Logging exercise skewing weight loss

nikosneeko1
nikosneeko1 Posts: 20 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I stopped logging my exercise because I felt it was allowing me to eat to many calories and I wasn't losing as much wieght as I wanted (1-2 pounds a week)....has anyone else had this problem?
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Replies

  • ToddGT5
    ToddGT5 Posts: 4 Member
    Yes, I'm seeing the same thing! For now, I'm going to keep logging the excercise, but not eat back the added calories.

    -Todd
  • konswela
    konswela Posts: 137 Member
    Yes I stopped logging my workouts too. I stated putting them in my "Notes Section" that way I would still know how many calories I was burning.

    It as jacking me up too. So this way have helped out a lot.. I have not been logging for maybe 3 weeks or so.
  • aphid
    aphid Posts: 47
    yes, i noticed that before, so i don't eat back the calories it says i burnt, or only a few of them.
  • queendeej
    queendeej Posts: 214 Member
    I still log but generally don't eat back my exercise calories.
  • paleirishmother
    paleirishmother Posts: 242
    If I added in all the MFP calculations for exercise, I would be allowed to eat about 3,000 calories a day!

    I see people logging "20 minutes of cleaning" as exercise allowing them an extra 200 calories per day.
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    I stopped logging my exercise because I felt it was allowing me to eat to many calories and I wasn't losing as much wieght as I wanted (1-2 pounds a week)....has anyone else had this problem?
    Looks like MFP overcalculated your TDEE. If you put your TDEE in as custom you would be able to log your exercise calories and eat them back, but it works your way too.
    Look at it this way. You have discovered your actual TDEE.
  • mabelbabel1
    mabelbabel1 Posts: 391 Member
    You can still log your exercise....just change the amount of calores it says you burnt to what you estimate it to be.
  • CINDYRN33
    CINDYRN33 Posts: 148 Member
    nope only been at this a month i eat my calories allowed and then half of what my heart rate monitor says i earn when I do treadmill or ride my bike so far lost 3-4 pounds a each week. i have 80 pounds to lose and I know it will start to slow down soon. Maybe you need a more accurate way of figuring your calories burned?? maybe a heartrate monitor or fitbit that I hear alot about on these boards???
  • Hatedabears
    Hatedabears Posts: 35 Member
    Opposite for me. Was stck and not losing. Started eating my exercise calls and started losing
  • ohnoetry
    ohnoetry Posts: 129
    I've compared my heart rate monitor to MFP and MFP definitely over-compensates!
  • kellicci
    kellicci Posts: 409 Member
    If you don't like the up and down of eating back exercise calories you can always do the TDEE minus 20% method and eat that amount every day exercise day or rest day. Lots of people here do that and log exercise as 1 calorie just to keep track of it.
  • Dianemustang
    Dianemustang Posts: 77
    I try not to eat all my exercise calories ....I have a calorie count on my treadmill - I use that and it is about 1/2 of what MFP says I burned....try keeping track but 1/2 what MFP says and then don't eat all back....I have been losing 1.5-2 a week this way. Good luck
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I stopped logging my exercise because I felt it was allowing me to eat to many calories and I wasn't losing as much wieght as I wanted (1-2 pounds a week)....has anyone else had this problem?

    With less than 25 pounds to lose 2 pounds a week isn't a healthy option for you.
  • ahoier
    ahoier Posts: 312 Member
    I've noticed this too....to an extent ;) I am actually kind of growing old to the messages of me "under my calorie" messages on my feed :P and my friends are getting annoyed by them too (though, it's a joking matter....they are just jealous....cause I am a bigger guy, and I've been litterally shedding lbs since I started this site/app....lol)

    Some days I do "eat my calories" I gain....particularly, I can see the "exercise calories" helping, come this holiday season :X lol.....all the baked pastries and such....mmm....yummy LOL. Dessert is my weakness lol.


    But yes....I wear a HRM (cheapy Timex though....doesn't log calories or anything) when I'm on the elliptical, and the elliptical (Life Fitness brand at Planet Fitness) and the MFP site always over-projects my burned calories.....by 75+ calories or so.....

    I know I've read the ellipticals aren't correct.....but I think they are more correct than the MFP site ;) Though I do not have any proof :)
  • Nerdybreisawesome
    Nerdybreisawesome Posts: 359 Member
    Nope.
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    I still log my exercise but sometimes I log a little less time than I've done to get around the over-estimation. Also only eat back about half my exercise calories to counteract this. I've got very little to lose and using this method am still losing weight
  • m_shuman
    m_shuman Posts: 179
    I hav increased my calorie intake and started losing again. MFP had me set at 1200 which is way to low. I figured up my BMR and TDEE and I set my calories to be 250 less than my TDE and I am back to losing weight. I also eat back most of my exercise calories and since I hit the gym for about 2 hours everyday that means I get to eat around 2200 calories a day sometimes more if I do 2 hours of cardio.
  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    Opposite for me. Was stck and not losing. Started eating my exercise calls and started losing

    Ditto. Someone did a sample bit of research on here recently and found that people eating back exercise cals lost fat through their weight loss, whereas people who didn't eat them back loss more lean mass with their weight loss. I know which camp I'd rather be in.
  • JennKie1
    JennKie1 Posts: 200 Member
    I think MFP really over-estimates the number of calories burned (if you use their pre-populated exercises). So, when I did eat them back, there's a good possibility that I really over-ate. When I didn't eat mine back, I still had a disappointing 1.3 # loss in 3 full weeks. :sad: I recently changed to the TDEE - 20% (which already accounts for the exercise). It seems more realistic and it's definitely more flexible. It's also easier (for me) than trying to eat-back calories. Since I normally workout in the evening, I was shoving down just about anything to meet my "minimum" - kind-of counter productive.
  • azjenny72
    azjenny72 Posts: 43 Member
    I log my excersize but don't often eat back those calories. If I'm eating well, meaning fruits, veggies and protein, I find myself full anyway and just do my best to eat 1200 at the minimum and I push for more than that because MFP has me with alot more allowed.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Nope I log all my exercise and eat back all but 15% of my exercise calories (leaving that for error) and have lost a few pounds in the process...... I use a Polar FT60 to track my calorie burns.... Best of Luck
  • soapyj28
    soapyj28 Posts: 11
    so, is it better to eat the extra exercise calories or not?
  • Kaiukas
    Kaiukas Posts: 111 Member
    so, is it better to eat the extra exercise calories or not?

    It all depends on how you calculate your TDEE. If you assume sedentary, then eating them back should be the right way to go. If you already assume physical activity in your TDEE, then not. That is my take on things anyway. Also, I don't use the MFP exercise calorie suggestions, but use my own gadgets.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I find it really helpful to log exercise. I set myself at sedentary and log my exercise. I have lost my pound a week.

    When I sit myself as more active it did NOT work at all.
  • kalch
    kalch Posts: 45 Member
    my addiction (other than food) is spinning. My polar hrm says I burn about 550 cal in about 45 minutes, and MFP isnt far off from that. I've just started logging diligently so, but I shoot for about 2000 calories per day, total. My 2 pounds per week loss has me at about 1300 calories per day, so I am eating enough, but my logging says not the right amounts!!

    short answer, if done properly, I think mfp is fine, just double check with your own hrm
  • GomesDavid
    GomesDavid Posts: 149
    I stopped logging my exercise because I felt it was allowing me to eat to many calories and I wasn't losing as much weight as I wanted (1-2 pounds a week)....has anyone else had this problem?

    When losing weight you should also consider your weight and proper calorie intake .... If you exercise three or four times per week for one hour, multiply your goal weight by 15. If you don't exercise at all, multiply by 13, and if you work out an hour per day nearly every day, multiply by 20. This is the daily calorie intake you're working toward.
  • nikosneeko1
    nikosneeko1 Posts: 20 Member
    I stopped logging my exercise because I felt it was allowing me to eat to many calories and I wasn't losing as much wieght as I wanted (1-2 pounds a week)....has anyone else had this problem?

    With less than 25 pounds to lose 2 pounds a week isn't a healthy option for you.
  • nikosneeko1
    nikosneeko1 Posts: 20 Member
    Yeah, I just want 1-2 lbs a week, I'm fine with one, and don't even mind if I don't get one towards the end if I feel like I'm building muscle mass and getting healthier
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    OP your profile says that you were a yo yo dieter.

    it's possible that MFP overestimated your TDEE because yo yo dieting has long term effects on your metabolism (can significantly lower it). for instance i've never ever dieted in my life (i know, pretty weird for a woman :laugh: ) and at 40, my TDEE is around 2800 on a lightly active day, so MFP underestimates my calorie needs.

    what works for you now and maybe try working on repairing your metabolism
  • vicktoria339
    vicktoria339 Posts: 40
    I find that MFP over-estimates my calories from exercise too - i use my HRM in the gym or a pedometer when walking the dog or in work. i also only tend to eat only bout 200 cals of exercise cals, mostly in yogurt or fruit so dont feel too bad about it

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