why eat back calories???

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Replies

  • amandaanderson2786
    amandaanderson2786 Posts: 95 Member
    I totally agree. Why eat back the calories you've worked to burn? I would only eat back a few if you were feeling really hungry. (You may want to try drinking water before that.) To me eating back calories is like saying "I'm going to eat more because I can, not because I'm hungry". That is how people become overweight in the first place.

    Deskgrl just explained very simply why you should. Didn't you read it?
    please dont be rude
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    I totally agree. Why eat back the calories you've worked to burn? I would only eat back a few if you were feeling really hungry. (You may want to try drinking water before that.) To me eating back calories is like saying "I'm going to eat more because I can, not because I'm hungry". That is how people become overweight in the first place.

    Deskgrl just explained very simply why you should. Didn't you read it?
    please dont be rude

    and that's the problem with the forum. Too many folks are given good advice, but look for someone that agrees with them... then when it's pointed out that they've been provided with ample information, the rest of the folks are being rude.

    No.

    It isn't being rude. You're new here, but not to the internet. It's okay. Take a deep breath, look back over the information provided, put on your big girl panties and deal with it.
  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    she knows what mfp is and she is going to advise others to not eat them back as well i dont feel that i am starving myself and i lose weight consistentlyi just think its silly to eat back so many calories whats the point of even burning them if your just going to eat them again ...

    obviously she and you both no nothing of how MFP works.
  • imtrinat
    imtrinat Posts: 153 Member
    Netting below BMR is not sustainable long term for most people. It's definitely not in the best interest of your health or well-being.
  • amandaanderson2786
    amandaanderson2786 Posts: 95 Member
    I totally agree. Why eat back the calories you've worked to burn? I would only eat back a few if you were feeling really hungry. (You may want to try drinking water before that.) To me eating back calories is like saying "I'm going to eat more because I can, not because I'm hungry". That is how people become overweight in the first place.

    Deskgrl just explained very simply why you should. Didn't you read it?
    please dont be rude

    and that's the problem with the forum. Too many folks are given good advice, but look for someone that agrees with them... then when it's pointed out that they've been provided with ample information, the rest of the folks are being rude.

    No.

    It isn't being rude. You're new here, but not to the internet. It's okay. Take a deep breath, look back over the information provided, put on your big girl panties and deal with it.
    well i wasnt saying rude to me i am looking over the info and appreciate it but when other posters post and then people say things like cant you read or didnt u read that i just thought it was kinda mean so thanks for your input but maybe it is u who should calm down
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    i do it im not cheating my self- 24 pounds lost
  • kisooni
    kisooni Posts: 4
    I totally agree. Why eat back the calories you've worked to burn? I would only eat back a few if you were feeling really hungry. (You may want to try drinking water before that.) To me eating back calories is like saying "I'm going to eat more because I can, not because I'm hungry". That is how people become overweight in the first place.

    Deskgrl just explained very simply why you should. Didn't you read it?
    please dont be rude

    and that's the problem with the forum. Too many folks are given good advice, but look for someone that agrees with them... then when it's pointed out that they've been provided with ample information, the rest of the folks are being rude.

    No.

    It isn't being rude. You're new here, but not to the internet. It's okay. Take a deep breath, look back over the information provided, put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

    Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean my opinion doesn't matter. In general all I'm saying is why eat just to eat? Why not eat when you're hungry or because you need to. I believe there is no need to eat back your calories and that's my opinion and others too. Yes what was said was a little rude, but who cares? It IS the internet sure. I don't care if you think your opinion is more "educated" or whatever you think.
  • ecw3780
    ecw3780 Posts: 608 Member
    Just eat enough back so that you get your net up to 1200.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member


    Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean my opinion doesn't matter. In general all I'm saying is why eat just to eat? Why not eat when you're hungry or because you need to. I believe there is no need to eat back your calories and that's my opinion and others too. Yes what was said was a little rude, but who cares? It IS the internet sure. I don't care if you think your opinion is more "educated" or whatever you think.

    Because "when you are hungry" is not always a good indicator. There are hormones that signal when you are hungry and when you are full. Many times these hormones are affected by not eating right and so they don't work right. A person who eats a very low calorie diet is not hungry. They can be anorexic and literally killing themselves because they are not getting enough food, but they aren't hungry. A person who eats too much can be hungry all the time because their hormones are not working right.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    I totally agree. Why eat back the calories you've worked to burn? I would only eat back a few if you were feeling really hungry. (You may want to try drinking water before that.) To me eating back calories is like saying "I'm going to eat more because I can, not because I'm hungry". That is how people become overweight in the first place.

    Deskgrl just explained very simply why you should. Didn't you read it?
    please dont be rude

    and that's the problem with the forum. Too many folks are given good advice, but look for someone that agrees with them... then when it's pointed out that they've been provided with ample information, the rest of the folks are being rude.

    No.

    It isn't being rude. You're new here, but not to the internet. It's okay. Take a deep breath, look back over the information provided, put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

    Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean my opinion doesn't matter. In general all I'm saying is why eat just to eat? Why not eat when you're hungry or because you need to. I believe there is no need to eat back your calories and that's my opinion and others too. Yes what was said was a little rude, but who cares? It IS the internet sure. I don't care if you think your opinion is more "educated" or whatever you think.

    Solid second post.

    Follow up with me when you've been here almost 500 days, mkay?

    You didn't even have an avatar on your first post when you hit the "post reply" button. Congrats on that. You don't have to like my advice either, but hey, this is a public forum.... soooooo you can take the advice and learn from it... since you're still wrong.. or not.

    At this point, you can be wrong and learn.. or wrong and hard-headed, then just storm off and be all "I can't believe that trogalicious guy on the internet" and eat a bowl of cocoa krispies or something.. either way, I don't really care. The point is, you gave bad advice. You can deal with that, or feel free to block me on the forums.
  • kayleeblue
    kayleeblue Posts: 273
    You will need to find what works for you.. I have tried to not eat back my cals..I'm stuck..I eat back my cals..I'm still stuck. I work out with heavy weights 4 times a week and do cardio 3 times a week. I have the workout down pat..now I must work on the nutrition part. I have a very hard time eating enough during the day that doesn't put me over on carbs and sugar. Some days end with an extra 700 calories. I just ordered Metabolic effect diet. I'm hoping they can help me find what works for me. I've been doing this for 2.5 years and have lost only 34 pounds..BUT have lost 71 inches. The scale is not always what we need to follow..Take pictures and measure yourself. Good Luck!
  • amandaanderson2786
    amandaanderson2786 Posts: 95 Member
    I totally agree. Why eat back the calories you've worked to burn? I would only eat back a few if you were feeling really hungry. (You may want to try drinking water before that.) To me eating back calories is like saying "I'm going to eat more because I can, not because I'm hungry". That is how people become overweight in the first place.

    Deskgrl just explained very simply why you should. Didn't you read it?
    please dont be rude

    and that's the problem with the forum. Too many folks are given good advice, but look for someone that agrees with them... then when it's pointed out that they've been provided with ample information, the rest of the folks are being rude.

    No.

    It isn't being rude. You're new here, but not to the internet. It's okay. Take a deep breath, look back over the information provided, put on your big girl panties and deal with it.
    well i wasnt saying rude to me i am looking over the info and appreciate it but when other posters post and then people say things like cant you read or didnt u read that i just thought it was kinda mean so thanks for your input but maybe it is u who should calm down

    lol. You sound hangry.

    I'm fully calm.

    look back over the thread where you agreed with the other person that agreed with you.

    No problems here at all. Know why? I've lost a buttload of weight by eating back my cals, figured enough for a few beers tonight.. so it's smooth sailing.

    Also, it's "you" and not "u"... but thanks.

    You don't have to thank me for my input. If you want to do yourself a favor, read back through for all the folks that have been here for a good long while.. or that have lost plenty of weight. You know, the people that have been where you are right now and have wound up where you want to be. Then, if you want, feel free to come back and thank me in a year... after you've realized how it works.

    I'm not posting this in any derogatory fashion, it just gets old when I see good advice given... then the OP latches on to another new member with a "oh, girl.. you know, I deal with that exact same thing" syndrome.

    I don't care if you thank me now. I don't care if you don't. I'm giving you advice on what works. The choice is yours whether to step down off of your "I'm important" box and listen to it.
    i am not "hangry" im tired and about to sleep im not siding with anyone and i do eat back cals if you checked my diary u would know that i just wanted some more information because i heard this yesterday not sure why you are so agressive you said your piece and i got it and i dont remember asking for any grammar advice so please stop because i do take this seriously thanks
  • vaquera19
    vaquera19 Posts: 14 Member
    Just eat enough back so that you get your net up to 1200.

    So.... My net today is 685. I'm not starving myself, but I'm eating low-calorie meals and snacking on low-calorie stuff all day. And I'm not hungry. If I ate back the 515 calories to get to a net of 1200, I'd feel sick like I'm overeating.

    And I'm not anorexic nor do I have an eating disorder. I only started counting calories and working out a week ago. Not every day is this low, but my net is under 1000 calories every day. Maybe I'll start feeling effects from it and want to eat more? I don't know. But right now, I don't feel hungry so I don't want to eat.
  • amandaanderson2786
    amandaanderson2786 Posts: 95 Member
    You will need to find what works for you.. I have tried to not eat back my cals..I'm stuck..I eat back my cals..I'm still stuck. I work out with heavy weights 4 times a week and do cardio 3 times a week. I have the workout down pat..now I must work on the nutrition part. I have a very hard time eating enough during the day that doesn't put me over on carbs and sugar. Some days end with an extra 700 calories. I just ordered Metabolic effect diet. I'm hoping they can help me find what works for me. I've been doing this for 2.5 years and have lost only 34 pounds..BUT have lost 71 inches. The scale is not always what we need to follow..Take pictures and measure yourself. Good Luck!
    thanks and you too:flowerforyou:
  • amandaanderson2786
    amandaanderson2786 Posts: 95 Member
    i am not "hangry" im tired and about to sleep im not siding with anyone and i do eat back cals if you checked my diary u would know that i just wanted some more information because i heard this yesterday not sure why you are so agressive you said your piece and i got it and i dont remember asking for any grammar advice so please stop because i do take this seriously thanks
    You're missing a ton of apostrophes in there. Also, aggressive isn't spelled correctly. Sleep might be a good idea at this point.

    Also, you're welcome.
    i never thanked you i dont think you are on here to help me! please stop your advice is not wanted from me !!!!!!!!
  • ssaraj
    ssaraj Posts: 5
    Wow! This is my first day on this site and its better than greys anatomy was tonight. I plan to eat evry calorie back and keep the weight off for good this time. Fuel your body!
  • metacognition
    metacognition Posts: 626 Member
    I would consider eating back most of your exercise calories.

    The key to me staying at a low weight on 1900 calories a day is having enough energy to support doing intense exercise almost every day. By eating more my body channels some of that food to glucose stores and I can get intense runs / weight lifting without tiring out.

    The second I drop to 1200 or 1400 calories I get cranky, cold intolerant, weak - and worst of all, I lose 10 - 20 % of my regular strength and hit the "wall" while jogging. I need to perform at my best so I eat more, even as I'm losing weight.
  • mazielinski78
    mazielinski78 Posts: 4 Member
    To all the people who say they feel too full eating back their exercise calories to a healthy net amount.... if that few calories truthfully makes you feel overly full then logically you shouldn't have ever gained too much weight in the first place! Aren't you on here counting calories and trying to lose weight because you had no trouble with eating too much to begin with?
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Wow! This is my first day on this site and its better than greys anatomy was tonight. I plan to eat evry calorie back and keep the weight off for good this time. Fuel your body!

    Thank goodness someone is listening to the good advice.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Just eat enough back so that you get your net up to 1200.

    So.... My net today is 685. I'm not starving myself, but I'm eating low-calorie meals and snacking on low-calorie stuff all day. And I'm not hungry. If I ate back the 515 calories to get to a net of 1200, I'd feel sick like I'm overeating.

    And I'm not anorexic nor do I have an eating disorder. I only started counting calories and working out a week ago. Not every day is this low, but my net is under 1000 calories every day. Maybe I'll start feeling effects from it and want to eat more? I don't know. But right now, I don't feel hungry so I don't want to eat.

    If your calorie intake is too low and your aerobic training is too tough, your body will produce the catabolic hormone cortisol, which breaks down muscle tissue. Your body will cannibalize your muscles to get the energy to burn fat. This is a bad thing. You don't want to reduce muscle, you want to preserve as much of that as possible.

    With only 14 pounds left to lose, this is just not enough food. I predict you aren't going to be happy with the shape your body is in when you hit your goal weight. And as you go into maintenance, eating at a more normal level, you will gain it all back and more. Because you will have reduced your muscle mass and the weight you put on will be fatter than before.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    Whether you feel full or not is not a good indicator of whether you are eating the appropriate amount. Hunger is regulated by hormones. Hormones can be off balance by eating too little, or eating too much, or eating too much of certain things.
    That. And people also don't see to get that a 3,000 calorie deficit is not 6 times better than a 500 calorie deficit.
  • JessieTangerine
    JessieTangerine Posts: 91 Member
    Two things I just wanted to add.

    1. As to if there being no need to eat back exercise calories, that just simply is not true. As a personal example, I go on long hiking trips burning who knows how many calories each day and let me tell you it is the worst trying to keep up with calories on those trips. I am never hungry and I am sure if I gave in a listened to my stomach, I would also never eat anything more than an apple on those days. However, if I do not force myself to eat at regular intervals I would bonk and being halfway up a mountain feeling like death is not good (I know from experience :sad: ). Our stomachs stink at knowing when we need to eat.

    Yes I know this is an extreme example, but habitually depriving our bodies of the food it needs to rebuild and refuel will eventually have the same effect. I will admit that calories earned from light physical activity (which is different for everyone) do not need to be eaten back since you earn so few that even small over and underestimations in calorie content or calories burned can nix the deficit earned.

    2. Wellness coaches do not need to be certified in the US. There are a couple certification classes you can take, but there is no law saying a wellness coach NEEDS certified. So, a wellness coach may be highly knowledgeable or he can be talking out of his behind with absolutely no formal training or client successes to back it up. RDs, doctors, and PAs all require advanced degrees and a lengthy certification process before they can practice and will likely give you good advice
  • amandaanderson2786
    amandaanderson2786 Posts: 95 Member
    Two things I just wanted to add.

    1. As to if there being no need to eat back exercise calories, that just simply is not true. As a personal example, I go on long hiking trips burning who knows how many calories each day and let me tell you it is the worst trying to keep up with calories on those trips. I am never hungry and I am sure if I gave in a listened to my stomach, I would also never eat anything more than an apple on those days. However, if I do not force myself to eat at regular intervals I would bonk and being halfway up a mountain feeling like death is not good (I know from experience :sad: ). Our stomachs stink at knowing when we need to eat.

    Yes I know this is an extreme example, but habitually depriving our bodies of the food it needs to rebuild and refuel will eventually have the same effect. I will admit that calories earned from light physical activity (which is different for everyone) do not need to be eaten back since you earn so few that even small over and underestimations in calorie content or calories burned can nix the deficit earned.

    2. Wellness coaches do not need to be certified in the US. There are a couple certification classes you can take, but there is no law saying a wellness coach NEEDS certified. So, a wellness coach may be highly knowledgeable or he can be talking out of his behind with absolutely no formal training or client successes to back it up. RDs, doctors, and PAs all require advanced degrees and a lengthy certification process before they can practice and will likely give you good advice
    thanks!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    MFP isn't about trying to eat the fewest possible number of calories. It's about learning to eat at a healthy level for your body - not too much and not too little.

    So you do need to eat all of your base calories and at least half of your exercise calories. Here are some ideas for adding healthy calories:

    Chicken with the skin
    Steak
    Cheese
    Whole eggs (including deviled eggs, egg salad)
    Full fat dairy (including cottage cheese, yogurt)
    Fruit,
    Peanut butter or other nut butters
    Nuts
    Avocado
    Dried fruit (raisins, apricots, apples)
    Dark chocolate
    Salmon
    Add Chia seeds to salads or yogurt
    Olive oil
    Smoothies
    Granola/sports nutrition bars
    Whole grains or whole grain products (like brown rice, Quinoa, oatmeal)
  • librarianjenne
    librarianjenne Posts: 66 Member
    Just eat enough back so that you get your net up to 1200.

    So.... My net today is 685. I'm not starving myself, but I'm eating low-calorie meals and snacking on low-calorie stuff all day. And I'm not hungry. If I ate back the 515 calories to get to a net of 1200, I'd feel sick like I'm overeating.

    And I'm not anorexic nor do I have an eating disorder. I only started counting calories and working out a week ago. Not every day is this low, but my net is under 1000 calories every day. Maybe I'll start feeling effects from it and want to eat more? I don't know. But right now, I don't feel hungry so I don't want to eat.

    If your calorie intake is too low and your aerobic training is too tough, your body will produce the catabolic hormone cortisol, which breaks down muscle tissue. Your body will cannibalize your muscles to get the energy to burn fat. This is a bad thing. You don't want to reduce muscle, you want to preserve as much of that as possible.

    With only 14 pounds left to lose, this is just not enough food. I predict you aren't going to be happy with the shape your body is in when you hit your goal weight. And as you go into maintenance, eating at a more normal level, you will gain it all back and more. Because you will have reduced your muscle mass and the weight you put on will be fatter than before.

    I'm pretty certain this has happened to me before. I've always liked to exercise, I've almost always been overweight, and I rarely eat enough. I don't necessarily eat back all of my calories, but I try because I want to have the energy to have quality exercise sessions.
  • amandaanderson2786
    amandaanderson2786 Posts: 95 Member
    MFP isn't about trying to eat the fewest possible number of calories. It's about learning to eat at a healthy level for your body - not too much and not too little.

    So you do need to eat all of your base calories and at least half of your exercise calories. Here are some ideas for adding healthy calories:

    Chicken with the skin
    Steak
    Cheese
    Whole eggs (including deviled eggs, egg salad)
    Full fat dairy (including cottage cheese, yogurt)
    Fruit,
    Peanut butter or other nut butters
    Nuts
    Avocado
    Dried fruit (raisins, apricots, apples)
    Dark chocolate
    Salmon
    Add Chia seeds to salads or yogurt
    Olive oil
    Smoothies
    Granola/sports nutrition bars
    Whole grains or whole grain products (like brown rice, Quinoa, oatmeal)
    thanks that is a big problem for me is not knowing how or what to eat i appreciate the ideas!!
  • MisterDerpington
    MisterDerpington Posts: 604 Member
    Because it's delicious. It's not an exact science anyways with the estimations. I just count my activity level higher and don't bother with eating back or not.
  • vaquera19
    vaquera19 Posts: 14 Member
    To all the people who say they feel too full eating back their exercise calories to a healthy net amount.... if that few calories truthfully makes you feel overly full then logically you shouldn't have ever gained too much weight in the first place! Aren't you on here counting calories and trying to lose weight because you had no trouble with eating too much to begin with?

    No. I feel full now because I'm eating a reasonable amount rather than eating all the food available to me - most of which was high-calorie food - like I used to.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    thanks that is a big problem for me is not knowing how or what to eat i appreciate the ideas!!

    It is an amazingly common problem that a lot of people have trouble understanding. Stick around, get some good friends and stay off the main boards. You'll figure it out. Good luck to you!