Do you eat back your exercise calories?

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lexoxoc
lexoxoc Posts: 135 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone!

I'm sure this topic has been posted before.

The question I always ask myself this question: Do I eat back my exercise calories?

Lately, I haven't been...is this wise? Is it better to eat them back?

I've lost 5 pounds already this month and I started on the weight loss track again January 1st.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Replies

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,017 Member
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    It depends on your goals, your body fat %, your exercise regime. If your down to the last of your weight loss, it's best not to be in too much of a deficit and eating back calories if you haven't compensated for these in your calculations would be advisable. If someone is obese, not so much. Then of course there's people that will find any excuse not to eat many calories thinking it's the best and fastest way of losing weight.
  • absoluttif1
    absoluttif1 Posts: 19 Member
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    I do. I look at it as a treat for my hard work! I know that's probably not the best way to look at it, but those 1200 are HARD to stay under for me. I've always been someone who could eat and eat without getting too heavy. Now, as I'm getting older, the calories are catching up with me. I'm also not at a point where I need to lose a lot. I would take that into consideration.
  • cyrstephaniec
    cyrstephaniec Posts: 29 Member
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    When I started this almost a year ago, I didn't eat back my exercise calories. Once I hit about 70-80 pounds lost I started eating 1/2 of them back. I'd been at a bit of a stall for a few weeks, and they kicked started the losing again. Now I'm at 96.8 pounds down, and when I hit about 93 lost I stalled again, so I started eating back more of them and that has helped again.
    I guess it all depends on how much you have to lose, and how quickly you want to lose it.
  • DaniJeanine
    DaniJeanine Posts: 473 Member
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    I'd say it depends on how you feel that day. If you are using a HRM and know exactly how much you're burning, then go ahead and eat them back! If you estimate calories burned, then I'd be careful about eating them all back, since you're not 100% that it was the exact number burned. & If you're full, don't eat them back just because.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    I do, but that's because of the way I estimate/set up my goals.

    Whether or not you should depends. Read these for more info.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/383956-exercise-calories-explained
    and
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    I'd say it depends on how you feel that day. If you are using a HRM and know exactly how much you're burning, then go ahead and eat them back! If you estimate calories burned, then I'd be careful about eating them all back, since you're not 100% that it was the exact number burned. & If you're full, don't eat them back just because.

    There is some reasoning/science behind whether or not people should. It's not just something people can be willy nilly about.
  • lasmit4477
    lasmit4477 Posts: 308 Member
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    I do, but that's because of the way I estimate/set up my goals.

    Whether or not you should depends. Read these for more info.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/383956-exercise-calories-explained
    and
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf


    ^This!
  • lexoxoc
    lexoxoc Posts: 135 Member
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    This was SO helpful! THANK YOU!

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