To eat or not to eat???? Exercise calories

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julluv
julluv Posts: 27
in Food and Nutrition
Are we suppose to eat them or not? Which will increase weight loss?????? TIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Replies

  • Awineburg
    Awineburg Posts: 196
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    I would like to know as well :tongue:
  • bam0904
    bam0904 Posts: 25 Member
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    I dont eat them. I makesure I eat my required calories but I try not to eat the exerise calories. Sometimes I save them for something special during the week, like dinner out on saturday or cocktails witht he friends.
  • MelissaL582
    MelissaL582 Posts: 1,422 Member
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    I've seen this question many times on this site. I came across this link and it's really helpful. I eat half if not all my exercise calories.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/155953-should-i-eat-my-exercise-calories?hl=exercise+calories
  • jenhudgins
    jenhudgins Posts: 44
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    If you are hungry, eat them. If not, don't. Thats what I do.
  • eamartin
    eamartin Posts: 216 Member
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    Eat them. You want your calorie dairy to be close to "0" at the end of the day.
  • ailysys
    ailysys Posts: 25 Member
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    I'm so afraid to eat mine, so I really haven't and I just can't seem to lose weight. I'm really not sure if this is why. Honestly, the fact that I'm not losing the weight kind of makes me even more worried about eating those calories
  • brideof2011
    brideof2011 Posts: 3 Member
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    I eat them, bc I find if I work out and stick to the 1200 calories it is not enough and my weight hits a plateau bc my body is not getting enough food (starvation mode) :smile:
  • mmargraf
    mmargraf Posts: 6
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    I would stick to your original daily calorie goal. The exercise is a bonus for your body to burn fat and build muscle. I have noticed that the calories burned, are a bit on the high side. That can be a pitfall, if you are consuming the extra calories. If you are starving after working out, try a piece of fruit or some veggies with hummas. I am working with a Doctor's weight loss program and we are not supposed to eat those exercise calories! Good Luck!
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
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    Yes you should. There are lots of explinations (look for the stickies in the "new?" threads)

    MFP calculates you at a deficit, you should eat enough of your exercise cals so that your net number is 1200 (women) or 1500 (men) This number can be found on your homepage.
  • ailysys
    ailysys Posts: 25 Member
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    This sounds like a great idea
  • trkrajick
    trkrajick Posts: 1
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    Eat them if you are hungry. Think of them as bonus points.:smile:
  • davidmsheppard
    davidmsheppard Posts: 17
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    I think the general approach is that you can if you want, the system will modify itself when you have lost your first 10lbs based on your motabilism. If you find you are not loosing weight, reduce the net calorie intake. If you don't eat them, you should loose weight faster. Most areas recommend you aim for 2lb's per week for health weight loss.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
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    I would stick to your original daily calorie goal. The exercise is a bonus for your body to burn fat and build muscle. I have noticed that the calories burned, are a bit on the high side. That can be a pitfall, if you are consuming the extra calories. If you are starving after working out, try a piece of fruit or some veggies with hummas. I am working with a Doctor's weight loss program and we are not supposed to eat those exercise calories! Good Luck!

    NO

    Working from your doc's program, your exercise may be used to make this deficit. MFP automatically calculates this deficit so EAT your cals as I posted above.

    Check out these links:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10665-newbies-please-read-me-2nd-edition
  • skingszoo
    skingszoo Posts: 412 Member
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    Eat them!!! You need to net at LEAST 1200 a day or your body will go into starvation mode. Your body will think that you are not feeding it enough so it will hold on to weight in case it needs it to survive. I eat some of them back. I eat my recomended at;east and if I excersies I eat back enough to make sure I net 1200.
  • julluv
    julluv Posts: 27
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    Ok so im thinking eat em. Huh? tthank you so much for answering my question! I hit a plateau so im thinking this might be the problem! We shall see how this wwek plays out! Thanks again all!
  • Spitfirex007
    Spitfirex007 Posts: 749 Member
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    I get so confused when it comes to this subject. I do P90X and eat around 2000 calories a day. I don't know what I burn in a day. So I am just hoping I get it right ha
  • pandafoo
    pandafoo Posts: 367 Member
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    My personal trainer who is also a metabolic specialist said it's okay to eat our exercise calories. At same time, he suggested eating only half of them, since people tend to underestimate what they eat. That could be a good compromise. :)
  • chiremba
    chiremba Posts: 30 Member
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    Eat them. You want your calorie dairy to be close to "0" at the end of the day.

    0 count means you have broken even. To do better don't eat them unless you are hungry, making sure you make a good food choice. by not eating them you even out your consumption for days that you go over eg at a dinner party .
  • chiremba
    chiremba Posts: 30 Member
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    My personal trainer who is also a metabolic specialist said it's okay to eat our exercise calories. At same time, he suggested eating only half of them, since people tend to underestimate what they eat. That could be a good compromise. :)

    I think you should only eat them if you you need to ie you are hungry. quoting your trainer "it is okay" he/she did not say it was essential. Remember that reason you are over weight is that you eat or in the past have eaten more than your body needs so now you are trying to reverse the process. ie supplying less energy ( less calories) and consuming more ( more activity)

    EAT LESS, DO MORE!!!!
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
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    After wearing a BodyMedia Fit and monitoring my closer to exact daily caloric burns each day I can definitely say that you should be eating your exercise calories. If I didn't eating I'd be at well over 1000 calorie deficits every single day (which I was before the BMF and not losing a single thing and always felt tired). Now I'm losing again, my belly pooch has already started slimming a bit and I get to eat more food. That's what I call a trifecta of win. lol

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