eating exercise calories

Hi mfp friends. I need help with eating my exercise calories. How much calories does everyone eat? Do you eat all or some even if you go over 2000? Thanks

I try to eat at least half. The more exercise you have done the more important it is to eat them to keep yourself from running on empty. :happy:

I do exactly what azlady7 does and I am still losing weight.

I'm usually too hungry not to eat them - I have NO idea how anyone survives on 1200-1400 calories a day without feeling hungry all day long! I usually eat around 1600 calories a day and try to burn 300-400 a day doing exercise. If you've earned them then you should be able to eat them without it affecting your weight-loss. Just make sure you are eating enough protein and fiber, and minimizing simple carbs and sugars. Good luck!
Meag

It's actually not that hard..lol...I have been eating 1200 calories a day for along time now and Im never starving. I used to eat 1500 but then I git hurt and became unable to excersise so I had to down my calorie intake to match the lack of physical activity...I just make sure to make the best of my 1200 cals by eating things that are low cal but still keep me full....and honestly I feel like I eat ALOT of food for that little calories=)

I don't eat the exercise calories. No sense in eating the deficit.

i usually eat half or a little less than that back. it makes sense to eat some of them back because if you didn't you're actually lower than your daily intake. i don't like to eat all of them because i know i am not always correct in counting my calories so i try to leave some squeeze room. i am trying real hard to listen to my body and go by that, not what others have told me. i figured it will all even out at the end of the week.

I know we have beat this horse to death, but I was thinking, what if the max deficit I can achieve with diet is 500, aren't I still allowed a 1000 calorie deficit as long as I eat my bmr? For example, I am supposed to maintain at 1760 and lose a pound a week at 1260 (though that doesn't happen :grumble: ), can't I try to burn an extra 500 calories I don't eat to achieve a deficit of 1000, which is still technically healthy.

Also, although somewhat controversial, that's how biggest loser contestants lose so much, by burning extra calories through cardio and resistance training

I try to eat all of them.

Also, although somewhat controversial, that's how biggest loser contestants lose so much, by burning extra calories through cardio and resistance training

I don't like the show. I've watched an episode now and then and have been shocked at the rate they are going!
I guess it might still stay healthy since they do have a LOT to lose and have personal trainers and nutritionists looking after them to make sure they are okay but it would still be more interesting if they measured their body composition instead of just the weight though..

I don't care for the show either - They somehow manage to make what ought to be a really uplifting, motivating show quite awful, competitive, and very exhibitionist. In my opinion, the show is just an excuse for "normal" Americans to gawk at the morbidly obese without the social stigma that surrounds it in public. We are never allowed, socially, to obsess about the weight issues of others, so reality TV provides us with a venue for it. They are profiting largely off of the sheer desperation of people that are so incredibly overweight they are on the brink of death. Not sure how this motivates anyone. They've turned an epidemic into a freak show for your entertainment. Not quite sure that's something I want to support.

Either way, you are totally right alantin! I eat mine because if you're exercising HARD you need to refuel. My body craves protein after I work out. Simple as that. In order to get the most out of my workouts, I need to make sure that I have enough energy to give 100% during my workouts and that my muscle has the protein it needs to recover. Exercising regularly should have an energizing effect, but when you are not eating enough to sustain it, you become lethargic and your body shuts down. Not a good thing for weight-loss.

Just my 0.02$