do you eat your exercise calories?

erin6026 · February 2011

I normally eat most of them, but I really need to break through a plateau this week so I'm considering eating only half or less of them.

Experience?

jsharpnack · February 2011

I only eat half sometimes.....but if I am going to a nice dinner I will use them all

callmefor911 · February 2011

same here.. if I really need to i know they are there but try not to..

passionately_kate · February 2011

As long as you eat 1200 a day, then you're good. if you eat less than 1200 a day, youre body will go into starvation mode and store the fat.

hope this helps

geri25 · February 2011

I don't eat them at all. why exercise if your just going to eat the calories back up pointless to me

Shyewright · February 2011

I started too because I kept reading you were suppose to but after a visit with my MD I was advised not to eat them. Apparently that is why my weight loss slowed down. I guess it depends on your fitness goals but I was stressing out cause I thought my body quit on me.

grouch201 · February 2011

I eat when I'm hungry frequently throughout the day and drink plenty of water. I've just learned to try to be as tuned to my body as I can.

dlj1970 · February 2011

I was in the beginning, but now i'm trying to just stick around 1200 no matter what. it's an experiment, so i'll let you know how it goes

bethvandenberg · February 2011

I hit a wall and then had a body composition done and found out my BMR was over 1800 cals. I was eating 1200. I've up ed it to 2200 and am finally dropping the weight again. It took two weeks for my body to adjust. There was an interesting board post about Starvation Mode and the guy who was experiencing it. Find it if you can.

dracobaby82 · February 2011

I usually eat most of them, sometimes only part... I've heard soo many times on here that you were supposed to, so since I'm new on here I'm trying it out for a while, I definitely don't want to go into starvation mode, but at the same time I want to lose the weight... so we'll see how it goes

erin6026 · February 2011

I've always heard you're supposed to "net" 1200 so that's what I aim for. For example, today I burned 400 calories in exercise. If I just ate 1200 than my body would have only really received 800. I can't imagine that DOESN'T put it in starvation mode.

ladyhawk00 · February 2011

I eat 50-75% of mine and am losing on schedule (I would eat all, but my burns are less accurate than I'd like.) Here are some good threads that discuss this issue. Good luck to you!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/173853-an-objective-look-at-eating-exercise-calories

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/153704-myth-or-fact-simple-math-3500-calories-one-pound-eat

jimmydeanbakker · February 2011

If your calorie deficit exceeds 1000 calories a day, you need to eat your exercise calories. If you're not eating your exercise calories and your calorie deficit is upwards of 2000 calories and beyond, you'll lose a lot of weight at first, and then your weight-loss will come to a stop. Remember, counting calories shouldn't be a fad diet. Having a calorie deficit beyond 1000 calories isn't sustainable, and it can cause serious health problems in the long run. If you are set to lose 2 pounds a week, eat your exercise calories. If you are set to lose 1 pound per week, only eat the exercise calories that go beyond 1000 calories. If you keep your deficit to 1000, you'll lose 2 pounds a week.

AsaThorsWoman · February 2011

I have great luck breaking a plateau by totally induldging over a weekend. I often attend events where there is food and booze galore all weekend... Usually lose a lb when it's over than have an even more significant drop after "voiding"

reepobob · February 2011

I try to eat about 80% of my exercise calories back. What busted my plateau in January was the purchase of a food scale. I had no idea what a proper portion was in relation to calorie content until I weighed it. Most, if not all, labels have the portion size in grams in parenthesis. Using that scale probably saved me.

Just wanted to throw out another alternative. I strongly suggest that you eat back at least 1/2 of your exercise calories to avoid dipping below that magic 1200 calorie threshold. The last thing you want to do is burn muscle in starvation mode.

Good luck!

JAllen32 · February 2011

I don't eat them on purpose. I'm sure there have been times where I have eaten some of them, but I try to stay under my goal even when I work out.

ahmelnick · February 2011

It really depends on how many I have burned. If I am out for a 16mile run then I plan on consuming at least an extra 1000 calories even if I burned 3000+. But on my normal days or days I don't work out I try to end the day with 400ish left over. That gives me a next somewhere in the 1500 range and I am droping the weight pretty easily. I am finding low fat string cheese and low sodium V8 to be life savers when I am craving something more substantial but am short on calories for the day. If I know that I have burned 4000 calories this week and I also know I have been under my daily allowance 5 out of 7 days I feel fine getting a second beer or a side of bacon one day without worrying that it will derail me.

jadedjade24 · February 2011

I eat most of them back. But I say if you are not hungry, dont worry as long as you have a total of 1200 a day going in. I only eat when I am hungry and dont force myself to if I'm not.

Just remember that you need at least 1200 a day. So if you ate 1200 calories and then went exorcising and burned 200...then you are really only at 1000 calorie INTAKE for the day and need to eat 200 more. My HRM does the math for me. It tells me how many calories I burned during my workout and automatically subtracts them from my daily intake so I know how many more I have to go so my body doesnt go into starvation mode.

Hope this helps a little.

amymeenieminymo · February 2011

I don't eat them at all. why exercise if your just going to eat the calories back up pointless to me

Because you're already eating less than you used to, and exercise still benefits your body by improving cardio health, tones muscles and burns fat.

amymeenieminymo · February 2011

To try breaking a platue, first of all you need to be patient....they happen, it's all part of the process. But you might want to try having a cheat meal, sometimes it seems like "shaking things up" will help break it, and/or change up your exercise. If your body has gotten used to your routine, changing it up might help break the platue as well.

JillyBean819 · February 2011

I eat my workout calories. Doing so keeps me from being hungry all the time and/or feeling tired from lack of nutrition.

neelia · February 2011

I eat my workout calories. Doing so keeps me from being hungry all the time and/or feeling tired from lack of nutrition.

I agree- I normally eat most of my exercise calories because if I do not, I crash.

LorinaLynn · February 2011

I eat most, so I'll net around 1200.

Losing weight isn't a race for me. I'm eating healthier foods and portions and exercising as a lifestyle change, not a quick fix to drop pounds.

FearAnLoathing · February 2011

im just not hungry,im not going to eat if im not hungry.I do not deny myself im not starving myself.I know when my body needs food and I give it to it.I have been doing this for a year I eat the way I would if I wasnt trying to lose weight minus fast food and soda.other than that nothings changed

do you eat your exercise calories?

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