Eat calories burned?

bschally
bschally Posts: 8 Member
in Food and Nutrition
This seems like such an easy question but am I suppose to eat my calories that I just burned at the gym? MFP yells at me that I am eating too few calories....I'm sorry I'm am asking this but I really don't understand. Thanks.

Replies

  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    Yes.
  • bschally
    bschally Posts: 8 Member
    I know this sounds stupid too...but why? Why I am working out like a crazy women only to have to eat more, really?
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    You exercise for fitness. I don't eat mine back because I don't feel I need to but some people like to exercise to earn food.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    Look at it this way: Eat to lose weight. Exercise to keep/build muscle or increase cardiac capacity/fitness.

    The amount of calories MFP gives you already includes a deficit. It's just the way it's designed and how it does its math.
  • charismanoodles
    charismanoodles Posts: 343 Member
    Hope it's okay to ask this question here, but I was wondering if I should eat back my exercise calories now that I'm on TDEE - 20%.

    Thanks guys!
  • bschally
    bschally Posts: 8 Member
    Yea.....I don't want to be able to eat more. I like the answer, "You exercise for fitness."
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    should eat back my exercise calories now that I'm on TDEE - 20%.

    If your TDEE includes your exercise, then no. Don't eat back calories "earned", log the exercise in MFP if you want, but change the calories burned to 1. That way you're tracking your exercise, but MFP won't give you more calories to eat.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    Hope it's okay to ask this question here, but I was wondering if I should eat back my exercise calories now that I'm on TDEE - 20%.

    Thanks guys!

    No.
  • mad00had00
    mad00had00 Posts: 103 Member
    Hope it's okay to ask this question here, but I was wondering if I should eat back my exercise calories now that I'm on TDEE - 20%.

    Thanks guys!

    you dont eat back the exercise calories if youre on the TDEE method.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    Yea.....I don't want to be able to eat more.

    There's people here who would love to get all math/nerd with your numbers and stats. If what you're doing is working and you don't get dizzy when you workout and you don't feel hungry or deprived, then you don't need to eat back your calories you "earn" thru exercise. But if you plateau, feel weak, get cranky, binge or are eating too few calories (a number that depends on your weight/age/etc.) to get all the vitamins and minerals you need, then you might want to "eat back" a few of those exercise calories. Just my opinion.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    Here's my blog on why eating back exercise calories works:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/mrsbigmack/view/finding-the-sweet-spot-452184
  • charismanoodles
    charismanoodles Posts: 343 Member
    Thanks for the replies, I had thought so but wanted to double check :):drinker:

    Will definitely change my calories burned now so I can still keep track of my exercise.
  • mussmom
    mussmom Posts: 362 Member
    IMHO if you are working out hard and building muscle, then you should eat back your calories. IF what you are eating is healthy food. If you go eat a box of donuts because " I earned it", then you exercised for nothing. I love earning those calories so I can refuel my body and not feel hungry later. That, and I just love food ;)
  • Barbellerella
    Barbellerella Posts: 1,838 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • KazSmith68
    KazSmith68 Posts: 85
    I don't eat mine back and happy with my results
  • MidwestAngel
    MidwestAngel Posts: 1,897 Member
    I don't eat mine back and happy with my results
    FACEPALM_Dean_Winchester_zps00449fec.gif
  • lawtechie
    lawtechie Posts: 708 Member
    Hope it's okay to ask this question here, but I was wondering if I should eat back my exercise calories now that I'm on TDEE - 20%.

    Thanks guys!

    When I calculated my TDEE, I did not specifically include exercise in that calculation (sedentary/lightly active) and as such, I still eat most if not all my exercise calories. I only exercise 3-4 days/week.

    For many people, the -20% is about 500 calories I would estimate, which is the 1 lb/week average.

    So in short, eat them unless you figured in your exercise to the TDEE -- at which point you would be eating much more to begin with,
  • lambchristie
    lambchristie Posts: 552 Member
    I only eat back only some of them. I have a total of 1400 calories to begin with each day.
    When I burn calories I try to eat back only enough to bring my calorie intake to the 1400, no more.

    But like many have said, listen to your body and do what it tells you is good for you.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    Theory is that you will lose weight on the calories that MFP gives you even if you just sit around. If you exercise, you need the extra energy so YES, you are supposed to eat some extra food. At least keep your net calories (calories consumed - calories burned) around 1200. This is to keep your metabolism healthy.
  • fullofhope76
    fullofhope76 Posts: 92
    I wasn't eating mine back because I didn't have a heart rate monitor that I could trust to tell me how much I burned. Now that I have one I log the calories I burned and don't always eat the calories back, but use it as a buffer. MFP should only tell you that you are not eating enough when you are below the 1200 calorie mark.
  • KazSmith68
    KazSmith68 Posts: 85
    I don't eat mine back and happy with my results
    FACEPALM_Dean_Winchester_zps00449fec.gif

    Meaning?
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    I don't always eat my exercise calories back because IMO that's counter productive. Also even though I use a HRM I can't be sure that the calorie burn is completely accurate. I'd rather err on the side of caution and not eat them back or just eat some of them back. I aim to hit the goal that I have set regardless of how many calories I worked off.

    With that said I also consider my calories burned as a buffer so that when I do indulge and eat more than normal I don't feel that I was a glutton because I had X amount of calories "stored" to use, if that makes any sense.

    I have not been consciously eating my calories back and am not starving, haven't gained weight or stalled.
  • LittleMissDover
    LittleMissDover Posts: 820 Member
    If MFP is shouting at you you're eating under 1200 cals anyway, that's the only time it tells you off regardless of exercise cals so yes, eat more.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I know this sounds stupid too...but why? Why I am working out like a crazy women only to have to eat more, really?

    MFP as DESIGNED does not assume you will exercise .... the calorie deficit is built in BEFORE exercise. So when you exercise you add to the deficit .... when the defict is too high you may burn healthy muscle mass (as well as fat).

    Now .... a couple of caveats ..... MFP and many machines over estimate the calories burned ... be careful not to eat too many calories back. Also, not everyone uses MFP as designed.... if you use TDEE .... this will INCLUDE exercise already.... don't double count.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I wasn't eating mine back because I didn't have a heart rate monitor that I could trust to tell me how much I burned. Now that I have one I log the calories I burned and don't always eat the calories back, but use it as a buffer. MFP should only tell you that you are not eating enough when you are below the 1200 calorie mark.

    I disagree ..... here's why

    If I chose to lose weight very quickly ..... the lowest number MFP would give me is 1200 calories NET.

    Lets say I burned 600 calories working out and didn't eat back a single calorie. This would be like eating 600 calories per day. Your body requires more than that for daily FUNCTION ..... heart, liver, lungs, etc. The 1200 NET calories are already spoken for.

    Yes, my heart (or nervous system, whatever) can get some nutrients from storage (FAT)..... but not every nutrient is stored in fat. I would rather lose weight a little slower .... if it means I can MAINTAIN muscle mass.

    If I lose fat at the same pace that I lose muscle ...... my body fat % won't be reduced.

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