Am I Missing Something?

kmard81
kmard81 Posts: 212 Member
edited September 22 in Food and Nutrition
MFP suggests around 1400 calories for me daily. When I work out, I notice it says "you've earned XXX calories today for working out". Am I supposed to eat those calories? I am shooting for weight loss so I have just been eating the MFP calories and no more regardless of how much I work out. However, within the last few days I havent lost any weight (scale might be broken, not sure) but the thought crossed my mind that my body may be in starvation mode. Even though I am not hungry, and I am eating 6 small meals a day, do I need to increase my calories when working out? I am confused about loosing weight then. If I consume 1400 calories and for example yesterday, I burned 1000, isnt that how you loose weight? If I am eating the calories, I dont understand how this leads to weight loss...?

Replies

  • nsueflorence
    nsueflorence Posts: 295 Member
    YES eat your earned calories! there are tons of information on this all over the message boards. Take the time to read it. It is very helpful!
  • ashlee954
    ashlee954 Posts: 1,112 Member
    Yep, typically it is in your best interest to eat them. If you're not hungry don't eat extra food just eat food that contains a bit more calories.
  • doncheco
    doncheco Posts: 47
    Here is a great post that will help you with that question:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits?hl=deficit
  • patio1313
    patio1313 Posts: 169 Member
    Usually if I work out I try to NOT eat those calories that I burned but sometimes I think that you DO have to jumpstart your body. Kind of fool it because after so long I think that your bady starts storing since it feels that it is not getting enough (it is just getting less) so to jumpstart my weight loss when I hit that plateau I have a little more food. Just a little over indulgence...enough to fool my body so that it starts using up the calories instead of storing them. So have a little extra and then go back to what you had been doing and the weight loss should start back up
  • kmard81
    kmard81 Posts: 212 Member
    Here is a great post that will help you with that question:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits?hl=deficit


    Thanks!
  • ahoward76
    ahoward76 Posts: 21
    I have been on here for about a month and I was doing the same thing at first. I only allowed myself about 1200 calories a day and found I was actually gaining weight. After having this same question, I too increased my calories on the days I exercised and I started losing on avg 2 lbs per week. I try to workout 5-6 days a week and they say the more you exercise the more you get to eat, so eat those calories, or at least half of what you earned back and I think you'll see the difference on the scales. Good luck! :smile:
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    It depends on what your daily calorie goal is. Basically, you don't want to eat fewer than 1200 net calories (calories consumed minus calories burned) or you risk sending your body into starvation mode. So if your goal is set at 1200 cals, you definitely need to eat those exercise calories. If your goal is higher and the calories you burn don't put you under 1200 it's up to you whether you want to eat them or not.
  • tigertchr23
    tigertchr23 Posts: 418 Member
    If your exercise is causing you to go lower than 1200 then you need to eat more. When adding calories try to stick to fruits, vegetables and protein. Also, make sure you are drinking plenty of water to flush out the fat you are burning during exercise. Maybe add in a protein shake with fruit after your work-out?

    Good luck! :)
  • kmard81
    kmard81 Posts: 212 Member
    I have been on here for about a month and I was doing the same thing at first. I only allowed myself about 1200 calories a day and found I was actually gaining weight. After having this same question, I too increased my calories on the days I exercised and I started losing on avg 2 lbs per week. I try to workout 5-6 days a week and they say the more you exercise the more you get to eat, so eat those calories, or at least half of what you earned back and I think you'll see the difference on the scales. Good luck! :smile:

    Thats so helpful, thanks!
  • mymelody_78
    mymelody_78 Posts: 657 Member
    I am eating 1200 calories but when I work out I allow myself to eat most of the work out calories. Are you just using MFP's calculations on calories burned or are you using a heart rate monitor? I have found that some of the MFP calories burned are too high compared to what my heart rate monitor says. Also, are you keeping with what it is saying on protein, carbs and fat? Maybe it is the types of food you are eating?
  • kmard81
    kmard81 Posts: 212 Member
    I am eating 1200 calories but when I work out I allow myself to eat most of the work out calories. Are you just using MFP's calculations on calories burned or are you using a heart rate monitor? I have found that some of the MFP calories burned are too high compared to what my heart rate monitor says. Also, are you keeping with what it is saying on protein, carbs and fat? Maybe it is the types of food you are eating?

    no, no HRM, just going what the maching says and I will adjust it in MFP. I am going to give it another week and see what happens!
  • mymelody_78
    mymelody_78 Posts: 657 Member
    I am eating 1200 calories but when I work out I allow myself to eat most of the work out calories. Are you just using MFP's calculations on calories burned or are you using a heart rate monitor? I have found that some of the MFP calories burned are too high compared to what my heart rate monitor says. Also, are you keeping with what it is saying on protein, carbs and fat? Maybe it is the types of food you are eating?

    no, no HRM, just going what the maching says and I will adjust it in MFP. I am going to give it another week and see what happens!

    I have noticed that the machines for me show that I burned double the amount in calories than I actually burn. Be careful of this...and good luck =)
  • lmell
    lmell Posts: 17
    That was confusing to me too as I am a newbie on here too but after reading some of these posts I get it now. Still seems a little
    weird to eat more calories after exercising but I'll go with it & see what happens to my body.
    Good luck to you!
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