Eating the calories you burn

RWilliams_Fit
RWilliams_Fit Posts: 81 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Not too sure why but when you burn 300 calories and eat them back im not too sure that makes sense?

Unless you are trying to gain weight i suppose. Im not trying to lose weight (maybe 3 lbs but im not that crazy) ... My calorie goal is close to 1400 because im super active (personal trainer) but im still not buying the whole eating what you burn.

Anyone feel the same? or are you just happy you can eat more? lol

xo Bec
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Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    you're not trying to lose weight, you're super active and your calorie goal is 1400.... :huh:
  • RWilliams_Fit
    RWilliams_Fit Posts: 81 Member
    thats what mfp says...

    i am however trying to cut fat and gain muscle and am always over on my protein lol
  • princessinnocentknickers
    princessinnocentknickers Posts: 10 Member
    the idea is that you're already eating at a calorie deficit. if you were eating at your needs for the day then you wouldn't eat backt he exercise cals because they would be the cals you were "cutting" for the day.

    I was eating at 1600 a day, for a 500 cal deficit but then i was also walking 12-15k a day which supposedly burned aroiund 600+ cals. I definitely noticed I was losing way more than a 500 cal deficit should cause me to lose but it did mean I was only really operating on about 1000 cals a day for a few weeks which im pretty damn sure isn't good for me.
    so not eating back exercise cals did cause me to lose quite a bit more weight but long term.. that **** just ain't right for your body.
  • Paulglee72
    Paulglee72 Posts: 24
    My biggest regret for years was eating the calories i burned after my 10k daily walks. All i managed to do was to stay at the same weight for years which meant i stayed 5st overweight. Now i"m running and i dont touch my calories burned and ive lost 12lbs and feel great . I"m never going back to the days of eating those precious calories that i busted my balls to lose. Never.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i am however trying to cut fat and gain muscle and am always over on my protein lol

    it gets better... :laugh:
  • RWilliams_Fit
    RWilliams_Fit Posts: 81 Member
    yes i see what you mean... i guess maybe this site just wants the quickest results for people. i honestly just use it because it is so easy to keep track of my intake daily.

    and @tavistocktoad not sure what you mean but losing weight and cutting fat are two very different things... i probably will gain a few pounds of muscle ...
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    yes i see what you mean... i guess maybe this site just wants the quickest results for people. i honestly just use it because it is so easy to keep track of my intake daily.

    and @tavistocktoad not sure what you mean but losing weight and cutting fat are two very different things... i probably will gain a few pounds of muscle ...

    You aren't going to gain muscle eating at a deficit or maintenance. You need to eat at a surplus to gain muscle, in which you would also gain fat.

    Unless you are confusing muscle definition with muscle mass, which wouldn't be surprising based on what I've read so far.
  • cincysweetheart
    cincysweetheart Posts: 892 Member
    yes i see what you mean... i guess maybe this site just wants the quickest results for people. i honestly just use it because it is so easy to keep track of my intake daily.

    I think you have it backwards… eating back exercise calories… which is what this site encourages, will slow down the rate of weight loss. Since it cuts down on your calorie deficit. Not to be rude… just thought it might have been a typo. Personally, I don't eat back my exercise calories either. I don't exercise so I can eat more. But if I'm particularly hungry or feeling weak, then I will eat more and I don't worry about it because I'm still at a deficit.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    and @tavistocktoad not sure what you mean but losing weight and cutting fat are two very different things... i probably will gain a few pounds of muscle ...

    whats your exercise routine to gain muscle on 1400 cals?
  • 3laine75
    3laine75 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Not too sure why but when you burn 300 calories and eat them back im not too sure that makes sense?

    Unless you are trying to gain weight i suppose. Im not trying to lose weight (maybe 3 lbs but im not that crazy) ... My calorie goal is close to 1400 because im super active (personal trainer) but im still not buying the whole eating what you burn.

    Anyone feel the same? or are you just happy you can eat more? lol

    xo Bec

    Wouldn't be coming to you for any training advice then :noway:
  • pikselinka
    pikselinka Posts: 154 Member
    you're not trying to lose weight, you're super active and your calorie goal is 1400.... :huh:

    I have to agree, you're being ridiculous. Most days I eat 2200-3000 cals and NOT gain anything, because I do strength training (plus I have a physical job) everyday there is no real need to restrict myself to below 2000 cals.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Not too sure why but when you burn 300 calories and eat them back im not too sure that makes sense?
    It makes perfect sense, why wouldn't you account for calorie expenditure?
    Unless you are trying to gain weight i suppose. Im not trying to lose weight (maybe 3 lbs but im not that crazy) ...
    It makes perfect sense if you are losing, gaining or maintaining.
    My calorie goal is close to 1400 because im super active (personal trainer)
    You must be tiny then! Really, really, really tiny. I'm twice your age and think my average intake of 2500 to maintain is low.

    (My bet is that you are eating more than you think but as your diary is private that's just a guess.)
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    yes i see what you mean... i guess maybe this site just wants the quickest results for people. i honestly just use it because it is so easy to keep track of my intake daily.

    I think you have it backwards… eating back exercise calories… which is what this site encourages, will slow down the rate of weight loss. Since it cuts down on your calorie deficit. Not to be rude… just thought it might have been a typo. Personally, I don't eat back my exercise calories either. I don't exercise so I can eat more. But if I'm particularly hungry or feeling weak, then I will eat more and I don't worry about it because I'm still at a deficit.

    MFP encourages eating back exercise calories because it follows NEAT method...where you are given a deficit in your food intake to lose the amount of weight you desire. The exercise calories are "extra" deficit and it is important to eat some of them back to fuel your next workout....otherwise you will be a hurting unit evenutally.

    To the OP you are a personal trainer and you believe a woman can gain a couple pounds of muscle eating gross calories of 1400...really???

    I eat 2137 to maintain my weight and with any luck a small recomp will happen...but I am not holding my breath on that one.

    To build muscle you need to be lifting heavy weights and eating at a surplus...and if 1400 is a surplus for you...are you 3 feet tall????
  • MrsSWW
    MrsSWW Posts: 1,585 Member
    Bump!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Bump!

    :laugh:
  • hj1119
    hj1119 Posts: 173 Member
    Is there any sort of prerequisite regarding education to become a personal trainer, or can anyone who looks good in a pair of spandex get a job at a gym nowadays?

    Not saying anything towards anyone in particular, just curious about the general requirements to label oneself a "personal trainer."
  • ingehooper
    ingehooper Posts: 37 Member
    I dont think I would like going to a personal trainer who thinks you should eat 1400calories being very active and not wanting to lose weight.
    The way MFP works is it gives you an amount of calories to eat to lose a certain amount so you already have a deficit built in. So it only makes sense that any extra burn needs to be replaced or your deficit gets bigger.
  • the_summer_belle
    the_summer_belle Posts: 353 Member
    I think the people on here have been really rude OP was just starting a discussion point she wasnt making herself out to be an expert I know alot of personal trainers and I have done PT course myself and there is very little in the course about nutrition it all focuses on the bones muscles and proper form legal issues etc to learn about proper nutrition a pt needs to take a nutrition course which is not a requirement to become a pt that is why most people will see a pt for exercise and a nutritionist for food information most pts are not required nor do they make nutritional plans for their clients nor should they unless they are qualified in that area. OP may not know much about calories and nutrition but that dosent mean she isn't a good personal trainer, i think you guys need to be a little more respectful to others, you get what you give at the end of the day I sure hope you dont post a question one day and have everyone shoot you down.
  • Paulglee72
    Paulglee72 Posts: 24
    Agree 100% . It was certainly a conversation worth having and after reading all the comments i"m thinking twice about my position on eating calories burned. Knowledge is power as they say and the more discussions we have on weight and exercise issues the more we learn. So the least we can do is be respectful to one another .
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I think the people on here have been really rude OP was just starting a discussion point she wasnt making herself out to be an expert I know alot of personal trainers and I have done PT course myself and there is very little in the course about nutrition it all focuses on the bones muscles and proper form legal issues etc to learn about proper nutrition a pt needs to take a nutrition course which is not a requirement to become a pt that is why most people will see a pt for exercise and a nutritionist for food information most pts are not required nor do they make nutritional plans for their clients nor should they unless they are qualified in that area. OP may not know much about calories and nutrition but that dosent mean she isn't a good personal trainer, i think you guys need to be a little more respectful to others, you get what you give at the end of the day I sure hope you dont post a question one day and have everyone shoot you down.

    to be honest if i was eating 1400 cals, really active, and expecting to build muscle, i would want someone to tell me why it wasnt working...
  • the_summer_belle
    the_summer_belle Posts: 353 Member
    OP in regards to your post if you want to maintain you need to eat at your TDEE and not below if you eat below you are in a deficit and will loose weight. TDEE is easy to workout i found a helpful blog today about this in relation to MFP fit101.org. As for eating back exercise calories I never have and i have lost weight slowly and im starting to lean out by strength training and sticking to macros, just as I planned but if you want to maintain its probably not a bad thing to eat back those calories as exercise will put you in a deficit thus you will loose weight. If you are happy with your weight and want to lean out you need to stick to macros and lift weights at least x3-4 a week eat at your TDEE and minimize cardio as too much cardio burns muscle away.
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
    I'm in maintenance mode, so my goal is to finish with a specific net amount of calories every day, around 2,500. I set my TDEE for sedentary, and eat back most of my exercise (or other significant physical activity) - calories otherwise I will lose weight.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    thats what mfp says...

    i am however trying to cut fat and gain muscle and am always over on my protein lol

    I would recommend familiarising yourself with the TDEE method for calculating daily energy requirements. This will be useful for both your own goals and when working with clients.

    You can calculate your daily energy expenditure using a calculator like this:

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    I'm pretty certain your energy requirements will be higher than 1400 cals.

    I'd also recommend this thread for further guidance:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • the_summer_belle
    the_summer_belle Posts: 353 Member
    thats what mfp says...

    i am however trying to cut fat and gain muscle and am always over on my protein lol

    I would recommend familiarising yourself with the TDEE method for calculating daily energy requirements. This will be useful for both your own goals and when working with clients.

    You can calculate your daily energy expenditure using a calculator like this:

    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    I'm pretty certain your energy requirements will be higher than 1400 cals.

    I'd also recommend this thread for further guidance:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    ^this :flowerforyou:
  • RSEC75
    RSEC75 Posts: 45 Member
    the idea is that you're already eating at a calorie deficit. if you were eating at your needs for the day then you wouldn't eat backt he exercise cals because they would be the cals you were "cutting" for the day.

    I was eating at 1600 a day, for a 500 cal deficit but then i was also walking 12-15k a day which supposedly burned aroiund 600+ cals. I definitely noticed I was losing way more than a 500 cal deficit should cause me to lose but it did mean I was only really operating on about 1000 cals a day for a few weeks which im pretty damn sure isn't good for me.
    so not eating back exercise cals did cause me to lose quite a bit more weight but long term.. that **** just ain't right for your body.

    this

    If you set your goal at the rate to NOT loose weight (but still want to loose it) then NOT eating back the calories makes sense. However MFP leads you to set a goal which has a deficit built in. If you already have a deficit built into your goal and you don't eat back the exercise calories you will have an even bigger deficit and could loose weight at an unhealthy rate.
  • Notreadytoquit
    Notreadytoquit Posts: 234 Member
    I want to know the same thing. Read through entire thread and am confused.

    Someone took time out to hurt a well meaning person's feelings ... several say they never eat back calories ... pasta info was alarming ... but do I or don't I eat those calories back?

    At 1200 cal/day I'm hungry and have to exercise to eat enough each day. Doesn't help I live with men who regularly eat 4 times what I eat after I spend so much time cooking low fat delicious meals. Very confusing.
  • njmark72
    njmark72 Posts: 99 Member
    It depends on how quickly you want to lose your 3 lbs. If its no big deal and you are in no rush then eating the 300 calories you burned isn't going to make you fatter. Unless of course your 1400 calories is greater than your Basal Metabolic rate. Then you will gain.

    It's all about being in a deficit. If you are calorie deficient you will lose, if you are calorie positive you will gain.

    Mark.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I want to know the same thing. Read through entire thread and am confused.

    Someone took time out to hurt a well meaning person's feelings ... several say they never eat back calories ... pasta info was alarming ... but do I or don't I eat those calories back?

    At 1200 cal/day I'm hungry and have to exercise to eat enough each day. Doesn't help I live with men who regularly eat 4 times what I eat after I spend so much time cooking low fat delicious meals. Very confusing.

    no one set out to hurt anyone's feelings..

    MFP is setup to eat back exercise calories per my previous post. It uses the NEAT Method where a deficit is given in your daily calorie goal to lose the amount of weight you wish weekly...the suggestion is to eat back 50-75% as MFP can over estimate them.

    Now for you with 8lbs to go @ 1200 calories...I suspect you have your weekly goal set at 2lbs...which is quite agressive and isn't necessary. 1/2lb to 1lb a week is a good rate of loss which won't leave you hungry.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    It depends on how quickly you want to lose your 3 lbs. If its no big deal and you are in no rush then eating the 300 calories you burned isn't going to make you fatter. Unless of course your 1400 calories is greater than your Basal Metabolic rate. Then you will gain.

    It's all about being in a deficit. If you are calorie deficient you will lose, if you are calorie positive you will gain.

    Mark.

    No she won't gain if eating over her BMR she will likely lose....my BMR is 1400...I eat 2k a day and maintain on 2137...you have mixed up BMR (calories required to function) and TDEE calories required to maintain.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    yes i see what you mean... i guess maybe this site just wants the quickest results for people. i honestly just use it because it is so easy to keep track of my intake daily.

    and @tavistocktoad not sure what you mean but losing weight and cutting fat are two very different things... i probably will gain a few pounds of muscle ...

    The site doesn't want anything. The site works based on the info provided. At very active and your age, 1400 sounds like it's related to a 2 lb goal, certainly a loss goal. And, as pointed out above, the site works based on the expectation that people eat back exercise calories.

    Now, IF all your exercise is included in your "very active" estimate, you wouldn't eat them back. I eat back calories only when my level exceeds "active," which isn't that hard to do when I run or bike a lot. However, 1400 calories and very active is premised on you trying to lose and probably an aggressive goal. If you are trying to recomp it seems to make no sense. You inputs have to be wrong.

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