Should I eat back my burned calories?

cpink67
cpink67 Posts: 14
in Fitness and Exercise
Say I eat 1200 calories a day, and I burn 400 at the gym. My net calories are then 800. Should I eat those 400 calories to bring me back up to a net of 1200 calories?

Replies

  • ItsJordanNicole
    ItsJordanNicole Posts: 110 Member
    I'm wondering this as well. I usually don't but I do at times use them as a cushion if I get hungry or even if I just feel like having a snack.
  • zeal26
    zeal26 Posts: 602 Member
    Yes. At 1200 you are already at a big deficit. Not eating your exercise calories back just puts you in an even bigger one which is unnecessary.

    I've tried both eating them back and not eating them back and I definitely get better results when eating them back, and I feel much better too.
  • GetSoda
    GetSoda Posts: 1,267 Member
    If you're tryign to get stronger/more fit, yes.
    If you're trying to lose weight - why are you spending an hour burning 400 calories, and then eating 400 calories?
  • JasonKnight85
    JasonKnight85 Posts: 67 Member
    I don't think you necessarily have to eat back ALL your burned calories, but some days depending on what you're looking to eat (or go out to eat) I use exercise as a way to eat more or at least what I want and still maintain my deficit. I wouldn't go under 1200 calories though, unless I was purposely fasting that day.

    Edit: On a side note, there are days I exercise quite a lot (When visiting my friends at the gym on days off and things get competitive), and there's simply no way possible I could eat back what I've expended without feeling utterly bloated and miserable.
  • __freckles__
    __freckles__ Posts: 1,238 Member
    Yes, you need to eat back your exercise calories - that is how MFP is set up. The whole point is to eat as much food as possible and still lose weight. 1200 seems super low. I bet you can get away with eating more and still lose weight.
  • __freckles__
    __freckles__ Posts: 1,238 Member
    If you're tryign to get stronger/more fit, yes.
    If you're trying to lose weight - why are you spending an hour burning 400 calories, and then eating 400 calories?

    Again, one of the benefits of working out is that you're able to eat more food and still lose weight. If you have too much of a deficit you will lose muscle and end up skinny fat. If that is your goal, then by all means, net 800 calories a day.
  • lyanes
    lyanes Posts: 36
    read this:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • ChasingMyBliss
    ChasingMyBliss Posts: 803 Member
    Yes, if you are eating at 1200 that is very low for most people. You should eat back most of your exercise calories to keep your metabolism running efficiently, and allowing you to feel your best while losing the extra pounds. Be mindful that you are eating good fuel, not just junk. Also be wary that many of the calorie burns for some exercises listed on MFP are high. So you might eat back a bit less than what is recommended. There are good sites to help you calculate what you need. I used Freediet.com and scoobys workshop

    Good luck!
  • apparations
    apparations Posts: 264 Member
    I try not to eat back all of them sometimes, but usually I eat back at least half. If I don't exercise at all I am much more conscious about what I eat and feel really restricted (at 1600cals) but with exercise calories I feel like I have a lot more freedom, even if i only end up with 1700 calories. Definitely nothing wrong with eating them back, just make sure that the amount you record as burned is accurate.

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