Extra calories from exercise? can I use them?

The answer: Maybe.

Some people eat back all of those exercise calories, some people eat none, some eat half, etc. Different things work for different people. It also depends on how you have MFP set (sedentary, active or whatever), if you are logging exercises separately or just setting MFP for "active."

Some of the stickied topics at the top of this forum may help you. Unfortunately, all of our bodies react differently, we all burn calories differently, and there is no blanket answer.

I don't eat back my exercise calories. I don't see the point in burning them off, then eating them back again. That being said, I only burn around 200-300 cals in a day. Lots of people do eat them back and have had success though, this is just my way and it's worked for me

It depends....

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

ETA: DOH! Sidesteel has faster fingers than me.

MFP calculates your deficit BEFORE any exercise. Therefore, you put yourself into an unhealthy deficit if you don't eat those back. Eat them, and enjoy.

The only thing I caution is using MFP exercise calorie burns. Some of them are far overestimated. :-/ I have a heart rate monitor to prevent this discrepancy for a more accurate account of calories burned.

Please read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

Seriously. Read it.

MFP is designed for you to eat back your exercise calories, but I rarely do. 1. not sure how accurate the calories are without a heart rate monitor (which is on my Amazon wish list) and 2. I am not feeling deprived on 1,200 calories a day. Since I've been doing this, my weight loss went from 5lbs per month, to averaging 2lbs a week.

It depends....

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

ETA: DOH! Sidesteel has faster fingers than me.

I think he has these links memorized...

Memorized???? He WROTE it....

LOL

It's wizardy. WIZARDY, I SAY!

Honestly so many people say you should, so many people don't. I don't know what to do either so I (not saying I'm right, this is just my preference) set my cal target a little lower and then eat back my exercise cals. So on an average day I might eat 1500 cals and net 1300 for example.

So I am not netting too low and I'm not restricting myself so much that I binge.

Ultimately you've gotta just play around and see what works for YOU. we are all different.

Good luck! And welcome

I read it, it was helpful! I just started with MFP 3 days ago, having gained some holiday weight and then some due to life changes. Now that I'm at a period with actual TIME to exercise, I was happy to find this app.

I've tried many diets before, and been successful, but never kept it off or kept in shape. Having this app track me is really helpful. I have been aware in the past that if I don't eat enough while really trying to work out to lose, I feel tired, woozy and generally unwell, as well as it taking longer to recover. I have a touch of low blood sugar too, and experimenting with that has taught me I DO need carbs, I DO need protein, and mostly that I don't have to enforce denial of food on myself.

This app really helps me see clearly how WHAT I am eating effects me, calorie and otherwise, and helps me find more nutritious foods to eat during the course of the day, while still maintaining an overall caloric deficit. Knowing, even if its approximate, what I'm burning in exercise and that it allows me to actually EAT to recover and simply function is just making my life that much better.

And when I can have those foods that I typically deny myself, even if its just a bit, (lite beer, reeses miniature, spinach and artichoke dip, things I CRAVE), and know I didn't just totally blow my diet (may have slowed it but didn't blow it), helps keep my motivated to continue, to exercise more perhaps so I can allow those things I love, AND still lose weight.

I can use those extra calories when I want to, or not if I don't want to or NEED to (in the case of chocolate when in a mood, or the lite beer when my bursitis flares up, its really the only thing that works). :-)