Eating back exercise calories

BoxerBrawler
BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
edited February 18 in Health and Weight Loss
How do folks generally feel about eating back exercise calories? I have heard that it is a good practice to eat back about half, others eat back all of the calories burned. To me it seems sort of counter productive to burn calories and then eat them all back. Opinions? thoughts? practices?

Thanks!

Replies

  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    Using MFP, you are supposed to eat your calories back. All of them.
    The reason people sometimes only eat some of them back is because of over-estimated burns via MFP.
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    Using MFP, you are supposed to eat your calories back. All of them.
    The reason people sometimes only eat some of them back is because of over-estimated burns via MFP.

    This ^^

    MFP calculates your calories to assume you are sitting on your *kitten* so you are already in a deficit.

    When you exercise, you need to eat them back to ensure you are properly fueling your body!

    Try to never Net under 1200 calories.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    How do folks generally feel about eating back exercise calories? I have heard that it is a good practice to eat back about half, others eat back all of the calories burned. To me it seems sort of counter productive to burn calories and then eat them all back. Opinions? thoughts? practices?

    Thanks!

    Half is good.

    MFP as designed gave you a calorie deficit BEFORE exercise. That way people who can't/won't exercise still lose weight.

    Half is good because MFP calorie "guesstimates" are generous. Eating back calories IS productive because large calorie deficits over time actually burn muscle mass (in addition to fat). To lower your body fat % is a healthy way to lose weight.
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    Okay, that makes sense. Thanks :smile:

    I am always a little bit hesitant to eat back all of my calories. I feel like why should I work my *kitten* off to burn them just to eat them back. I eat back about half with healthy foods but I have always been slightly confused about that.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    Thanks!
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