Silly question maybe but what are your thoughts?

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Apples38
Apples38 Posts: 54
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok so I understand that I should eat back my exercise calories. Some days (when I am playing netball) I can burn more than my 1200 calories. There is no way I could eat double that. I have tried hard to get some extra exercise in (walked 5 miles yesterday) but .... And don't shout... Apart from the health benefits, what is the point if I need to eat the calories that I burnt walking in order to lose weight?

Confused about what to do.com
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  • pghfan
    pghfan Posts: 119
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    I only eat my exercise calories back if I am hungry. I am doing the 5:2 fast so two days a week stick to 500 calories and shoot for 1200-1500 the other days. Listen to your body, if you're hungry, eat. Just don't go WAY under your BMR every day of the week.
  • kmartinko
    kmartinko Posts: 114
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    Bump
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
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    Starvation is an ugly thing to do to the body. Depending on how much you're burning and not eating back, you could be, quite literally, starving yourself.

    MFP builds a calorie deficit into your goal automatically. So you if net your total cals (1200 in this case), even with exercise, you'll still have that calorie loss built in.
  • tisha_rae
    tisha_rae Posts: 216 Member
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    I think eating under the 1200 or whatever your goal is, is okay SOMETIMES.

    For me I was CONSITISTANLY eating under my goal and under 1200, so I changed my goal to my BMR number and strive every day to eat at least that much. I have been struggling with the same 6lbs for about 8 months, after losing almost 20lbs without much trouble.

    I think it's only a problem if you “consistently” exercise and eat too little you could possibly slow your metabolism and stall your weight loss, but if what you have been doing is working for you - I wouldn't worry too much.
    :happy:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
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    You need a reasonable calorie deficit to lose weight. That means not too big and not too little. When you are netting under 1200 calories on a consistent basis, you are risking lowering your metabolism, making it even harder to lose weight. Also, it causes your hormone levels to go wacky, leading to a host of other problems, including making it hard to lose weight. Instead have a moderate deficit of 500-750 calories below your TDEE and learn to be patient.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
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    Starvation is an ugly thing to do to the body. Depending on how much you're burning and not eating back, you could be, quite literally, starving yourself.

    MFP builds a calorie deficit into your goal automatically. So you if net your total cals (1200 in this case), even with exercise, you'll still have that calorie loss built in.

    Yep. If your calorie goal is only 1200, then you probably need to be eating back most of your exercise calories.
  • llkilgore
    llkilgore Posts: 1,169 Member
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    I think it's only a problem if you “consistently” exercise and eat too little you could possibly slow your metabolism and stall your weight loss, but if what you have been doing is working for you - I wouldn't worry too much.
    :happy:

    Problem with that thinking is eating too little CAN work for you, and often does until your metabolism slows and your weight loss stalls. Then the time lost from the resulting plateau cancels out any advantage you thought the higher calorie deficit had given you. It's like going over the speed limit: you make great time until the cop stops you.
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
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    I have tried hard to get some extra exercise in (walked 5 miles yesterday) but .... And don't shout... Apart from the health benefits, what is the point if I need to eat the calories that I burnt walking in order to lose weight?

    Exercise gives you a smaller body and better metabolism. Plus regular exercise feels good.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
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    I think it's only a problem if you “consistently” exercise and eat too little you could possibly slow your metabolism and stall your weight loss, but if what you have been doing is working for you - I wouldn't worry too much.
    :happy:

    Problem with that thinking is eating too little CAN work for you, and often does until your metabolism slows and your weight loss stalls. Then the time lost from the resulting plateau cancels out any advantage you thought the higher calorie deficit had given you. It's like going over the speed limit: you make great time until the cop stops you.

    AND, you may eventually begin to GAIN weight at that very low caloric intake...
  • tafournier
    tafournier Posts: 13 Member
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    I was told by my doctor that you need to eat back 100 calories for every full hour of exercise you do....so the amount of calories you burn seems to not be the mitigating factor for how much you need to eat to replenish your body but rather the time spent doing the activity.....just what I've been told to do, maybe not for everyone
  • kazitykaz
    kazitykaz Posts: 87 Member
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    I was told by my doctor that you need to eat back 100 calories for every full hour of exercise you do....so the amount of calories you burn seems to not be the mitigating factor for how much you need to eat to replenish your body but rather the time spent doing the activity.....just what I've been told to do, maybe not for everyone

    Did the doctor say you need to eat at least your BMR and on top of that eat 100 for every hour of exercise?
  • tafournier
    tafournier Posts: 13 Member
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    Yes, your base calories plus an extra 100 for every hour....sorry, miscommunication on my part
  • kazitykaz
    kazitykaz Posts: 87 Member
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    Yes, your base calories plus an extra 100 for every hour....sorry, miscommunication on my part

    Brilliant, thank you. That's helped me so much with my decision especially as it was recommended by a doctor. Thanks again :-).
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
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    really? no way?

    Hmm. I think I ate 2500 yesterday. oops. nope: 2745.

    *winning*
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
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    Yes, your base calories plus an extra 100 for every hour....sorry, miscommunication on my part

    Brilliant, thank you. That's helped me so much with my decision especially as it was recommended by a doctor. Thanks again :-).

    I would question what kinda of doctor this is first and foremost before excepting it as fact... When I crawled into my doctors office at 560 lbs 4 years ago. and asked for help, you know what the first words out of his mouth was?? I can help with the health issues but I won't admit to knowing the first thing about weight loss, I know just enough to get myself in trouble. We need to send you to a specialist" Not all doctors are well versed in weight loss. and another thing is using the MFP method your calorie deficit is already built in so eating your exercise calories back is for the benefit of fueling your body to allow it to preform what you are asking it to do... Best of Luck...
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
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    I only eat my exercise calories back if I am hungry. I am doing the 5:2 fast so two days a week stick to 500 calories and shoot for 1200-1500 the other days. Listen to your body, if you're hungry, eat. Just don't go WAY under your BMR every day of the week.

    This is not how 5:2 works. This is how pro-ana diets work.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
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    The only reason for the exercise apart from the many, many health benefits, is so that you are still at least as strong at your goal weight as you are now! If you just cut calories, you will become weaker by eating at a constant deficit. You exercise to remind your body that you need the muscle.
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
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    really? no way?

    Hmm. I think I ate 2500 yesterday. oops. nope: 2745.

    *winning*

    3k yesterday! LOL
  • tafournier
    tafournier Posts: 13 Member
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    The doctor is Dr Yoni Freedoff, his specialty is bariatrics, which is the study of the science of metabolism. He uses a well rounded program of weight loss, diet, exercise, psychology and has dieticians, psychologists and fitness instructors that he uses to help people acheive their goals. He measures your resting metabolic rate in order to measure how many calories you need to just do your everyday living (including sleep) and based on that amount of calories adds diet and exercise to get your metabolism working more efficiently and cutting back on calories in order to lose the extra weight.....it's not a quick fix but it works for me because it incorporates a healthier life style and the big plus is that you work with food in a way that promotes weight loss without feeling like you're starving all the time.....so he is well versed in weight lose and everything about it.:smile:

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