Earning extra calories from exercise
Loopy385
Posts: 1
I have tracked my food intake and after entering workout for the day I see that the food tracker says I have earned extra calories for the day. Is it best not to intake the rest of the calories and be in a calorie deficit to actually lose weight or make sure you eat again for the extra calories earned ? New to this whole thing......
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Replies
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i struggle with the same dilemma. Sometimes I used the extra calories and sometimes I do not. Interested to see what experts would say about it. I used another tracker and it did not give you any extra calories for working out.0
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The calorie goal given by MFP already has the deficit calculated:) I personally try not to eat away the calories I gain from exercise, but there's absolutely no harm in eating those calories.
So, if you eat 1,350 but your goal is 1200, you can burn 150 calories to make up for overeating.
All exercising really does for your goals is allow you to eat more if you wish to.0 -
From my experience, it's better to eat all your calories. Otherwise, your metabolism slows down.0
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You can search this topic and read more than you ever wanted to know about this question. It's asked, debated and argued all the time.0
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Its argued a lot but MFP sets your deficit up assuming you will track and eat back your exercise calories. The MFP exercise database tends to overestimate how many calories you burn so I wouldn't suggest eating all of the calories back but you should eat some of the exercise calories back.0
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All exercising really does for your goals is allow you to eat more if you wish to.
Diet to look good clothed, exercise to look good naked, it's been said. Exercise does a lot of other good for your body - muscles, bones, heart, digestive system, etc.
But to answer your question, MFP already calculates a deficit, so if you don't eat your exercise calories you're in an even bigger deficit. If you're only set to lose .5 or 1 lb a week, it's probably not too bad, depending on how close you are to goal, but if you're already in a large deficit (like 2 pounds a week) and you don't eat back at least some calories, you could be hampering your efforts. A bigger deficit isn't always better. On the other hand, it's hard to know exactly how many calories you burn - some people say MFP is really inaccurate, so a lot of people opt to eat back only half to be safe.0 -
Are you guys using any sort of monitor to get a more accurate reading of calorie instead of using the general tracker here or on the machines at the gym?0
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Don't do it. The cake is a lie. I'm 40+ pounds down from not eating back my exercise calories....and busting my butt while exercising. You'll have to hit an extended caloric deficit for your metabolism to slow down. You'll also have to drop well below the 1200 calorie range. While it's not impossible to go into what people call "starvation mode" it's not a switch that happens overnight. it takes weeks to months of consistently going waaaaay under your calories and exercise for it to have much of an impact. Even if you did manage to go into a slight metabolism slow down it would be counteracted if you built a little muscle. If you'd like source documentation just ask and I'll hunt some down for you, but this really shouldn't be an argument or debated.0
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Sometimes I definitely eat some of the calories I burned because 1250 calories leaves me hungry every day! But I think it is best to leave most extra calories that you earned uneaten. See, a pound of fat is equivalent to 3500 calories. The theory is that if you consume 3500 calories less than you normally do (say, less than how many calories it takes to maintain your current weight), then you will lose 1 pound of fat. So it is important to try to create a 3500 calorie deficit each week to lose a pound.
Of course, if you're in my situation, you can't help having that extra bowl of watermelon every once in a while, and that's okay. As long as you are burning a significant amount off and not eating all the calories back EVERY day, you will be fine.0 -
Generally I don't but when I do, it's a small margin.
Maybe 10% the most. I like ending my day w/a nice
deficit. It's rewarding.0 -
if you are following the daily calories provided by MFP (meaning, you haven't changed them based on some other equation), then yes, you are supposed to eat them back. Your net calories should not go below 1200 every day. So, if you don't want to eat all them, at least eat enough to get you over 1200 net. If you want to lose weight faster, change your goal to 2 pounds per week.0
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I generally eat back about half of my exercise calories. A registered dietician told me that she recommends eating them back if you are hungry. If you aren't hungry, don't eat them. Listen to your body.0
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Its argued a lot but MFP sets your deficit up assuming you will track and eat back your exercise calories. The MFP exercise database tends to overestimate how many calories you burn so I wouldn't suggest eating all of the calories back but you should eat some of the exercise calories back.
I agree, if you are going by the MFP website when you first entered in your information it asked you what your weight goal was. Your caloric recommendation on this site is based off that weight. So if you you burn say 300 calories, the site is set up so that you can still eat those calories back and lose weight.
For example say I want to lose 10 lbs it says I need to consume 1500 calories a day, but if I wanted to maintain my weight it would say I need to consume 2,00 calories a day. If I'm aiming for 1500 calories, and I eat 1500 calories, I can still consume 300 more because I wouldn't be eating 1800 calories, I would still be eating 1500 calories since I burned 300.. Did that make any sense. This is the theory that the MFP website goes by.0 -
Im using Body Media Core armband to record my calories burned. This is only day 4 but it seems to be working out. This device recommends that I have a 1000 calorie deficit to meet my weight loss goals.0
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I am still trying to get my butt into gear and exercise each day!! I just don't have enough hours in my day, feel great at 2am but find if I exercise then Im really amped up and rarin to go!! And I use 1200 calories but have not yet used them all in a day....Know this is not good but with the hours I work I cannot fit in three meals! any clues?0
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Are you guys using any sort of monitor to get a more accurate reading of calorie instead of using the general tracker here or on the machines at the gym?
I'm using Body Media Core armband to record my calories burned. This is only day 4 but it seems to be working out. This device recommends that I have a 1000 calorie deficit to meet my weight loss goals.0 -
I rarely eat my exercise calories, but I do eat my exercise macros! That's where I take advantage of them. I think if you're hungry, eat them. If you're not, don't.
Your body is pretty smart if you actually listen to it.0 -
You don`t earn calories. You ingest them, silly. What you did was burn calories. Eat if you`re hungry that`s all.0
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I usually try to eat about half the calories back... This gives me a buffer for missed measurement on the intake or outflow side.0
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Its a weird concept to accept at first but as others have said MFP has set it up so you will be at a deficit even if you don't workout. So when you do workout you can eat those calories and still lose weight. I use an HRM to get as close an estimate to my calories burned as possible. I eat back my burned calories and I've gone from a size ten(ish depends on the brand) to a 4-6 (again depends on the brand)0
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Highly suggest using a Heart Rate Monitor with a chest strap for the most accurate information on your calories burned.0
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Highly suggest using a Heart Rate Monitor with a chest strap for the most accurate information on your calories burned.
QFT
They're not perfect, but they're better than the site or the little hand grips on machines. Most people I've seen with HRM's use either the Polar FT4, FT7 or an Garmin. FT4 is the cheapest and most simple if you just want to get your workout on. THe FT7 is more complex but gives you a bunch of bells and whistles. The Garmin is probably the most expensive, but it will also give you GPS coordinates if you're a runner or cyclist.
There are plenty of other brands out there to try as well. Check it out and figure out what you'd use.0 -
You don`t earn calories. You ingest them, silly. What you did was burn calories. Eat if you`re hungry that`s all.
Why post just to be a SMART***?? The OP is new (as she stated) and this was her 1st post. She didnt ask you to school her about earning calories vs ingesting them! Your last sentence would have sufficed for the question asked!0 -
If sticking with MFP method I recommend eating back exercise calories.
I have been at maintenance since April when I cut following a fall/winter bulk. Using various TDEE calculators I determined that I needed to net approximately 2010 daily to hold at 155.
My average daily intake since reaching maintenance goal weight has been 2520 - with an average daily exercise expenditure of 600. That is lower than my target of 2010 and likely why I'm weighing 153.5 right now. Still, if I did not eat back my exercise calories I would be much less (i.e. too low).
My calorie expeditures are based on MFP and Runkeeper estimated calorie burns. They have worked well for me.
Best of luck.0 -
You don`t earn calories. You ingest them, silly. What you did was burn calories. Eat if you`re hungry that`s all.
Why post just to be a SMART***?? The OP is new (as she stated) and this was her 1st post. She didnt ask you to school her about earning calories vs ingesting them! Your last sentence would have sufficed for the question asked!
There's also no reason to scold someone for making a remark like that. Is there a rule about having fun on a forum that I wasn't informed of? There is a decided lack of flippancy in the comment. Maybe let it slide a little?0 -
Don't do it. The cake is a lie. I'm 40+ pounds down from not eating back my exercise calories....and busting my butt while exercising. You'll have to hit an extended caloric deficit for your metabolism to slow down. You'll also have to drop well below the 1200 calorie range. While it's not impossible to go into what people call "starvation mode" it's not a switch that happens overnight. it takes weeks to months of consistently going waaaaay under your calories and exercise for it to have much of an impact. Even if you did manage to go into a slight metabolism slow down it would be counteracted if you built a little muscle. If you'd like source documentation just ask and I'll hunt some down for you, but this really shouldn't be an argument or debated.0
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