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How many calories should I be eating??????

rmk2311
rmk2311 Posts: 17 Member
edited January 28 in Health and Weight Loss
I have done a lot of research on this topic and I am still baffled.

I am not sure if I need to eat back the calories I am burning from exercise or if I need to eat less to lose weight. I have been doing great with my weight loss but now have hit a plateau. I have never worked out in the past as hard as I am (I am currently training for my first 5k at the end of July) and would have thought my weight would have been dropping off but it hasn't. I am running a lot and am not sure if I eat all the calories back that I burned if it would help my body recover and I would start to lose the weight again.

Please help!!

Replies

  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    If you're using MFP's set up you need to eat your exercise calories so you keep your original deficit in place. If you're going by TDEE-% your exercise would be figured in already and you wouldn't eat those calories back. If you're undereating that could be part of the problem. To lose weight with MFP you don't actually have to exercise. The deficit is figured in already WITHOUT it. When you exercise it makes the deficit larger, usually too large.

    You should probably provide age, height, weight, etc. and open your diary so people can see what you're doing and make suggestions.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    You can eat back your exercise calories. However, running isn't a huge calorie burn. How much is a lot??
  • rmk2311
    rmk2311 Posts: 17 Member
    I am at least working out an hour a day and burning 600 calories.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Just running? Seems high but depends on your weight etc. is your diary open.
  • rmk2311
    rmk2311 Posts: 17 Member
    Just running? Seems high but depends on your weight etc. is your diary open.

    Yes just running for now. I start Zumba in a couple of weeks. Running is one of the best forms of cardio that burns a lot of calories.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Just running? Seems high but depends on your weight etc. is your diary open.

    Yes just running for now. I start Zumba in a couple of weeks. Running is one of the best forms of cardio that burns a lot of calories.
    I run often, and at most burn about 400-450 per hour. If you aren't losing you might want to lower your calories.
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