i can't eat back my calories

i tried yesturday, and well...i mean i got sick. i just couldn't do it. i don't feel like i failed. i feel like the person i was before myfitnesspal when i was in high school very busy and working out all the time. i don't understand the whole idea but i think i'll \stick to my own plan

So you ate at a surplus which made you overweight, but now you can't eat your exercise calories back?

i tried yesturday, and well...i mean i got sick. i just couldn't do it. i don't feel like i failed. i feel like the person i was before myfitnesspal when i was in high school very busy and working out all the time. i don't understand the whole idea but i think i'll \stick to my own plan

So you ate at a surplus which made you overweight, but now you can't eat your exercise calories back?

This always baffles me...

i dont know WHAT the hell ANY of you are talking about.

Are we supposed to eat back our excersice calories?

that is the way MFP is designed to work. Your calorie goal includes a deficit from maintenance for weight loss with no exercise whatsoever...when you set your activity level you don't include exercise in it...exercise is extra and thus an activity that is unaccounted for and needs additional fuel. If you ate to MFP's calorie goal and did no exercise you would lose weight because of that deficit built in...when you exercise and eat back calories you gross more calories but you NET the same deficit.

Just be careful to allow for estimation error of your exercise calories. Most people vastly overestimate their burn. You're best to compare your burn to a few different sources...and in general if it seems like, "wow...that's a huge burn"...it's probably inflated...you simply don't burn as many calories exercising as people think.

In that RE I used to take about 70%-80% of whatever my HRM told me for an aerobic event. Also make sure you're not underestimating intake...seriously, weigh anything that can be weighed out for serving size and measure everything else...precision is key when you're doing this.

I'm not trying to be rude but I find it a little hard to believe that someone who became overweight is suddenly now unable to eat back exercise calories. :huh:

If you really feel like you just can't stomach them, then eat back half. That's what I do.

ooh, i see.
i dont even log my exercise. all that is just bonus. i do it based on at least 30 mins a day

I used to wonder why people that were once overweight now can't eat back their exercise calories, but I have noticed that when people are trying to lose weight, they cut out anything they consider 'bad' for them and they fill up on 'healthy' foods, which incidently are low calorie so you need to eat much more to make up those calories.

Anyone can eat back their exercise calories, you just need to stop eating low fat 'diet' versions of foods and stop labeling any food as 'unhealthy'. Change to whole milk, eat a full fat yogurt, eat full fat cheese, grab a jar of peanut butter. A tablespoon of oil is 120 calories, and that adds no food volume at all. Hell, grab a snickers bar or a doughnut!

I'm not trying to be rude but I find it a little hard to believe that someone who became overweight is suddenly now unable to eat back exercise calories. :huh:

If you really feel like you just can't stomach them, then eat back half. That's what I do.

i was talking about how this site works, you have to "eat back" your "excersize calories" but i can't, and yeah now that people mention it, i do'nt think it'll work, at least for me. i at least can't eat them all back that for sure.

There's a good chance you are underestimating your intake and/or overestimating your burn anyway...but you really should think long term in RE to how to properly fuel your body in maintenance...I always find it pretty frackin' hilarious when a bunch of , "oh I never eat my exercise calories" (as if it's some kind of badge of honor) folks try to go to maintenance and then there on here all, "help...I'm still losing...because I still don't understand this frackin' tool and I don't know how to frackin' eat anymore...exercise calories, I don't get it...blaaahhhh"...it's hilarious.

You forgot the 'why aren't I losing any more weight' threads too.

My question with these kinds of thread is always, what do you intend to do when you reach your goal and transition into maintenance? Are you going to continue to eat at a deficit forever (or until your current level becomes your maintenance level)?

One of the important parts of the slow-and-steady diet method is that you're learning healthy habits that will carry you into maintenance easily. If you can't (or won't) figure out how to boost your calorie levels now then I think you may have a hard time when you hit your goals.

i tried yesturday, and well...i mean i got sick. i just couldn't do it. i don't feel like i failed. i feel like the person i was before myfitnesspal when i was in high school very busy and working out all the time. i don't understand the whole idea but i think i'll \stick to my own plan
edit: talking about calories from excercizing

I'd just like to point out that sticking to your own plan is what got you to the point that you feel like you need to lose weight.

Just some food for thought.

this year before getting back on this site, i not only quit smoking but got off numerous psychiatric medications that were giving me extremely unpleasant side effects, which had been going on for years.

I think it's great that you're taking steps to get into better shape, including the above ones you listed. This website works wonders--when you follow the system it lays out for you. That's the point I was trying to make; I'm not trying to get down on you or anything. MFP is designed to work a certain way and it only works when you work with it. (This includes eating back at least some of your exercise calories since MFP has already taken a calorie deficit into account with the number it gives you.) Myself and others here only want you to have the best, most positive experience you can. :flowerforyou:

(PS, I used to have a crush on Goku until Vegeta was introduced into the series. :P)

I love exercising because it gives me the xtra bonus calories so I can stay in the green.
work it /eat it LO!

Work out less.

ALSO.

It seems like people have this impression that they MUST wait until AFTER they exercise to eat more.

If you know you're going to be burning a lot at the gym, it's perfectly fine to have a larger breakfast/extra snack BEFORE you exercise. You don't have to wait.

You can also *gasp* use half for tomorrow if you so desire. It's not that complicated .