Clarity on the Eating back exercise calories controversy

I'm new here but I've seen thread after thread regarding this and would like to understand why its such a hotbed topic.

I'm working off some assumptions here because I don't use MFP to track my food because its not flexible enough for me. But if I'm getting the gist of it MFP creates a caloric deficit based on goals set by the user (it seems to be 1200 for a lot of folks). This deficit is to lose weight though diet excluding physical activity. MFP then recommends you eat back you exercise calories because they've already set in your deficit via foods.

This seems logical to me. Is there confusion because MFP doesn't not explain the rationale behind this system? Again assuming, but if someone is eating 1200 and they are burning 400 calories a day they would only have 800 calories readily available to function on.


This is an extreme example, but this type of behavior in competitions circles, mostly amongst women, seems to have lead to a rash of women dealing with extreme exhaustion, hair loss, depression, hormonal imbalances, huge rebounds (weight gain), cycles of binging, and metabolic damage. From what I understand stored fat is the last thing your body wants to access and simple carbohydrates is the first, so if your stressing it via physical demands and not meeting its need nutritionally your cortisol (stress hormone) levels will increase and cause your body hold tight to fat storage and even try to store more (because it thinks there is some sort of trouble coming and get into survival mode), but also start eating into the muscle.

kiachu,, you look like you know how to minimize body fat and build muscle. What would happen to your muscle on a net calorie intake of 800?

I know what would happen. I wouldn't get out of bed for that. Why don't other people understand it? I see people post threads about WHY are people eating back their calories. Is MFP not being clear enough regarding this?
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I like MFP it helps me really see how much i am eating. It is a good tool for me. But thats not to say its methods work for everyone. If this was correct surely doctors and nutritionists and health clinics and the government would be promoting it as a free tool everyone should use to get slimmer.

I like MFP it helps me really see how much i am eating. It is a good tool for me. But thats not to say its methods work for everyone. If this was correct surely doctors and nutritionists and health clinics and the government would be promoting it as a free tool everyone should use to get slimmer.

The 2 people who are ripped advocate eating back exercise calories. Just sayin' guys. They seem to know what they're talking about.

I'm not ripped by any stretch, but I'm 118 lbs and have around 17% body fat, I eat 'em back.

I like MFP it helps me really see how much i am eating. It is a good tool for me. But thats not to say its methods work for everyone. If this was correct surely doctors and nutritionists and health clinics and the government would be promoting it as a free tool everyone should use to get slimmer.

The nutritionist/dietician I see at the hospital here on post asked what I was using to count my calories and when I told her MFP she smiled. She uses MFP also.

but that is to count the calories, and like i say i think its a good tool for that, but if MFP methods were proven for evryone we would all be told to eat them back.

Out of interest what does your nurse say to do?

ok after reading everyones thoughts, opinons, ideas.. i am even more confused. My math is perfectly fine, but Im confused on my plan now. My goal is 1200 calories. But burn average 400-500 w/ exercise. Should I eat back the 400-500 calories to maintain what I want to lose?? Ive heard both sides yes/no....

it's a hot bed because of people who think their way is the only way. I have done just fine without eating back my exercise calories and have tried eating them back only to gain or stall out. I know of other people who have shared that experience. I also know of people who swear they never lost a pound until they started eating their exercise calories back or stalled until they started eating more. I don't see it as a controversy so long as both sides of the isle can accept that we don't all have to take the same road to success.

OP, you look like how I want to look. How did you do it? Thanks

Melissa