advice on eating back calories burnt!

I don't track my exercise anymore. I don't do heavy intense workouts so I am not worried about it. I get in a good amount of exercise daily just working in and out of the home. If I manage to go have time to go for a walk or something I consider extra I don't go eat it back just because I can. If I'm hungry I will eat more or if I know I have a lot of physically demanding things to do in a day I will eat more.

It all depends on how in tune with your body you are. Some people have very intense workouts and eating the calories back is fine for them, they need it. Other people will go for a short walk and use it an excuse to eat more.

My calories in any given day may be under or over a bit. A lot of it depends on the weather and my schedule changes.

I've had so many people tell me I'm burning too many cals during exercise for what I eat. I honestly don't see the point of exercising very hard, then eating back all of those burnt calories. It seems very counter productive to me. If I'm starving, sure, I'll eat. If not, nope, I never intentionally eat them back "just because I can".

This program is pretty comprehensive. I have a feeling that if you're losing too fast, you'll be alerted to the fact. I would never eat because I can. Keep up the good work!

I am only "given" 1200 calories so I typically will eat the calories I've earned in a workout, otherwise I think I'd feel hungry all the time. I only track exercise when I've done an intense workout though. I don't track every day activity like cleaning the house, walking with the kids, etc.

If I am not hungry I don't force myself to eat. I don't find myself in that position very often though. haha

I've had so many people tell me I'm burning too many cals during exercise for what I eat. I honestly don't see the point of exercising very hard, then eating back all of those burnt calories. It seems very counter productive to me. If I'm starving, sure, I'll eat. If not, nope, I never intentionally eat them back "just because I can".

IF you are using MFP as designed ..... the point is this: the calorie deficit is already built in BEFORE exercise. When you exercise, you actually increase the calorie deficit more. When the calorie deficit is especially large ..... you will lose muscle mass .... THAT defeats the purpose of exercise.

There are so many variables to the equation ..... carlorie burns can be grossly exaggerated, you may me less (more) sedentary .... or active than you think you are, some people have higher metabolisms than others ..... no one exact answer.

I would rather error on the side of caution & eat my caloires back .... I don't want to lose muscle mass for the sake of losing weight more quickly.

I've always gone by this:

If you have your activity level set to sedentary on here, eat your exercise calories back.

If you have your activity included in your goals, don't eat them back.

Eat when hungry - BUT make sure that you are eating enough....min of 1200. I, personally, don't know how people only eat 1200 cal a day. I'd starve. I'm set at sedentary (I have a desk job)...my cal goal is set at 1570 (was at 1600) and I try to get at least 3 days of exercise a week, if not more. So, basically, with mine set at sedentary...even if I don't exercise ALL week, I'm set to lose 1 lb per week. Typically, when I exercise more than 3 days a week, I don't see a weightloss right away. Seems to balance out eventually though.

In addition, I'd like to say, I don't have any clue how people make it through their INTENSE work outs with <1200. Just sayin.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

If you're truly not hungry, one day isn't going to hurt you. I wouldn't let it become a habit to be that far under though. Your body needs the fuel, especially if you're exercising. You want to lose fat, not muscle, right?

I like how you think, TinyToyJess!

I never eat my calories earned through workouts, because then there is no point in working out.

See, I look at it differently. I work out so that I *can* eat.

bump.

Short answer: Eat your exercise calories. If you don't believe me, go look at my pictures.

Food is Fuel. You need it.

But don't just eat the 800 because MFP says so. Search the boards for some posts about finding your BMR and TDEE, then figure out what your body needs.

Here is a good one to start with: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

You should always net above your BMR (base metabolic rate), which is what your body needs to function if you were to do nothing but lay in bed. Again, net means calories consumed minus calories expended during exercise.

Try this calculator to help you find your BMR: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/
or search for others on google.

I never eat my calories earned through workouts, because then there is no point in working out.

See, I look at it differently. I work out so that I *can* eat.

^^this^^

Yes, you are supposed to eat them back. No, it is not counter-productive to do so because when you entered all your information into MFP and it calculates your calorie goal the proper calorie deficit is built into that number. If once in awhile you're not hungry enough to eat some or all of them it's fine. But overall MFP designed this program with the intention that you should eat those earned calories.

simply put, no you don't have to eat the extra calories you have gained through exercise you'll just loose weight faster and at the end of the day its not just about loosing weight but about changing the habits that got us fat in the first place so should you eat when your not hungry? Good luck with your challenge. I should of added that its okay if you do eat them back and if you are working out to a heavy program then you need to ensure you are getting enough calories to fuel it but that should have been allowed for in your profile and mfp would have taken it into account