New to MFP

Steffanie723
Steffanie723 Posts: 20 Member
Hi everyone! I've been on Weight Watchers for 6 months now and I have lost 50 pounds. I'm switching to MFP now because I saw that it was free, the community was great, and that MFP is very similar to Weight Watchers. After exercising today, I saw that my diary said I had ate +704 calories today, -469 in exercise, and my net was 235. My allotted calorie intake for the day then increased. Should I be eating back the calories that I burned? I feel like that defeats the purpose.

Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Welcome to MFP! If you take a look around the forums you're going to find that this is a really commonly asked question. So much so, that some of the more helpful users have posted guides explaining why the exercise calories are added to your goal. You'll find some of them in the pinned topics at the top of the boards. I happen to like this one: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    The short version: yes, you're meant to eat the extra calories. with the caveat that if you're relying on MFP's estimates or gym machine readouts you'll want to eat about 50-75% of the extra calories in case of inaccuracies.
  • Steffanie723
    Steffanie723 Posts: 20 Member
    Thank you for your help!!
  • crystalbluewolf13
    crystalbluewolf13 Posts: 197 Member
    Welcome to MFP tbh some people do eat back their exercise calories (i do) but a lot of people don't. The way i play it is if i'm hungry and i have exercise calories i will have something to eat, if i'm not hungry and i have exercise calories...whoo spare calories lol every one is different just see what works for you
  • Steffanie723
    Steffanie723 Posts: 20 Member
    Oh okay! I think I'll be doing it like you. On the Weight Watchers program I never ate back my exercise points but I know some people who did
  • jadeyyy_
    jadeyyy_ Posts: 12 Member
    Hey :) I'm new to MFP and would love some more friends on Jere. I've sent you a friend request.
    Good luck with your journey :)
  • kp1439
    kp1439 Posts: 343 Member
    MFP is lot better than WW i think ... not only its free .... you will find lots of good people here will help you and keep you motivated to do the for your self ... and the best part is no one will judge you .... enjoy it and make lots of friends ... check out their diaries ... you will get lots of food ideas and that will be a good help tooo ...