An objective look at eating "exercise calories"

Bump!

Thanks for the awesome and clear explanation. There are many who needed it. I am in this for the long haul. I didn't get where I am right now overnight and cannot expect to get back to my ideal weight overnight. I want this to be a lifestyle change as well as a weight change. I am thankful for MFP as it is helping me reach my goal and is one of several "tools" I have in my toolbox that I am using to achieve my goals.

Great info thanks!

I am so confused. I am eating around 1000 to 1200 calories a day (female, aged 48, weight 222 lbs). I am trying to walk for about 45 mins to 90 mins a day - earning up to 500 calories in exercise. Am I meant to eat these exercise calories or not?

At your weight and height, regardless of your activity level, eating 1000-1200 calories a day is really the minimum. You can stand to eat up to 1600-1800 a day and still see some significant losses.
That said, re-read the post. Either increase your calorie intake daily or start eating back your exercise calories day-by-day. If you're getting in exercise every day, aiming for 1600-1800 calories a day should suffice you.

I am so confused. I am eating around 1000 to 1200 calories a day (female, aged 48, weight 222 lbs). I am trying to walk for about 45 mins to 90 mins a day - earning up to 500 calories in exercise. Am I meant to eat these exercise calories or not?

At your weight and height, regardless of your activity level, eating 1000-1200 calories a day is really the minimum. You can stand to eat up to 1600-1800 a day and still see some significant losses.
That said, re-read the post. Either increase your calorie intake daily or start eating back your exercise calories day-by-day. If you're getting in exercise every day, aiming for 1600-1800 calories a day should suffice you.

Solid advice.

Shucks... Thanks! :blushing:

bump to read later

will you calculate for me. I'm real close to where I wanna be but I've been at a maintenance for a few months . I've been trying to lift heavier but I still have a few lbs I'd like to shed . Was wondering do I keep going like I'm going or do I need to adjust cal , your input will help me out with that. tks

age 40
weight 129
height 5 4"

Yes. This helped a lot.

I think this is due for a bump.

I'm so glad this was bumped. This post is fantastic. I've lost 20 in two months but the first month I extremely hung up on not eating exercise calories. I felt defeated if I didn't have numbers in the green by the end of the day. My weight loss completely accelerated the 2nd month when I gave that up and began eating them all back. Thanks for explaining this so well!

julzwild wrote: »

I'm so glad this was bumped. This post is fantastic. I've lost 20 in two months but the first month I extremely hung up on not eating exercise calories. I felt defeated if I didn't have numbers in the green by the end of the day. My weight loss completely accelerated the 2nd month when I gave that up and began eating them all back. Thanks for explaining this so well!

Same thing happened to me--This is the best explaination I have seen on this forum. I keep reading and re-reading the post to make sure it sticks in my brain forever.(at 62 y.o.
thats a lot of times to re-read it.) Thanks for starting and posting this thread 3 years ago. Why can't this thread be "stickied"?. It is the most informative post I've read on here.