Wendy's, beer, wine, Chik-fil-A, pizza, protein powder, etc.

You also eat very low calorie. You seem to average a calorie total well under 1000 and often end the day with your net calories under 500.

What you're doing is not good.

LeahT84

Just because MFP says you have extra calories doesn't mean you need to eat them. I set my calorie goal myself, basically at the level of calories I'll need to eat when I'm at my goal weight. I did this on my own without medical advice. Also I don't "eat back" calories that I've burned working out. I figure it's just more calories burned. Follow your doctor. MFP is another tool to use, but it is just a tool and follows a standard formula for everyone. It sounds like your doc is working with you to reach your goal and has given you very specific guidelines. I think the safest way to lose the weight is under medical attention.

Thanks you very much, I really wanted to know if there were others who weren't eating all the exercise calories back and that were still losing. Have you found that it's working for you (not eating them all back?)

I don't eat back my exercise calories either, and I have lost pretty consistently over the last 13 weeks.

jonnythan

Anorexic people lose weight consistently, too.

That doesn't mean that what they're doing is good for them.

Just sayin.

smalls9686

Here is the question -- if exercise is going to make you hungrier (which it will), and you can't eat even part of those calories back to compensate, how often will you exercise?
I went from 3 times a week to 5 or 6 consistently and I credit the MFP system for it.
At your calorie level, you have more than enough deficit to lose 2 pounds a week on average for a long time, even eating back your exercise calories?
At first, I did it ONLY when I was really hungry -- I resisted it.
Then I got more lenient, and now I usually eat most of them.
My rate of weight loss is the same, actually.
I think that long-term adherence to healthier habits is a really important element of this. And I want somewhere to "go" if the weight loss slows, if that makes sense.
And at the rate you're losing, you could reach your goal this year with no surgery

Not sure I understand your qustion, I exercise now at least 5 times a week. I run 3x a week MWF and then do HHA/Spin/TRX/Yoga/Circuit most other days some times twice so I am getting my exercise in most days. When I don't formerly exercise I garden or walk...so I am trying to really embrace this idea of an "active lifestyle."

melindasuefritz

u dont say your qweight but 1100 is to few unles u ar e like
110 pounds

fbmandy55

Your doctor knows you better than we do and better than some generic online calculator does. Trust him/her. Or get a second opinion.

But when it comes to the advice of a medical degree vs a website, always go with the medical degree.

My cousin works for a doctor who prescribes HCG for weight loss, which is illegal. There are doctors who put feeding tubes in people for weightloss. Sure you wanna stick with that statement??

Doctors are normal people, there are plenty out there who want to make $$$ off of vulnerable people.

smalls9686

Here is the question -- if exercise is going to make you hungrier (which it will), and you can't eat even part of those calories back to compensate, how often will you exercise?
I went from 3 times a week to 5 or 6 consistently and I credit the MFP system for it.
At your calorie level, you have more than enough deficit to lose 2 pounds a week on average for a long time, even eating back your exercise calories?
At first, I did it ONLY when I was really hungry -- I resisted it.
Then I got more lenient, and now I usually eat most of them.
My rate of weight loss is the same, actually.
I think that long-term adherence to healthier habits is a really important element of this. And I want somewhere to "go" if the weight loss slows, if that makes sense.
And at the rate you're losing, you could reach your goal this year with no surgery

Exercise is supposed to make me hungrier? It has the opposite effect for me.

Me too =-)

ashscot50

I am not a doctor and I am not a dietician, I am just a 63 year old guy in Scotland who was about 30lbs overweight on New Year's Day this year.

I have read about half the posts on here but don't know your own stats apart from the initial weight loss you mentioned which seems a hell of a lot to me. I am not qualified to say whether or not you need medical advice for dieting.

However, what I can say is that MFP had me on about 1200 cals/day at first which was tough but I lost 16/17 lbs in the first month, it then put me up to 1400 and subsequently I adjusted to 1600 and have lost about 12/13lbs in the past 3/4 months despite three foreign trips where I wasn't watching what I was eating. I also tend to eat very well with wine etc at least once a week when my count goes up to around 3,000+. If I have the occasional heavy lunch I tend to just eat soup at night.

I walk around 3 miles, 4/5 days a week sometimes more sometimes less and that generates an extra 200+ cals each time. The way I look at it is if I have done the walking I get a treat by using the extra cals for some low fat rice pudding or other desert that would normally take me over the limit. So long as you stay under the cals per day or perhaps best to look at on a weekly basis which the mobile app shows but not the online version (unless I have missed it) then you will lose weight.

To be honest I have only been under the cals allowed 2 or 3 times (weekly) in 5 months and I have still lost 30lbs and am m more or less stable now.

I have tried a number of different diets in the past and was also referred to a dietician and as some have remarked actually found that the advice led to me putting on weight rather than losing. For what it's worth I eat cereal and toast for breakfast, soup and pasta with a sauce most nights and have low cal sandwiches at lunch time.

I think MFP is fantastic and it's free. I know a lot of people who have paid to go to things like Weight Watchers and they don't really get any different advice.

If I can offer one other piece of advice. I am a bit of a statistician and I keep all sorts of charts and graphs on my weight. I find that that it is a big psychological boost to see the trend line on the graph going down pretty steadily and I like to compare my weight now with my weight on the same date last year and in previous years.

Hope this helps.

shyroxxy82

I dont eat back the calories! Why work your butt off in the gym and burn all those calories, just to eat them back?? In order to lose weight you must burn MORE calories than you consume in a day! Otherwise your defeating the propose!! I never eat back the Calories... but i do feel i have hit a platoue in my weight lsoe. I too lost more of my weight in the first 2 weeks, this is week 3 of my journey and i have 17 pounds to go and i feel im stuck at only losing 15 so far!!

leahalissa

LOL at all these people overriding the advice of a trained medical professional with years and years of licensed experience.
I don't eat back my exercise calories. I've lost 80 lbs and kept it off for two years.
So.
Listen to the damn professional, or find another MD's opinion. Don't listen to the forum.

krhn

Sorry but if your only eating say 800 calories and shave off half of it from exercise.... No one can possibly survive with so low calories and have a healthy lifestyle... You should eat back all your calories if you are are only consuming 800-1000 calories a day because even at that level, it can be classed as starvation!


Just a note to other MFP members that say you don't have to eat back your calories: the OPs calories is at an extremely low rate where macro and micro nutrients is sparse and few, even if she was to do nothing, she would lose weight in a drastic way anyway - any lower net calories and it'll affect the metabolism big time, unless it has already!

woodwardtm

IDK how recent your profile picture is but you don't appear to be overly large. I'm not sure why you would consider a surgical solution to weight loss if you can lose weight yourself but counting calories and exercising.

That being said, I do not eat all of my exercise calories back. I do however have a higher calorie intake than you have.

CindyRip

I have read 100's of these posts and I can't help wondering if we are not all missing the point. I think the most important thing is are we getting all the nutrients our bodies need to function at an optimal level. You can eat 5,000 calories a day and not meet this important criteria. Then we need to understand how many calories each of our bodies burn in a day and just how important exercise is to maintaining the systems that make up our bodies ability to survive. The next thing I see as important is learning a solution that is maintainable through out the rest of our lives. You can loose weight fast but then what, if you do not learn how to make it work long term you are looking at a return to where you currently are, seeking change. I think the best choice is learning about these things and individualizing them to your needs. That will give you the amount of calories you should be eating not a bunch of generic opinions. I recently faced this on my own, as much as I want to believe my doctor has my best interest at heart I realized that if she is only giving me 20 min of her time, she is still giving me generic information and it is up to me to figure out the rest. I wish you luck in discovering what you need, but even more I wish you knowledge, go out and seek it.

EatClean_WashUrNuts

smalls9686

First (and I'm not being disrespectful), I would be concerned that any Dr would tell you to eat less than 1200 calories a day! There may be a medical necessity for you to be AT 1200 calories a day, but under is dangerous (that comes from many of my own Drs being frustrated with me not reaching 1200 calories a day and constantly gaining weight).

Second, you should really follow what your body is telling you to do. Only you and your body know what is right for you. If after a workout you are hungry then eat. Pick wisely is my best advice, and make sure you are staying well hydrated during your workout.

Please, please, please talk with another Dr about a healthy calorie intake for you!!!!!

Thanks, no disrespect taken. I eat when I am hungry, and on day I work out I really do try to get at least 1200-1500. But sometimes I don't and if I am not hungry I don't fret over it. I drink 1/2-3/4 a gallon of water a day!

After I posted this I went and looked at your diary. I still think you should get a second opinion (medically, not just from us). Your eating is very nice!!! I do look at it and wonder about your protein intake. I looked through a little over a week of logging and there was only 1 day where you came close to hitting your protein, and the days you logged workouts there was no eating back, which when I was doing 1200 calories a day and going to the gym 4-5 times a week, plus walking 3 days a week I didn't do much of either (Like you, I struggled to make that 1200 calorie goal). But then I went 6 months with not only NOT losing weight, but steadily gaining 1-2 pounds a week! Talk about frustrating.... So I did start eating back about 1/2 my exercise calories. That helped with the gaining, but I still wasn't losing. After 4 months of this I changed things a little over a week ago I decided to try the TDEE method - 20%. You do not eat back exercise calories unless you do extremely intense workouts. In 2 days I dropped 3.5 pounds of water weight, and OMG the energy I've had has been amazing. I never realized that I was lacking energy until I changed this....

I have lost 50 pounds and need to lose another 50 (at least) and I know that I have royally messed up my metabolism by not eating enough, but I am working on fixing that. Are there times when I am not hungry at all... OMG yes, all day long! I am now eating 1743 calories a day, and it is a HUGE struggle to get there, however, it is very doable by the foods you choose. I have a good amount of protein with every single meal. I do carbs in the morning, and fat in the afternoon and evening (good fat from nuts and good oils).

Remember you need to listen to your body, and continue making smart food choices, but maybe switch it up a little bit. If you come to the conclusion that you do in fact need to at least try eating back your calories, choose high fiber fruits & veggies or do protein shakes. You may feel fine right now, but your body does in fact need extra fuel if you continue to eat 900-1100 calories and then workout heavily.

This is just MHO and my experience, so take it or leave it... Be healthy and good luck in your journey!

Awesome post! Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my journal I was on vacation last week and it was a STRUGGLE to say the least to eat right and get stuff in. I did the best I could do. I am actually going to print out your post an look it over, seemsvery sensible and I like that. I appreicate it. I Know I need to eat more and have been trying to figure out how I could do that with out really changing the volume but making some swaps with higher calorie foods. B-fats is hard b/c I hate EGGS so it's ususally always yogurt and fruit. Was thinking of adding milk to my protein shakes smal things like that having a cliff bar before I run that would easily give me another 3-400 calories a day. Anywho, thanks again!

SweetpeaHu

Hi there, prior to seeing my dietician, I was eating under 1200 calories (sometimes under 1000 calories) and exercising, and didn't lose a lb. My dietician as me on 1310 calories/day, and I've been losing 1-2 lbs/week. Even if my exercise calories allow me to eat more calories, I stick to 1310. I'm only 5 feet tall and thought that I should only eat 1000 calories, but the minimum really is 1200 calories (I tend to stick to that count on the days that I don't workout). I hope that helps.

arlygyrl

I dont eat back the calories! Why work your butt off in the gym and burn all those calories, just to eat them back?? In order to lose weight you must burn MORE calories than you consume in a day! Otherwise your defeating the propose!! I never eat back the Calories...

I agree. My best friend is a diabetic and her doctor suggested she try Medifast. Medifast has you eating between 800-1000 calories a day. Depending on your height 1200 calories can be too much. Listen to your doctor or get a second opinion from another doctor.

smalls9686

Sorry but if your only eating say 800 calories and shave off half of it from exercise.... No one can possibly survive with so low calories and have a healthy lifestyle... You should eat back all your calories if you are are only consuming 800-1000 calories a day because even at that level, it can be classed as starvation!


Just a note to other MFP members that say you don't have to eat back your calories: the OPs calories is at an extremely low rate where macro and micro nutrients is sparse and few, even if she was to do nothing, she would lose weight in a drastic way anyway - any lower net calories and it'll affect the metabolism big time, unless it has already!

Not sure where you got 800 from. I am on 900-1100 and most days I am at 1100 before eating anything back so not sure why you are saying that. =-S

winchestervol63

The 1200 number is a mere invention of the CYA (cover your *kitten*) variety. It has no basis in medical fact, and cannot cover the enormous range in individuals, their sizes and activities.

All of my weight loss has been under medical supervision. I have weighed and logged every bit of food for over nine months. I am 6'3" tall, and currently weigh 203 pounds, only three pounds over a normal BMI. My highest weight was 475. For eight months, I averaged 1,040 calories per day. According to my activity log and fitbit, for more than half of that time I exercised considerable more, and so my daily net was below zero. This was what my doctors told me to do, and everyone should listen to their own physician. I never ate back any exercise calories. According to many on this thread, I couldn't possibly be alive from eating negative calories. So why am I? Because I was fat, and fat is energy. Anyone who is obese can do so, as long as a qualified doctor says it is ok.

I can show you charts and graphs. I never went into starvation mode, stalled, held onto fat, or any of that foolishness. My weight loss graph is a perfect, smooth, curve, utterly predictable, because I weigh all my food, honestly and precisely, and work out religiously. The past month or so I have, under doctor's recommendation, slowly increased calories to about 1600 per day, still less than most 6'3" men, and am still losing a little. I will gradually get to a normal daily intake, and weight, and fitness.

I have far more energy and activity than I have in years, in spite of eating less than those more than a foot shorter than me. How? Because I spent years eating far more than I should. You store energy so it can be used later. It's an ingenius creation, really. And if you are 70 or 100 pounds overweight, you can do what your doctor suggests, and eat less, without eating back your exercise calories. In that regard, your doctor knows what they are talking about.

Great post.

Johlawrence

You posted that your doctor specializes in weight loss, so I would DEFINITELY listen to her. I am currently under a plan (under a doctor who also specializes in weight loss) to stick to 1000 cals a day and not necessarily eat back exercise cals. I have read so much about "starvation mode" at under 1200 and I flat out do not believe it now. Now, I did hit a plateau for about 4 weeks of juggling the same 2-3 pounds, so I upped my cals for about a week to 1500, and then went back low and have lost the ones I was juggling plus an additional 3. I think my body just needed a shock. Maybe try that? It worked for me. My main point is: Listen to your doctor. Maybe ask about upping at a plateau???

Just wanted to add, I only upped my cals because so many people on here were saying I was not eating enough. So after upping them, and then lowering them shortly thereafter, I finally started losing again. I will stick to 1000-1100 a day now until I plateau again...

Best of luck!!!

danilynn2

In answer to your question: I was losing body mass and increased calories. I also ate back more exercise calories, still losing.
- I would go with your Dr., I'm sure they will adjust you as you go along. Sounds like you are being monitored closely. They know more about YOU than anyone on this site. :bigsmile:

^^^THIS! I would always go with the doctor verse opinions of others that do not know anything about you.

But to answer your actual question. I stalled when I wasn't eating back my workout calories and then changed it up a little to eating back 1/3 of my workout calories and have been back on track losing.

Good luck!

smalls9686

IDK how recent your profile picture is but you don't appear to be overly large. I'm not sure why you would consider a surgical solution to weight loss if you can lose weight yourself but counting calories and exercising.

That being said, I do not eat all of my exercise calories back. I do however have a higher calorie intake than you have.

It is me it's maybe 18 months or so old, I guess I don't carry too much weight inmy face but totay I weighed in at 181 but I am 5 foot 1 according to Dr . morbidly obese///or I was at 205 pounds at my largest and 200 5 weeks ago

REDI4CHANGE60

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.

I agree 100% with this poster ... you, and you alone make this choice. I am losing on a low carb, low calorie (and yes, it can def be done eating clean meat and veggies) diet. I hit plateaus, yes, but the scale keeps going in the right direction ... DOWN ... and my weight is lower than it has been since I was in my late teens and very early 20's. I use MFP to track my food and weight, check out topics I am interested in, but I do not use it as a bible for my health ... I don't think MFP is equipped to handle that, nor is it meant to replace a doctor's advice. That being said, I would go with your doctor ... of course your weight loss will slow after the first month of losing a lot of water weight and I think that 'starvation' mode is a myth (if it was real, I would weigh 500 pounds from all the low calorie diets I have been on over my lifetime) ... it's just a 'natural' plateau and your body adjusting. My $.02.