WHY DO PEOPLE EAT BACK THEIR EXERCISE CALS?!

When I was young, the way to teach a dog to sit was to push on his *kitten* until he sat, then tell him he's good.

When I took an obedience class with my dog about 6 years ago, the instructor taught us to hold the treat in front of his nose and move it in an upward movement until he sat, then clicked the clicker, give him the treat, and praise him. And that same clicker training worked well to teach him other commands, so now I have a dog who gives high fives, plays dead, sings on command and a slew of other tricks.

It was different than past forms of training, and it worked amazingly well. Just because it wasn't like other training plans didn't mean there was a flaw in the system.

Similarly, when I was younger, the way to lose weight was "eat less, move more." That, coupled with the popular "no pain, no gain" made me think that losing weight was supposed to be uncomfortable. So naturally, I thought the less I ate and the more I moved, the better it would be, no matter how much it sucked. Since finding MFP, I found the balance. It was different than past forms of "dieting," and it worked amazingly well.

In a way, it's a lot like the positive reinforcement of clicker training the dog. The better I am at sticking to my exercise routine, the more I can eat!

When I was young, the way to teach a dog to sit was to push on his *kitten* until he sat, then tell him he's good.

When I took an obedience class with my dog about 6 years ago, the instructor taught us to hold the treat in front of his nose and move it in an upward movement until he sat, then clicked the clicker, give him the treat, and praise him. And that same clicker training worked well to teach him other commands, so now I have a dog who gives high fives, plays dead, sings on command and a slew of other tricks.

It was different than past forms of training, and it worked amazingly well. Just because it wasn't like other training plans didn't mean there was a flaw in the system.

Similarly, when I was younger, the way to lose weight was "eat less, move more." That, coupled with the popular "no pain, no gain" made me think that losing weight was supposed to be uncomfortable. So naturally, I thought the less I ate and the more I moved, the better it would be, no matter how much it sucked. Since finding MFP, I found the balance. It was different than past forms of "dieting," and it worked amazingly well.

In a way, it's a lot like the positive reinforcement of clicker training the dog. The better I am at sticking to my exercise routine, the more I can eat!

Excellent explanation. This is absolutely correct. I am a 54 year old woman and all my life I was dieting by starving myself and exercising. When I finally decided that I had had enough of yo yoing up and down, I came to this site. I now understand that I have probably messed up my body to the point that I will have to work very hard to make sure it is getting the nutrients that it needs to work for me efficiently. I eat at 30% below my TDEE. As I get my weight down more that will adjust to 20% below. I was killing myself doing cardio every day of the week for an hour at a time. I now do cardio about 3 -4 times a week and have added strength training. I continue to lose weight and I am astounded. This is not what I learned about losing weight.

So do you want to eat your exercise calories back? That's entirely up to you. But, at a severe calorie deficit, you wll lose weight like crazy. And when you are at your goal? You will be eating normally and your body will gain it all back. Then you will start again. You will be me. A 54 year old that is finally learning to do things the right way. Up to you.

And yes, I think not factoring in workout regimens seems like a flaw to me. Fitday, sparkpeople and weightwatchers all factors in fitness level. MFP does not. I only left Fitday for MFP because there was a group for Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. The fact that this debate isn't raging on in other sites, but is a weekly topic is an indicator that their is a kink in the MFP system.

I don't think it's a flaw at all and is actually one of my favorite parts of the MFP system. The flaw is the people coming from other sites and using Sparkpeople's (or what have you) process on MFP. Just because 7 other sites do it one way means nothing. MFP explicitly spells out the instructions when you create your profile. If people don't want to adhere to those instructions, that's their prerogative, but it's not MFP's fault. And MFP is not the only diet program to do it. WW has active points. Fitbit has a daily "zone" that can increase or decrease based on how much you've moved that day. And no, YOU doing it one way does not stop or hinder the rest of us, but all of these, "omg I don't get it you all are so stupid" threads are getting redundant because if you don't like the process then FIND ANOTHER PROCESS. But don't bang on the people who follow the program the way it's meant to be followed.

So why is there this huge confusion and thread after thread about this topic? Why are so many people on of different heights, weights, body compositions, and goals are on the same 1200 deficit out of the gate? I have never in my life in thought this was an issue and never experienced it in any system, not even WWs until coming to this site. Something is missing. Some much debate and confusion.

I think the solution to this endless debate would be for MFP to work out a clear flaw in its system.

I don't think there's a flaw in the MFP system, I think there's a flaw in the way people think about their bodies. And if people continue to eat/live that way, they will die out, leaving the smarter, healtheir, eatinger segment of the population to thrive.

So smarter, heathlier people eat back their exercise calories? Is that the point you are trying to make. Sounds like the only flawed mindset is yours since you think it should apply to all. I believe in different strokes for different folks. Me choosing not to eat back my exercise calories unless I'm hungry does not stop you from doing it or hinder your journey in anyway.

And yes, I think not factoring in workout regimens seems like a flaw to me. Fitday, sparkpeople and weightwatchers all factors in fitness level. MFP does not. I only left Fitday for MFP because there was a group for Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. The fact that this debate isn't raging on in other sites, but is a weekly topic is an indicator that their is a kink in the MFP system.

Agreed. I only see questions like this on MFP..

And yes, I think not factoring in workout regimens seems like a flaw to me. Fitday, sparkpeople and weightwatchers all factors in fitness level. MFP does not. I only left Fitday for MFP because there was a group for Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. The fact that this debate isn't raging on in other sites, but is a weekly topic is an indicator that their is a kink in the MFP system.

I don't think it's a flaw at all and is actually one of my favorite parts of the MFP system. The flaw is the people coming from other sites and using Sparkpeople's (or what have you) process on MFP. Just because 7 other sites do it one way means nothing. MFP explicitly spells out the instructions when you create your profile. If people don't want to adhere to those instructions, that's their prerogative, but it's not MFP's fault. And MFP is not the only diet program to do it. WW has active points. Fitbit has a daily "zone" that can increase or decrease based on how much you've moved that day. And no, YOU doing it one way does not stop or hinder the rest of us, but all of these, "omg I don't get it you all are so stupid" threads are getting redundant because if you don't like the process then FIND ANOTHER PROCESS. But don't bang on the people who follow the program the way it's meant to be followed.

So why is there this huge confusion and thread after thread about this topic? Why are so many people on of different heights, weights, body compositions, and goals are on the same 1200 deficit out of the gate? I have never in my life in thought this was an issue and never experienced it in any system, not even WWs until coming to this site. Something is missing. Some much debate and confusion.

Indeed. I am using another sites calculation of my deficit. MFP is way too confusing and so is the debate around eating back calories.

1. Because being so cranky from hunger that not even your family wants to be around you is a bad thing.

2. Because passing out on the treadmill at the gym causes a ruckus.

3. Because brain fog at work can get you fired.

4. Because a constantly gurgling tummy is rude.

5. Because MFP can be set to sedentary and if you're not sedentary the calculation of 1200 calories a day doesn't apply to you.

Wow that sucks if all of that happened to someone.. can't settings be adjusted on here to different activity levels? I'm pretty sure I switched mine to Very Active or something like that

And yes, I think not factoring in workout regimens seems like a flaw to me. Fitday, sparkpeople and weightwatchers all factors in fitness level. MFP does not. I only left Fitday for MFP because there was a group for Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. The fact that this debate isn't raging on in other sites, but is a weekly topic is an indicator that their is a kink in the MFP system.

I don't think it's a flaw at all and is actually one of my favorite parts of the MFP system. The flaw is the people coming from other sites and using Sparkpeople's (or what have you) process on MFP. Just because 7 other sites do it one way means nothing. MFP explicitly spells out the instructions when you create your profile. If people don't want to adhere to those instructions, that's their prerogative, but it's not MFP's fault. And MFP is not the only diet program to do it. WW has active points. Fitbit has a daily "zone" that can increase or decrease based on how much you've moved that day. And no, YOU doing it one way does not stop or hinder the rest of us, but all of these, "omg I don't get it you all are so stupid" threads are getting redundant because if you don't like the process then FIND ANOTHER PROCESS. But don't bang on the people who follow the program the way it's meant to be followed.

So why is there this huge confusion and thread after thread about this topic? Why are so many people on of different heights, weights, body compositions, and goals are on the same 1200 deficit out of the gate? I have never in my life in thought this was an issue and never experienced it in any system, not even WWs until coming to this site. Something is missing. Some much debate and confusion.

That, I think, is why there is so much confusion. People come to this site and say, "oh, well the other sites didn't do that" and it throws them. Instead of just reading the explanation and trusting the plan they have set up for you (which, admittedly, it can be a little daunting to just let some website dictate your daily plan and then trusting it blindly), they bring in their own preconceptions and ideas of what it SHOULD be doing or what other sites did. And I think it's not quite accurate to say that the system is flawed just because X percentage of people don't quite understand it, because there are still plenty of people who do get it and it does work for them.

And hey, if people don't want to eat their calories back, that's fine by me. I'm not here to convince anyone else what to do and if it works for you, great! Seriously. I like to eat, and I would rather have slow and steady weight loss eating 1800 cals a day and stick to it, versus trying to stay at 1200 and then quitting because it's too hard.

My problem is we see tons of these topics on a weekly basis. And no, I'm not talking about real, grown-up conversation on what works for person A versus what works for person B, I'm talking about knock down, drag out fights over which system works better and really, it's getting ridic.

No 1000 calories is one pound so if you want to lose 2 pounds per week you need to burn 2000 a week not 7000

No 1000 calories is one pound so if you want to lose 2 pounds per week you need to burn 2000 a week not 7000

I believe you have to cut 3500 cals to lose a pound. I know you'd have to overeat by 3500 cals to gain a pound, right?

3500 calories = 1 pound. So if you cut 1000 cals a day, you will lose 7000 calories in a week, which is 2 lbs.

No 1000 calories is one pound so if you want to lose 2 pounds per week you need to burn 2000 a week not 7000

I believe you have to cut 3500 cals to lose a pound. I know you'd have to overeat by 3500 cals to gain a pound, right?

3500 calories = 1 pound. So if you cut 1000 cals a day, you will lose 7000 calories in a week, which is 2 lbs.

Thanks that's a little clearer.

I exercise because I want to eat. I reached my goal weight today.

Haven't been obese, or overweight, a day in my life.

Smart girl! Proactive!

I think the solution to this endless debate would be for MFP to work out a clear flaw in its system.

I don't think there's a flaw in the MFP system, I think there's a flaw in the way people think about their bodies. And if people continue to eat/live that way, they will die out, leaving the smarter, healtheir, eatinger segment of the population to thrive.

So smarter, heathlier people eat back their exercise calories? Is that the point you are trying to make. Sounds like the only flawed mindset is yours since you think it should apply to all. I believe in different strokes for different folks. Me choosing not to eat back my exercise calories unless I'm hungry does not stop you from doing it or hinder your journey in anyway.

And yes, I think not factoring in workout regimens seems like a flaw to me. Fitday, sparkpeople and weightwatchers all factors in fitness level. MFP does not. I only left Fitday for MFP because there was a group for Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. The fact that this debate isn't raging on in other sites, but is a weekly topic is an indicator that their is a kink in the MFP system.

No offense but looking at your join date and your ticker maybe its what you need to lose the weight.
If thats your goal.

Going by previous posts you workout almost every day and you under eat.
Its no shocker that you've lost almost nothing.
Then you debate the reasons why?

1) You under eat creating stress
2) you workout every day creating more stress
3) you almost never have a chance to recover from your workouts

I'll explain:
Food = recovery.

People who workout every day and eat right and get the proper sleep will recover faster than people who dont.

You eat too little food for recovery.
Then you do the same thing the next day.
And the day after that.

If you were to eat the proper amount of nutrients daily and workout 3-4x a week giving proper time for rest and recovery, you will see better results.
Thats why I said guarantee.

And JM 30DS isnt a true resistance program so you wont get the proper training from it and you wont break the insulin resistance

You have 2 main culprits from your condition:

1) Hormones. You eat better and youll regulate most of these BTW.
2) insulin resistance. You break this by periodically fasting and resistance training.

Stop arguing over something that you cant even make work for yourself.

See there you go making assumptions, and you know what they say about assuming. Also you don't read well since I have told you several times I am not doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. My join date and start date are not even close to being the same. I started in June and actually took two weeks off from everything due to family issues. As a woman with PCOS I am proud of my 10.5lb weight loss because it is harder for me than others. That was 4lbs lost in June and 6.5lbs lost in July.

You think you are so informed with your guaranteed program that works for all. Your profile says you are not a nutritionist, a trainer, a medical professional or have any training in this area at all other than your personal experience. Moreover you are a MAN, who the hell are you to dictate what will work for women with PCOS. Even doctors can't figure that out, but you know better than them all. Exercise less and eat more, are you serious. Why not stick to what you know and that obviously not this.

Okay okay settle down.
You do your thing but keep in mind that again your 2 biggest issues are hormones and insulin resistance.

Once you find a way to beat that you'll have better results.

I won't get into the 100s of people on my plans that have succeeded where ****ty dietary advice like "Eat less and move more" have failed.

These are people like you.
My doors are always open.

I think the solution to this endless debate would be for MFP to work out a clear flaw in its system.

I don't think there's a flaw in the MFP system, I think there's a flaw in the way people think about their bodies. And if people continue to eat/live that way, they will die out, leaving the smarter, healtheir, eatinger segment of the population to thrive.

So smarter, heathlier people eat back their exercise calories? Is that the point you are trying to make. Sounds like the only flawed mindset is yours since you think it should apply to all. I believe in different strokes for different folks. Me choosing not to eat back my exercise calories unless I'm hungry does not stop you from doing it or hinder your journey in anyway.

And yes, I think not factoring in workout regimens seems like a flaw to me. Fitday, sparkpeople and weightwatchers all factors in fitness level. MFP does not. I only left Fitday for MFP because there was a group for Jillian Michaels Body Revolution. The fact that this debate isn't raging on in other sites, but is a weekly topic is an indicator that their is a kink in the MFP system.

No offense but looking at your join date and your ticker maybe its what you need to lose the weight.
If thats your goal.

Going by previous posts you workout almost every day and you under eat.
Its no shocker that you've lost almost nothing.
Then you debate the reasons why?

1) You under eat creating stress
2) you workout every day creating more stress
3) you almost never have a chance to recover from your workouts

I'll explain:
Food = recovery.

People who workout every day and eat right and get the proper sleep will recover faster than people who dont.

You eat too little food for recovery.
Then you do the same thing the next day.
And the day after that.

If you were to eat the proper amount of nutrients daily and workout 3-4x a week giving proper time for rest and recovery, you will see better results.
Thats why I said guarantee.

And JM 30DS isnt a true resistance program so you wont get the proper training from it and you wont break the insulin resistance

You have 2 main culprits from your condition:

1) Hormones. You eat better and youll regulate most of these BTW.
2) insulin resistance. You break this by periodically fasting and resistance training.

Stop arguing over something that you cant even make work for yourself.

See there you go making assumptions, and you know what they say about assuming. Also you don't read well since I have told you several times I am not doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. My join date and start date are not even close to being the same. I started in June and actually took two weeks off from everything due to family issues. As a woman with PCOS I am proud of my 10.5lb weight loss because it is harder for me than others. That was 4lbs lost in June and 6.5lbs lost in July.

You think you are so informed with your guaranteed program that works for all. Your profile says you are not a nutritionist, a trainer, a medical professional or have any training in this area at all other than your personal experience. Moreover you are a MAN, who the hell are you to dictate what will work for women with PCOS. Even doctors can't figure that out, but you know better than them all. Exercise less and eat more, are you serious. Why not stick to what you know and that obviously not this.

Okay okay settle down.
You do your thing but keep in mind that again your 2 biggest issues are hormones and insulin resistance.

Once you find a way to beat that you'll have better results.

I won't get into the 100s of people on my plans that have succeeded where ****ty dietary advice like "Eat less and move more" have failed.

These are people like you.
My doors are always open.

Mr. Informed, Did you know that not everyone with PCOS has insulin resistance. And regardless if a PCOS woman has IR or not, studies have shown that we have a lower BMR than women who do not have PCOS. Congratulations if you have helped 100s with what appears to be anecdotal advice. Since you can guarantee results, perhaps you should start selling your plan since you obviously know more than doctors, nutritionists and trainers. You have solved the PCOS problem that even those with years of education and practice could not. . Next you are going to say you have fool proof way for people with thyroid disorders to lose as well. Forget metabolic testing, who needs that. Blood work, unnecessary because we have Helloitsdan. Helloitsdan can give guaranteed advice without seeing my diary, without knowing my health history, without seeing my blood work or even my workout plan. Just stop while you are ahead because you are making yourself look ridiculous. You are no more an expert in PCOS weight loss than I am Beyonce. Sure I think I'm Beyonce in my mind when her song comes on and I start dancing, but in reality I'm not and never will be. So in your mind you have convinced yourself you know things that clearly you don't. So don't be surprised if others don't abandon their programs and take your "challenge,"

?

No 1000 calories is one pound so if you want to lose 2 pounds per week you need to burn 2000 a week not 7000

?

That's actually incorrect. It takes 3500 calories to burn 1 lb of fat, so you need a calorie deficit of 500/day.

As far as eating back the calories you burned, experts say that you should not go below 1200 cals/day. So if you only ate 1200 and burned 400, you are left with only 800 calories...which they say is unhealthy. So you need to feed your body to go back up to 1200, and still burn fat. Your body needs a certain number of calories to function on a daily basis outside the workout routine. Find out what your calorie needs are per day based on age, gender, and weight then go from there.

This topic is pretty long but really a simple science as cals in vs cals out. You'd hear people saying they are loosing weight with less than 1200 calories and never eat back the cals burned from a work. Of course they would loose weight! The question is, is it the healthy way?