Eating calories back

pixiesized
pixiesized Posts: 3
in Food and Nutrition
Is it pointless or needed to eat back what you burn working out?

Replies

  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Is it pointless or needed to eat back what you burn working out?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • ElizaRoche
    ElizaRoche Posts: 2,005 Member
    for me its pointless.. I rarely eat them back, only if im real hungry.
  • jeredavis
    jeredavis Posts: 16 Member
    I'm no expert, but I am more hungry after I exercise and sometimes feel weak. So, I usually eat more, but not as much as the calories burned. It doesn't take that much for me to feel like I've compensated for my needs. I basically let my body tell me what to do using my feelings of hunger and strength levels.
  • Eileen889
    Eileen889 Posts: 117
    for me its pointless.. I rarely eat them back, only if im real hungry.
    Same here.
  • ryanwood935
    ryanwood935 Posts: 245 Member
    Eaf you want to look lean with some nice toned muscles, eat them back. The extra calories will help fuel your workout, and lend a hand during recovery.

    If you want to be skinny, don't worry about it. My POV, anyway.
  • cdswicky
    cdswicky Posts: 43
    There's definitely science explaining this, but I don't know exactly how to put it. I will just say that your body does need fuel to work out, so you should do some more research before deciding what to do. Look up what your TDEE is.....then base how many exercise calories you should be eating back. I do believe that it has to do with eating back healthy calories..ie: good fats like nuts and good proteins and complex carbs.

    Good luck and stay positive.
  • teez52
    teez52 Posts: 104 Member
    Anyway, it depends on how you set up your profile. Did you set it up with a "sedentary" lifestyle or with one of the more active ones? The more active ones take into account your workouts and therefore you wouldn't want to eat back any calories unless you are still under the calorie goal for the day (you also wouldn't want to put in your calorie burn from the workout). If you have it set as sedentary, then you would input your calorie burn from exercise and then eat those calories back as you do still need to eat to lose weight.

    What I usually do is try to come in under during the week since I'm prone to going over on the weekends because of alcohol so my weekly goal comes in just about right. I find that the weekly target is much better to watch than the daily target, but that's for me, what works for me might not work for anyone else.
  • syntaxxor
    syntaxxor Posts: 86
    It depends on your goals. However; it also shouldn't matter. I hate the fact that this website calculates your workouts to show negative calories to get you to eat them back.

    Your diet should be set up around working out. You know damn well that you work out and you don't need this website to tell you how many caloried you burned on it. You should also be eating as though you know your working out, so your current diet, even without MFP should accomodate you working out, without worrying about your net calories.

    If you already eat enough a day and aren't starving at the end of the day, even after a workout; then don't worry about it.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    I'm no expert, but I am more hungry after I exercise and sometimes feel weak. So, I usually eat more, but not as much as the calories burned. It doesn't take that much for me to feel like I've compensated for my needs. I basically let my body tell me what to do using my feelings of hunger and strength levels.

    This is what I try to do. Especially not eating them all back, but that is partly because even a decent heart rate monitor can be somewhat inaccurate and I don't weigh and measure every food item every day so I like to leave some wiggle room.
  • liittlesparrow
    liittlesparrow Posts: 209 Member
    I only eat my calories back if I'm really hungry. I try to drink a protein shake after working out, but usually I'm not all that hungry enough to eat them ALL back.
  • dez_yaoichan
    dez_yaoichan Posts: 454
    Did you set it up with a "sedentary" lifestyle or with one of the more active ones? The more active ones take into account your workouts and therefore you wouldn't want to eat back any calories unless you are still under the calorie goal for the day (you also wouldn't want to put in your calorie burn from the workout). If you have it set as sedentary, then you would input your calorie burn from exercise and then eat those calories back as you do still need to eat to lose weight.

    really?

    no.

    the activity setting is for every day life (work, shopping, etc)

    working out is extra calories.

    OP to answer your question, generally as long as you net 1200 calories, you don't have to eat back everything. but don't force yourself to eat. if you're not hungry but need 200 or calories to meet the 1200 mark grab some unsalted nuts and munch on them.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Is it pointless or needed to eat back what you burn working out?

    Browsed at your profile.....lot's of scary skinny going on there. You should probably eat your exercise calories back.
  • mom2kpr
    mom2kpr Posts: 348 Member
    It depends on how you have your calorie goals set up. I have my calories set at about a 800 calorie deficit a day. On days that I exercise I eat back most of them otherwise I would have about a 1400 calorie deficit & my net would too low. Basically I try to make sure my net calories for the day are where I want them to be.
  • pixiesized
    pixiesized Posts: 3
    Thank you all. Well, most of you. I appreciate the help. It's not that I'm stupid and didn't read about how the site works; it was that after reading it I was still confused. Honestly I still am to an extent, but I guess I'll just focus on my net calories and keeping them around my goal. It seems to work alright.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Thank you all. Well, most of you. I appreciate the help. It's not that I'm stupid and didn't read about how the site works; it was that after reading it I was still confused. Honestly I still am to an extent, but I guess I'll just focus on my net calories and keeping them around my goal. It seems to work alright.

    Did you read the link I posted? It is very thoroughly explained. If you have read it and you still have questions I'm happy to clarify.
  • pixiesized
    pixiesized Posts: 3
    Did you read the link I posted? It is very thoroughly explained. If you have read it and you still have questions I'm happy to clarify.

    Sorry. I'd forgotten about until scrolling up. It's so late! o.O But I get it now. Thank you very much! And thank you for not being a jerk about it as well.
  • cindybpitts
    cindybpitts Posts: 213 Member
    If people would do a little more research on how this site works there would probably be less of these questions. At least read the newbie stickies and have a basic understanding of this site you have joined. Getting advice from others who have no clue how this site was designed is just silly. I guess ignorance is bliss around here.
    People post questions for answers not to put down. This website is for motivation, support & information to help each others. If bothers you to answer certain things then dont!

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