Extra Calories from Exercise

amy_marie
amy_marie Posts: 130 Member
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
I was so excited when I realized that I was able to add to my calorie count by working out! I thought, yay! now I get to eat more! :love: But I also thought, should I limit myself? Should I just consume my regular daily amount of calories in order to lose more weight? I mean it does make sense, isn't that why I'm working out? So I thought I would ask the experts :smile: If I workout and my daily calories for the day are increased, should I consume my normal amount or the new increased amount? Please let me know what yall think! Thanks :flowerforyou:

Replies

  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    When signing up to MFP you put in a weekly weight loss goal, in order to hit that goal you have to eat all of your calories including the ones earned from exercise. Remember the more you workout the more fuel your body will need in order to perform those exercises. At the very least you should eat at least some of the exercise calories.
  • kingking
    kingking Posts: 64 Member
    Eat your exercise calories.

    Yah, a lot of people will tell you it's about not putting your body into "starvation mode" - and that's probably true (though there are well documented studies that say "starvation mode" isn't that big of a deal)...

    And other people will tell you that your body wants to add muscle from working out (which, I think, is true) and that muscle is good (because merely having muscles increases calorie burn)...

    But the main reason (in my opinion) for eating your exercise calories is that, dammit, you deserve it. If you burned off the calories, go enjoy something. :) Treat yourself.
  • amboardman
    amboardman Posts: 144 Member
    Read this...maybe it will help.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo
  • MelleyJ
    MelleyJ Posts: 198
    This topic came up before, so I asked some of the exercise physiologists & nutritionists that I work with at the hospital. They both agree that, rather than eat the bare minimum of calories, it would be better to bump up yoru daily caloric intake 100-200 calories. Maybe eat a little less on the days you won't work out, but don't "eat back" your calories. If you burn about 400 calories in a workout, but added that extra 100-200 kcal, you are keeping your body off of the "verge" of starvation mode and you are not justifying a workout so you can eat more. That just teaches you that exercise is a means of eating more food, or to eat junk food and then work it off later. It's a pretty debatable topic, but that was the suggestion. That, and exercise a minimum of 4 times a week for at least 40 min (doesn't all have to be at one time) if you are in weight loss mode. Hope this helps. Good luck.
  • HMBradley42
    HMBradley42 Posts: 27
    If you burn alot of calories I would say eat at least 1/2 of them but if you burn 300 then you should be able to eat those.
    I would eat fruit or have a protein drink to get the calories since you need protein after excercise to help the muscles.
  • shanerylee
    shanerylee Posts: 298 Member
    im with you kingking! i look at it as a reward :)
  • epoeraven
    epoeraven Posts: 458 Member
    I lose more weight when I eat ALL of my exercise calories rather than just part of them. Maybe it is just coincidence - but it works for me.
  • haberdasher1980
    haberdasher1980 Posts: 13
    I try to eat a little less than the amount I earn. It seems to work as I have finally started to loose weight after about a month and a half of trying.
  • chgudnitz
    chgudnitz Posts: 4,079
    I lose more weight when I eat ALL of my exercise calories rather than just part of them. Maybe it is just coincidence - but it works for me.
    Me too. Eat them all.

    MelleyJ. If you are going to eat those exercise calories in junk food then yes, it's better to just not eat them. If you are going to replace what you spent working out with healthy, muscle fueling foods then you should indeed eat your exercise calories.

    Folks, eating is not a reward / punishment structure. Your body is a machine which needs fuel to run. You don't not put gas in your car when you drive it further to save money, right? Same with your body, you use it more you feed it more. Use it less, feed it less.... Got it? It's simple really.
  • somigliana
    somigliana Posts: 314 Member
    I lose more weight when I eat ALL of my exercise calories rather than just part of them. Maybe it is just coincidence - but it works for me.

    Same here :)
    I usually eat them all.

    *Although I try not to use the extra calories to eat junk food--I use them to have more protein for dinner and a nutritious snack after exercise, like peanut butter on toast with milk or a banana.
  • amy_marie
    amy_marie Posts: 130 Member
    Wow, thanks for all the input guys :smile: This makes me feel a whole lot better about eating more on my workout days! Thanks again :flowerforyou:
  • amy_marie
    amy_marie Posts: 130 Member
    Read this...maybe it will help.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

    Thanks so much for this link. It was very informative! :smile:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories