Should I still eat my exercise calories?

I don't think you should otherwise it counters itself out. I have been dieting now for a year and if I ate the cals that I burnt I really feel that I wouldn't have lost as much as I have.

I eat mine back and have lost a few pounds.... Best of Luck

I did, and kept gaining. Now, I never do, and have lost 16 pounds. Yayyyy!

Then you were eating more than you thought you were, or your BMR was much lower than MFP calculated it to be, or you were burning less than you thought you were.

Yep this ................MFP is based upon estimations. You sometimes have to tweak things (or there is some user error).

Then there's the "Biggest Loser" affect. Not everyone can expect to lose 2 pounds a week. Morbidly obese can lose quickly.....but closer to goal......you should be looking at a moderate weight loss goal. There is FAT loss & weight loss. Fast weight loss is fat+muscle (unless you are obese). Moderate paced weight loss can be "just" fat loss. Exercise helps you keep existing muscle mass BUT you have to fuel your workouts.

it's personal preference.

if you want to lose weight, then i don't see the point of shovelling the calories you've worked off back into the body. you get to see it as a reward and it will probably slow or stall your weight loss. weight loss is simply calories in < calories out. the bigger the delta, the faster you'll lose (or gain) weight.

i usually burn about 800-1500 cals of 'proper' exercise each day (weights/cycling/swimming/running/circuits etc), with the occasional rest day thrown in. on fast days (tues,weds & thurs), i'd stick to the 600 cal limit so am massively negative on those days. it didn't affect the intensity at which i could work out as tiredness and lethargy is 90% mental where you *think* you should be low on energy. i'll qualify this by saying that when i was on the weight loss phase about 13 months ago, i'd weigh just before the gym session on the 3rd day of 600 cal fasting, see that i'd lost another 1-2kg and could nail anything i wanted in the hard workout that followed.

as usual, ymmv. :-)

You're clueless as to how this tool works aren't you?

I sometimes do and don't it all depending if I'm not hungry I won't force myself but I try to use them esp if it comes to a treat why not.

it's personal preference.

if you want to lose weight, then i don't see the point of shovelling the calories you've worked off back into the body. you get to see it as a reward and it will probably slow or stall your weight loss. weight loss is simply calories in < calories out. the bigger the delta, the faster you'll lose (or gain) weight.

i usually burn about 800-1500 cals of 'proper' exercise each day (weights/cycling/swimming/running/circuits etc), with the occasional rest day thrown in. on fast days (tues,weds & thurs), i'd stick to the 600 cal limit so am massively negative on those days. it didn't affect the intensity at which i could work out as tiredness and lethargy is 90% mental where you *think* you should be low on energy. i'll qualify this by saying that when i was on the weight loss phase about 13 months ago, i'd weigh just before the gym session on the 3rd day of 600 cal fasting, see that i'd lost another 1-2kg and could nail anything i wanted in the hard workout that followed.

as usual, ymmv. :-)

You're clueless as to how this tool works aren't you?

They probably know, spankythewond is just trolling (5 posts only, and no profile pic to boot)

do what you want to,

Read this
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

This.

+1

If trying to lose weight, I wouldn't eat them back. Unless you are hungry and feel hungry, then eat! If you feel fine & not hungry then there is no need to eat the calories burnt

That is not how MFP works. Hunger is not the best indication of the body's nutritional requirements.

I could easily drink 4000 cals/day and still be hungry or eat 800 cals of carrots and be full, but it is the full option I am not getting enough nutrition

I'm still pretty new to all of it, but I really think its different for each person. For me, if I am eating all of my calories and I burn <200, I don't use them unless I'm really hungry for some reason. If I have a much bigger burn like 300-500, then I'll use some of them so that my net calories don't go too low. I think you have to see how you feel. But be careful of not eating enough - it will definitely slow you down.

My answer would be no for the simple fact you'd be eating what you've burnt off. I use to and ended up putting weight on. Try to stick to what your calorie goal is. That's my suggestion...

If you use the MFP method, you are already at a deficit. You are supposed to eat back exercise calories.

OP. if you feel the number is too high, eat half of them.

Depends. This is truly an individual thing.

I personally do not eat them back, or I eat only some of them back ( like maybe half or less ). A lot of people say that the calories estimated is too much and you may not lose weight as quickly as you'd like.

It also depends on how you have your goals set. If you have your goals set as sedentary and then you ADD your exercises in, then you are supposed to eat those back or some of it, at least. If you set your activity level to moderately active thinking about all you do in your day, from working to cleaning to school work to working out, then you do NOT add exercises in and do not eat all those calories back.

Now i personally do not eat all my calories back for these reasons:

1. I think my calories burned are overestimated, but not by too much. I think they are in the ballpark but I think i am burning more around 200 ish rather than 300 for my workouts. But still...

2. Depends on how intense I think my exercises are. I know one day I ate half of my calories back because I had an intense exercise ( burned over 300 that time ) and then got really hungry.

If you find you are going to bed hungry, then you probably are not eating enough. You might want to add a 100 or 200 calorie snack somewhere in your routine.

You're clueless as to how this tool works aren't you?

i guess so. i only used the mfp app to count calories on 600 cal fast days.

If you're using the MFP estimates, I do not suggest eating back all the exercise calories because they tend to be a bit high. Try starting by eating back 50-75% of those calories and adjust every few weeks until you find the percentage that works for you. If you have a more accurate count from a HRM or activity tracker, try eating 70-100% and adjust after a couple weeks. Any burn is just an estimate so just be consistent so you can gauge what your body needs and can adjust.

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