Eating your exercise calories??

I didn't eat my exercise calories for the first 8-10 months and lost pretty steadily, then started eating my exercise calories 3 weeks ago b/c I 'm pretty close to goal and have GAINED 4 pounds. I haven't always been eating all of them, but have been more lax and allowing myself to eat more on the days I exercise. This past Monday, I started NOT eating the exercise calores again...we'll see where this goes over the next couple of weeks. Only 15-20 more pounds and I'll be THERE!!!

I usually don't burn more than a couple hundred (many health issues) - but I tend to not eat them, I think it's something psychological that keeps me from it, because I just can't stand to eat them!

I almost always eat at least HALF of mine. Some days, like today, have been super busy for me and I am having trouble getting the other calories in because I honestly just want to go to bed! lol I guess I have a spoonful of peanut butter or a handful of nuts in my immediate future.

Okay....so WHEN should you eat them. In other words, my schedule's so hectic that I'm never sure if I'll be able to fit my exercise in, so usually it's in the evening, sometimes before dinner, sometimes after. So then I feel like I'm gorging myself just to get in those extra calories AND I'm eating them later than I understand you should eat, like after 8. So do they have to be eaten the same day? If so, is it okay to be eating later to get them in? I'm losing, but still trying to figure it all out.

That can depend on your day, your mood, etc. Somedays I eat more with the intentions of working out hard later...it FORCES me to get on the treadmill/pop the DVD in/etc. Other days, I work out harder because I know I will want to eat more later in the day. I think its an individual battle, but I know I struggle with eating at 9pm, too. I also tend to look at MFP as a daily activity. Once the day is over, its over. That way, if I go over my calories one day, I know that tomorrow is a new day. And if Im under for the day, then I know I have a tiny bit of leeway for the next day(s).
Good luck and keep up the great work! You will see results! Just stick to it

Not all on the day I burn them. I wind up with some plusses and minus that sort of offset over a week or so.

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There are lots of answers on this board about this, but honesty, my opinion as a Trainer differs from some of them.

The simple and accurate answer is that it's up to you. Typically MFP tells you to eat a 500 calorie deficit every day. That component (eating less than you need to eat to maintain your current weight) is half of the formula and over a week's time will result in your losing ONE pound. Seven days x 500 too few calories a day = 3500 calories which equals one pound of fat.

If you exercise, for example, 500 calories a day x 7 days a week, that's 3500 calories or another pound you'll lose every week. If you eat all of these calories, then your weight loss won't be 2 pounds a week, but will be one pound a week because you're only "under" 3500 calories in a week again. If you eat half of your calories burned (in my hypothetical example 500 calories burned every day which is a challenge!), then you'll lose 1.5 pounds a week.

From a Trainer's viewpoint, I tell my clients to not consume all of their exercise calories consistently because for my clients to stick with it, they do better when they see faster results. That said, I always tell them that if they have one of those days where they JUST have to have some extra food (and that's okay!), then they should eat SOME OF them. And sometimes, they can and should eat ALL of them. I just try to get them to avoid eating all of them every day because I want them to see a good weight loss every week so they don't get discouraged. Over the years, I've seen more long-term success with this approach, but everyone is different.

Know your numbers, and your own body, and strategize accordingly. Make the conscious decision about how much you want to lose and plan accordingly. If you're a maniac and can burn 1,000 calories every day, you could eat 500 of them and still lose the 2 pounds a week. Conversely if you burn that many calories and don't eat them, you'd be up to a three pound loss every week.

All of that said, I review my client's food diaries in detail, and am a stickler about them eating super healthfully, not just at the proper calorie level. That way I know they're getting good nutrition out of their minimum of 1200 calories each day. With that kind of nutrition, and the change-ups I have them make in diet and exercise, I just don't get people plateauing. While it might make "math sense" that if you eat 1200 and burn 500, it seems logical that your body has only received 700 calories, but in reality, the science element of this doesn't really work this simply. If you are consuming 1200 calories of high quality, high volume, clean food, your body does very well and doesn't fall apart even with significant calorie burns. It's complicated, but that's the simple explanation.

Bottom line is it is up to you and how you are feeling that day/week. Some weeks, especially during my period when I crave carbs big time, I eat all of my exercise calories for several days. But then I'll get back into my normal mode and not eat them or eat only a few of them, depending on how I feel and what my specific plan is.

Good luck to everyone with their own approach! Just be sure to eat ALL of your basic calories (e.g. 1200 or whatever your minimum caloric intake is).

I can't even get to my regular calories. How can I even begin to eat back calories from exercise :huh: I'm never hungry so I don't want to eat just to eat. Thats the habit I'm trying to relieve myself of.

I'm on a 1600 to 1800 calorie intake plan from my nutritionist. I'm haven't reached 1600 yet this week and its not from the lack of trying. I'm close today but I'm done with eating and I'm only drinking water for the rest of the night.

Maybe tomorrow.

I have a pretty simple answer.........some days I eat my exercise calories, and some days I don't. Often times, it just depends on how hungry I am. :-)