Eating exercise calories?

jhewit22
jhewit22 Posts: 1 Member
edited February 6 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone-

I'm new to this app (and working out and dieting all together for that matter). I have a question. My allotment for a given day is 1,800 calories, but the app adds exercise calories if I work out that day. I am looking to lose weight, so do I still stick to my originally planned 1,800 calories or allow myself to go over that amount of calories and eat some or all of my exercise calories because I worked out? What am I supposed to do? Any help is appreciated!

Thank you!

Replies

  • ktno1
    ktno1 Posts: 297 Member
    MFP is set up so that you are supposed to eat back your exercise calories. You will still lose weight. I tend to eat back 1/2-3/4 of them as MFP tends to overestimate calories burned on many exercises.

    Alternatively read up about TDEE where your activity level is taken into account in your daily calorie allowance so you wouldn't eat back your exercise calories. Many swear by this and it works great for them.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/931670-bmr-and-tdee-explained-for-those-needing-a-guide
  • ktno1
    ktno1 Posts: 297 Member
    This is also a great read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • samanthawhite2
    samanthawhite2 Posts: 1
    You stick to only the amount of calories given, so you will consume 1800 calories....for better results put your calorie intake to 1200 and you should lose it faster that way.. put in exercise at the end of the day and keep a journal to jot them in if you have a hard time remembering your timed exercises :smile: Good Luck!!!!!
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Yes if you are using the MFP approach to weight loss then your deficit has already been figured in so you should be using those calories earned through exercise to fuel your body for the workout you are asking of it to do.... I eat back 85% of all my exercise calories leaving 15% in error in logging and whatnot..... Best of Luck
  • AshMed3
    AshMed3 Posts: 1 Member
    Use them! Once you get in to a normal rhythm/routine with your diet and exercise you will know how many of them your body really needs. At first I was eating almost all of my exercise calories. Now I usually use around 100-250 of them. And yes, I was still losing weight. Just remember- Your body is different than everyone else's! Good luck. :)
  • taeliesyn
    taeliesyn Posts: 1,116 Member
    You'll get a lot of answers, but if you are using MFP as it's designed, then yes eat the exercise calories back. Maybe not all of them, but a majority.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    You stick to only the amount of calories given, so you will consume 1800 calories....for better results put your calorie intake to 1200 and you should lose it faster that way.. put in exercise at the end of the day and keep a journal to jot them in if you have a hard time remembering your timed exercises :smile: Good Luck!!!!!

    Wait Wut??? No definitely do not do this OP....... Your daily calories with a deficit has already been figure too 1800 if you did not exercise you would still lose weight eating the 1800 calories a day.... You do not need exercise for weight loss, You exercise for fitness not weight loss, keep the two separate in your mind and eat accordingly... Your body needs fuel when exercising so make sure you fuel up.... Best of Luck
  • luckydays27
    luckydays27 Posts: 552 Member
    You stick to only the amount of calories given, so you will consume 1800 calories....for better results put your calorie intake to 1200 and you should lose it faster that way.. put in exercise at the end of the day and keep a journal to jot them in if you have a hard time remembering your timed exercises :smile: Good Luck!!!!!

    Dont listen to this person. 1200 cal diet is only good for people who are tiny. I assume that if MFP gave you 1800 you set a reasonable goal (1 lb a week) and are on the heavy side. When I started MFP gave me 1600 and its now gone down to 1270 but I eat ALL of my exercise cals plus any extras my fitbit gives me (ends up around 1900-2000 a day) and I lose 1 lb a week consistently.

    If MFP set your food intake to 1800, eat 1800. If you exercise eat those cals as well since MFP is designed to have you eat those. Just be careful with the cals burned estimates that MFP gives you. I use a heart rate monitor to know what my cal burn is and eat that number. It might be worth investing in a HRM if you dont already have one.

    Also, as you lose weight, say every 10 lbs or so, have MFP recalculate your cal intake as the number will go down.
  • psych101
    psych101 Posts: 1,842 Member
    You stick to only the amount of calories given, so you will consume 1800 calories....for better results put your calorie intake to 1200 and you should lose it faster that way.. put in exercise at the end of the day and keep a journal to jot them in if you have a hard time remembering your timed exercises :smile: Good Luck!!!!!

    uh no
  • diadia1
    diadia1 Posts: 223 Member
    Hey there is a great post on that subject. Please read. Really helpfull.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
  • Vivian06703188
    Vivian06703188 Posts: 310 Member
    Okay you only eat back your calories if you have set your exercise to sedentary and then log in your activity daily. Otherwise you eating back the calories twice because MFP sets your daily calories according to the amount of activity you have set in your original set up. So if you figure your workouts into your activity level you do not eat back your calories. This is why some people have trouble losing weight.
  • IzzyBooNZ1
    IzzyBooNZ1 Posts: 1,289 Member
    You stick to only the amount of calories given, so you will consume 1800 calories....for better results put your calorie intake to 1200 and you should lose it faster that way.. put in exercise at the end of the day and keep a journal to jot them in if you have a hard time remembering your timed exercises :smile: Good Luck!!!!!

    uh no

    2nd this...
  • diadia1
    diadia1 Posts: 223 Member
    You stick to only the amount of calories given, so you will consume 1800 calories....for better results put your calorie intake to 1200 and you should lose it faster that way.. put in exercise at the end of the day and keep a journal to jot them in if you have a hard time remembering your timed exercises :smile: Good Luck!!!!!

    uh no

    2nd this...


    3rd this.
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