Eating back exercise calories...makes no sense to me...

Gaaaawwwwdddd....this f'in topic again...make me want to...

1520 posts in less than 4 months? You have a lot of time on your hands.

Been at this a while and while I don't eat 1200 calories a day (more like between 1600-1700) I also don't eat back my exercise calories and some days I put in over two very rigorous hours in the gym. I rarely if ever feel deprived, but I would not hesitate to eat some of those calories back if my body said it needed it. So just listen to your body. Maybe aim for a higher daily calorie amount, 1200 calories goes fast.

As far as water goes from the person who asked, water is important for a lot of things especially considering we are about 65% water. It can help stave off muscle soreness, hunger, headaches and so much more.

This definitely varies per person! I find, though, that if I don't at least sometimes eat back exercise calories, I end up eating everything in sight on one of the last days of the week, and then beat myself up for it.

I think, at least once or twice a week would be good to eat back calories from exercise. If you want faster weight loss, of course, you don't have to, but it'll be tougher to maintain (at least that's what I learned from my own personal experience).

Last time I lost 20lbs... but unfortunately fell completely off the wagon and put all the weight back on again.

I was confused by the whole idea of eating back my exercise calories and I never have.

Not a coincidence. Losing fat too quickly often leads to regaining it. Losig gradually will give you a better chance at permanent change.

I follow TDEE/BMR and don't eat back...BUT I eat 1800 every day. I am 5'3", 159 lbs and trying to get down to 21% body fat (don't really care what weight I am at that). I have been losing something steadily for about a month and a half. Whether that is inches or weight, I really don't care. But, I do a bigger happy dance with inches lost rather than weight.

To answer the person's question about water since I haven't seen anyone answer it. The 8 cups of water should be reworded to 8 cups of fluids. They say water because water is no calorie, there the best option for someone who is trying to lose weight to drink. I count everything less than 60 calories as a cup of fluids (no soda). I drink mainly water through out the day, usually killing 3 20oz bottles a day, but if I don't I don't stress it. Listen to your body. If you eat a lot of sodium, then the 64 ounces of water a day isn't a bad thing because it will combat the sodium intake. But, if you are doing fairly well on your sodium intake then trust your body to tell you it needs more fluids. If you are going to the restroom at least every 3-4 hours and the urine is light yellow or clear then you are getting enough.

The whole 8 by 8 rule was easy to remember, but the scientists and doctors failed to mention total fluids...thus the start of the myth 8 cups of water.

Here are links to support the above:

Mayo Link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283
Scientific American: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=eight-glasses-water-per-day
Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp
CBC Health: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/06/08/water-eight-glasses-myth.html
WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/wonders-of-water

My doctor (nutritionist) told me not to eat all of my exercise cals back. A lot of people on here tell u to but i think i will trust a doctor than someone that just reads up on something. If u really want to know how to do ur weight loss i would make a doctors appointment with a nutritionist if ur confused every one is different so i think that would be the best thing for u to do:)

For anyone who can afford it/has health insurance, this is always a good idea.

For me if I eat my exercise cals I don't lose at all, often gain; if I don't eat them I lose a little; if I hammer the exercise and don't eat my exercise cals I lose more and if I do that and don't eat 200 cals under my limit I lose even more.

The science behind the calories intake set is fine but everyone has a different metabolism, amount of muscle and associated burn rate so my advice is to experiment and see what works best. Try eating your exercise cals for a few weeks and see what you lose (I would go under - in my experience the calculations are generous!) - if you don't then eat fewer of the exercise cals and so on ...

its also easy to over or under estimate what your eating if not measuring weighting everything. not saying that is an issue for you, but for some it could be.

JUST WONT TO SAY, I DONT EAT MINE BACK, IM HAPPY WITH MY WAY OF DOING THIS IT SUITS ME.

I eat back my exercise calories. I work out about 6 days a week and am training for a half marathon. Some days I burn over 1200 calories and I need the extra energy from more food!! I started about 170 and now am at goal, about 137... and I have always ate back my calories:)

That said, I eat if I am hungry... if I am not hungry I am not going to make myself eat 3600 calories on the days I go for a 12 mile run. It is hard to eat that much in a healthy manner.

In regards to a previous post- I am a certified NP, however, I am speaking from experience. Listen to your body to know if you need those calories. If you set your goal calories at 1200 and you do a 600 calorie burning workout, you will likely feel the deficit and need to eat a little more!!