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When I work out, should I eat more?

mrfunkyland
mrfunkyland Posts: 2 Member
edited January 29 in Health and Weight Loss
I've got a quick question for you. I plugged in all of my info into MFP and it told me that to reach my weight loss goal, I should eat ~1500 cal/day. With my work out I'm burning between 300 and 500 cal/day. Should my goal for actual intake of calories still be 1500, or should I make it 1800-2000 to balance out the workout?

Replies

  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Yes, that is part of the plan. A calorie deficit is already built in, so when you exercise you may make the deficit unhealthily large if you don't eat more.
  • Siegel15
    Siegel15 Posts: 100 Member
    So we SHOULD eat back burned calories?
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    Yes, if you're using MFP the way it's intended.
  • yogsvr4
    yogsvr4 Posts: 149 Member
    I didn't (at least I didn't very often). I just wasn't hungry enough to eat back all the calories.
  • ladynocturne
    ladynocturne Posts: 865 Member
    If you have MFP set to sedentary, yes, you should be eating your exercise calories back, you're suppose to.

    If you have your MFP settings set to include your exercise in your activity level, then no.

    Hunger is not a good indicator of needing more calories. If we could rely on hunger cues, none of us would need to lose weight.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    So we SHOULD eat back burned calories?

    Yes, UNLESS you included the exercise as part of your activity level. But since the OP is male and was started at 1500 calories I'm assuming he set his activity level to sedentary.

    If you included exercise in your activity level, then you should not eat the extra calories unless you go beyond what you included.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Hunger is not a good indicator of needing more calories. If we could rely on hunger cues, none of us would need to lose weight.

    Not true. Many people gain weight by eating when they are not hungry. Hunger can be a good indicator once you get to know your body. But for those that under or over eaten for long periods of time, this can take some time.
  • mrfunkyland
    mrfunkyland Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks, all! This is what I needed to know. I know it can be painful/difficult, but I think I had a few days where I worked out pretty heavily and didn't eat enough and MAN did I pay for it.

    I did set it to sedentary. Before I started MFP I wasn't working out at all so it seemed like the best choice.
  • ladynocturne
    ladynocturne Posts: 865 Member
    Hunger is not a good indicator of needing more calories. If we could rely on hunger cues, none of us would need to lose weight.

    Not true. Many people gain weight by eating when they are not hungry. Hunger can be a good indicator once you get to know your body. But for those that under or over eaten for long periods of time, this can take some time.

    Exactly my point, thanks.
  • Mutterz
    Mutterz Posts: 31 Member
    We don't eat our exercise calories :S have we really been doing it all wrong for 7 months????
  • Tenster
    Tenster Posts: 278 Member
    I tend to find a lot of people on here way over estimate how many calories they burn whilst training. I personally don't eat the calories i burn on a workout back and believe this is the best way, for me atleast.
  • ladynocturne
    ladynocturne Posts: 865 Member
    We don't eat our exercise calories :S have we really been doing it all wrong for 7 months????

    If your exercise is included in your activity setting, then no, you haven't been doing it wrong.
  • schnarfo
    schnarfo Posts: 764 Member
    We don't eat our exercise calories :S have we really been doing it all wrong for 7 months????

    If your exercise is included in your activity setting, then no, you haven't been doing it wrong.

    Machines and Mfp over estimate cals burned too! Heart monitors are more accurate
  • cingle87
    cingle87 Posts: 717 Member
    Should you eat your caloires back? Yes, should you eat all of them? No. The reason I advise you not to eat all maybe 70-80% of them, many people and MFP vastly overestimate how many caloires they have burnt. If you using a HRM and other tracking gadgets which give a slightly better reading eat 75-90% back.
  • Philipv1
    Philipv1 Posts: 4 Member
    I tend to find a lot of people on here way over estimate how many calories they burn whilst training. I personally don't eat the calories i burn on a workout back and believe this is the best way, for me atleast.

    The best way I've found is if you're not sure, or something doesn't look right: Over estimate the calories eaten, and under estimate the calories burned.
  • Tenster
    Tenster Posts: 278 Member
    I tend to find a lot of people on here way over estimate how many calories they burn whilst training. I personally don't eat the calories i burn on a workout back and believe this is the best way, for me atleast.

    The best way I've found is if you're not sure, or something doesn't look right: Over estimate the calories eaten, and under estimate the calories burned.

    Agreed. underestimation of calories consumed and over estimation of calories burned will lead to failure.
  • ladynocturne
    ladynocturne Posts: 865 Member
    We don't eat our exercise calories :S have we really been doing it all wrong for 7 months????

    If your exercise is included in your activity setting, then no, you haven't been doing it wrong.

    Machines and Mfp over estimate cals burned too! Heart monitors are more accurate

    Agreed, I do the best I can and eat 80% back what MFP says, my weight loss hasn't suffered. I plan on getting a HRM when I have the last 5-8lbs to lose so I can make sure I'm more accurate.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Hunger is not a good indicator of needing more calories. If we could rely on hunger cues, none of us would need to lose weight.

    Not true. Many people gain weight by eating when they are not hungry. Hunger can be a good indicator once you get to know your body. But for those that under or over eaten for long periods of time, this can take some time.

    Exactly my point, thanks.

    It's not what you said. Eating when not hungry does not mean that hunger is not a good indicator. It means that eating without the indicator can lead to weight gain. If one only ate when they were hungry, we'd have less overweight people. (my point)
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    If set at sedentary and calculating your calorie burns modestly then yes you should definitely eat them back. When you're at goal you'd continue losing if you didn't eat back, so since your weight loss deficit is already taken away from your base calorie goal you should eat your exercise calories back so that you train your mind and body how to take in more on days that you really need it, and not when you don't. Also you have muscle to feed and you'll only workout regularly if you feel fit and well - which you probably won't over time if you are constantly eating way under.
  • Siegel15
    Siegel15 Posts: 100 Member
    If you have MFP set to sedentary, yes, you should be eating your exercise calories back, you're suppose to.

    If you have your MFP settings set to include your exercise in your activity level, then no.

    Hunger is not a good indicator of needing more calories. If we could rely on hunger cues, none of us would need to lose weight.
    So if I have set my activity level at moderate, I should NOT eat back? I was wondering because as soon as I began to eat back I have regained 4 pounds quickly.

    When I set the nutrition goal tracker at either moderate or active, I get the same result , 1200 cals, 45 proteins 165 carbs and 40 fat.
    It doesn't matter what setting I use. I am starting at 2 pound a week loss till August 7 (before trip goal) then I will slow it to 1.5
    pounds a week.

    I seem to not be able to eat back, or risk weight gain.
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