Eat Exercise Calories?

If you are using the MFP method, you eat back the exercise calories. (or at least a portion of them to account for overestimation)

I don't wear a HRM so I only eat back a portion - usually 1/3 to 1/2. I feel like that gives me a cushion in case it's overestimating my calories burned with exercise.

Yes, I tend to eat back most of the exercise calories, though I'm going to try and scale it back to 1/2.

Your daily calorie goal at MFP already has you at a deficit, meaning eat all your cals every day and do zero exercise and you'll lose. When you burn off more through exercise, you're leaving yourself with a much larger deficit which can cause problems for ya in the long run.

This is why MFP adds the burned cals back into your goal. Your daily NET cals should be at or near goal.

Stupid question I'm sure, but does eating back calories mean you have to eat them back after you have done the exercise, or can it be before if you know for sure that you will be doing the exercise? I tend to do classes which finish late and don't usually feel like eating afterwards..

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask You can eat your exercise calories at any time. It's fine even if you average things out across the week (which is how the TDEE method works). If you've already eaten, consider it added motivation to do your workout.

I don't mark my workouts on MFP. I understand the reasoning of doing so, but i don't want to have the option to be able to eat more because i have been given back allowed calories for exercising. And even though with those gained back calories you are able to eat more healthy food, i take it as im being rewarded with food, and that's something i don't want to get into the habit of.
Just my personal opinion.