Your success...

Did you have more success from eating your daily calories and NOT eating your burned calories back or did you have more success from eating your daily calories and also eating your burned calories?

I am trying to figure out how I want to do this and I have 94 more pounds to lose. I don't know what the best success rate is for this program.

Thanks everybody! (Before and after pictures would be awesome as well)

Replies

  • I have also wanted to know this as well! I always feel guilty for eating my burned calories back, and I don't quite understand how I could loose weight doing that! Other times I have gone through the weight loss journey I never ate the calories back, and it seemed to work well.


    Bumping because I want to know too! :)
  • Stenobun
    Stenobun Posts: 166 Member
    Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing. I always thought that the whole idea behind losing weight was that you were burning more calories than you needed for your total daily energy expenditure. If you're eating them back, how do you keep losing?
  • rocket_ace
    rocket_ace Posts: 380 Member
    the theory is that you eat back your calories, but due to perhaps inaccuracies in the model and/or divergences of our individual metabolisms....it doesn't work for all. I for one try not to eat them back. if I did, I think I'd gain weight. but maybe I did the starvation thing too long. hopefully eating back calories works for you (as its worked for many), since it makes more sense.
  • HealthyGinny
    HealthyGinny Posts: 821 Member
    What I personnally do is trying to eat half of the calories I burn -- this way, I do not create a deficit too big but I'm not eating too much in case mfp miscalculated the calories I burnt.

    Also, I really try to listen to my body: if I exercised during the day and my body's crying for food during the evening, I eat some fruits like apples and clementines in front of the telly, but if I'm really not hungry at all (which doesn't happen a lot lol), I'm not going to force mysefl to eat the extra calories. Hope it makes sense, English is not my first language and I'm not a professional, I'm just giving my opinion :))
  • euthena
    euthena Posts: 31
    What I personnally do is trying to eat half of the calories I burn -- this way, I do not create a deficit too big but I'm not eating too much in case mfp miscalculated the calories I burnt.

    Also, I really try to listen to my body: if I exercised during the day and my body's crying for food during the evening, I eat some fruits like apples and clementines in front of the telly, but if I'm really not hungry at all (which doesn't happen a lot lol), I'm not going to force mysefl to eat the extra calories. Hope it makes sense, English is not my first language and I'm not a professional, I'm just giving my opinion :))

    that is what i do :) I use the burnt kcals if i am feeling hungry or if I have a meal out sort of thing, that way I am not worrying so much about kcal counting when I should be enjoying myself :)
    xxx
  • imstef
    imstef Posts: 17 Member
    great question, i have been meaning to ask this myself.
    i started my journey January 2012. I DID eat back my calories i burnt, the first 6 months i got rid of 20kg (44pounds) BUT i was only at a female gym called contours (youtube it and you will understand)
    I had alot of weight to get rid of so i believe my body just got rid of it because i was finally moving my body and eating better.
    I moved gyms to a proper gym, and i have since stopped eating my calorie burn (but if i do go over im not stressed) and im coming into my 6th month there and have gotten rid of another 18kg (39 pounds) but i believe because i have gotten rid of what i previously did its going to take alot more work to get results kind of thing.
    so after all of that blabber (which really doesnt make much sense haha) i think it does help to not eat back the calories, i like the idea of only eating half like previous people have said. so maybe just try that :)
    sorry about the ramble :o)
    good luck!
  • They say you are supposed to eat back the calories you burn. Because say you were on a 1200 calorie intake and you burn 700 calories in the gym. Well that only leaves you with 500 calories to fuel your body which is way too low.
    Your 'net' calories should remain at 1200 with our without a workout.
    Your body needs nutrition above just what you need for fueling your exercise. You need to be able to breath, walk around, etc . All that requires energy which is taken from your net calories.

    For me personally I try to eat back at least half of the calories I've burned off. It gives me the energy I need for my next workout. Plus it helps promote muscle growth, thus helping me lose fat :)
  • hungrypotato
    hungrypotato Posts: 1,642 Member
    I always eat my burned calories and I've lost 75 lbs. it's fine
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
  • AggieFan2011
    AggieFan2011 Posts: 551 Member
    I kind of incorporate both into my diet. There are days when I have a really big workout because I know i'll be going out to eat or going out with friends that night and will be eating or drinking most, if not all, of those calories back. However, on other occasions I have a good workout, but end up not eating the calories back because I'm not hungry and don't need too. I think a lot of it just depends on your personal preferences. It definitely isn't going to hinder your weight loss if you do eat them back though.
  • Rhozelyn
    Rhozelyn Posts: 201 Member
    I have a Polar HRM so I know that MFP overestimates my exercise calories. It all depends on how hard I work doing the exercise and it is so variable. So best not to eat all your exercise calories but at least some. If you stop losing weight it probably means you are eating too much or too little...always a delicate balance.
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