exercise calories...do you eat them?

AMSull19 · February 2011

I've seen a couple different opinions in other posts on here and I'm just wondering....do you eat your exercise calories? Sometimes I do, but generally I try not to, and definately try to never eat all of the extra calories burned, but is that what I should be doing? I just dont want to affect my weight loss by eating too few calories.

swbmcknight · February 2011

I never do, it just seems like a waste of all that effort exercising.

cardbucfan · February 2011

I really vary it. Some days I eat them all, some days I only eat some. 1200 isn't enough for me and I try to eat around 1600 each day. If I'm hungry and have some leftover, I'll go over 1600, but that is usually a good amount for me and I've been losing. Now that I'm so close to my goal weight though, I may need to start eating more of them.

loganaw · February 2011

i never ever ever do. after i work out, i eat when i am hungry and that is it. i see no point in stuffing yourself with food just so you can reach this "special number". its dumb. eat when you're hungry.

mandypizzle · February 2011

I just make sure I'm never hungry. Sometimes I eat a lot of my exercise calories, sometimes I don't. I don't necessarily try not to.

corey_e · February 2011

I always do because when you start this program and enter your goals you are given a specific amount of calories to consume based on no additional exercise. If you say you're lightly active or very active it accounts for that when you are given your daily goal. When you work out you need to eat those back or you will starve your body and defeat the purpose.

FearAnLoathing · February 2011

not unless im hungry

KaylatheChristian · February 2011

I don't eat mine. If I were hungry, maybe, but I don't really see the point in it....

RunWithJess · February 2011

Today it says I get an extra 1209 calories for my exercise! No way am I eating that!! I try to stay around 1500 daily calories.

CNParker · February 2011

If your trying to lose weight you need that deficit. If you want to maintain then eat them. If I know that I'm going to go over in calories one day I excercise extra hard a few day before and after.

HeidiMightyRawr · February 2011

I eat them all and usually leave myself a gap of about 100 calories leftover at the end of the day. If you regularly don't eat them it can affect your weight loss, especially if your net calories goes below 1200. (This is total calories eaten - exercise calories burnt) MFP already sets you up with a deficit when you say you want to lose ....lbs a week. A 1lb a week weight loss would give you 500 less a day than you need to maintain your weight, so any exercise on top and you're increasing that deficit.

For example, if you are only eating 1200 and you burn off 400 but don't eat them back your body is only surviving on 800 which is not enough, but if you are eating 1600 and you burn 400 it should be ok as your net is still above 1200.

MiloBloom83 · February 2011

Yes

MiloBloom83 · February 2011

I eat them all and usually leave myself a gap of about 100 calories leftover at the end of the day. If you regularly don't eat them it can affect your weight loss, especially if your net calories goes below 1200. (This is total calories eaten - exercise calories burnt) MFP already sets you up with a deficit when you say you want to lose ....lbs a week. A 1lb a week weight loss would give you 500 less a day than you need to maintain your weight, so any exercise on top and you're increasing that deficit.

For example, if you are only eating 1200 and you burn off 400 but don't eat them back your body is only surviving on 800 which is not enough, but if you are eating 1600 and you burn 400 it should be ok as your net is still above 1200.

Also yes.

cohollywood · February 2011

I have a hard enough time eating my 1200 calories a day - so I never eat my back what I exercise. I was actually just looking to see how much I could eat for dinner, and I had to eat another 1/2 portion of our dinner to get myself to 1144 - leaving 60 calories for dessert.

demone00 · February 2011

I never do, it just seems like a waste of all that effort exercising.

I so agree...

misaacs6403 · February 2011

I personally try not too. Sometimes it just works out that you do eat some of them. But if I work out hard, I may get a healthy smoothie to replenish the proteins. This is a good question and since I have only done this for a week, I will ask my trainer.

kacka68 · February 2011

yes. I didn't start losing weight until I started to eat more (eating back exercise calories)!!

jen0619 · February 2011

I do generally. I eat them all most of the time. I spread out them during the day though I enable myself to eat larger meals not just one lump sum of calories that I feel the need to eat.

Never failed me yet while losing and I have been maintaining for over 3 months and have been successful

corey_e · February 2011

yes. I didn't start losing weight until I started to eat more (eating back exercise calories)!!

I just had to up my calorie intake the other day, my metabolism has changed with all my exercise and I was not getting enough food!

SolidGoaled · February 2011

I use my HRM for my workouts - whatever calories I burned, I eat them minus 100. I figure that 100 or so of my "exercise" calories I would have burned anyway just existing - so I don't like to double dip them.

trainguy917 · February 2011

If your trying to lose weight you need that deficit. If you want to maintain then eat them. If I know that I'm going to go over in calories one day I excercise extra hard a few day before and after.

That's not completely accurate. As somebody stated earlier, the calorie count you are given is based on your activity level and the pace at which you want to lose weight and doesn't take into account any exercise at all. You can lose weight on this program without exercising by staying at the number they give you. Exercising adds calories burned to your baseline, so you will either increase your deficit or be able to eat more calories and still lose at the same pace.

I generally do what a lot of other people have said--I eat when I'm hungry and often I eat part of my calories burned. But some days I burn a lot of calories and just can't and don't want to eat them all.

liscar · February 2011

I eat them all and usually leave myself a gap of about 100 calories leftover at the end of the day. If you regularly don't eat them it can affect your weight loss, especially if your net calories goes below 1200. (This is total calories eaten - exercise calories burnt) MFP already sets you up with a deficit when you say you want to lose ....lbs a week. A 1lb a week weight loss would give you 500 less a day than you need to maintain your weight, so any exercise on top and you're increasing that deficit.

For example, if you are only eating 1200 and you burn off 400 but don't eat them back your body is only surviving on 800 which is not enough, but if you are eating 1600 and you burn 400 it should be ok as your net is still above 1200.

Exactly I am REALLY surprised at how many people said not to eat your exercise calories. I eat them ALL. This response above is accurate. Your body needs a set amount to function - if you did NOTHING but sit on the couch....MFP gives you a deficit to lose weight. If you exercise, you need to refuel your body to do it again - energy in/energy out. ANYWAY ---- the quickest way to get yourself stuck in starvation mode and NOT lose anything, is to not eat enough. It takes the average person 1500-2500 calories a day, just to function, MFP takes away 500 calories off your daily intake ---- so you will lose weight. Now, you add exercising and burning off another 400 calories -- now you are at a greater deficit and will be feeding your body only 800 calories ---- your body is going to CLING to every fat molecule it can to save itself.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go the main community board and search for "eating exercise calories" There's a wealth of information on there.

I work out like a mad woman - I eat my 1200 AND every tiny exercise calorie I can. I've lost 21 pounds and three sizes --- I did this based on what I learned on here, to eat them. In fact, even when you set your goals, it tells you at the bottom to eat your calories at a minimum you need your NET.

liscar · February 2011

yes. I didn't start losing weight until I started to eat more (eating back exercise calories)!!

I just had to up my calorie intake the other day, my metabolism has changed with all my exercise and I was not getting enough food!

EXACTLY!!!!!

ladyhawk00 · February 2011

If your trying to lose weight you need that deficit. If you want to maintain then eat them. If I know that I'm going to go over in calories one day I excercise extra hard a few day before and after.

Sorry, but completely incorrect. MFP is designed with a built in deficit, regardless of exercise. It is designed for you to EAT them, to maintain the deficit you chose. If you do not eat them, you have created a larger deficit than you (presumably) intended.

Here are some threads that explain how MFP works, metabolism, and why too large of a deficit is detrimental.

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

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

AMSull19 · February 2011

thanks everyone.....sounds like im going to try to vary it up some more.

i dont want to get stuck at the same weight for eating too few calories or have my healthy food choices stored as fat. Its hard sometimes to make myself eat more w/o feeling guilty.

Jess21684 · February 2011

I agree! It seems weird and kinda of like a waste eating back what you have burned thru excercise but according to this site, they only factor in the activity you get in from day to day not the "extra" excercise you do so when you do any "extra" excercise you are allowed to eat more calories and you will still lose the lbs you are set to lose a week. I stuggle with this also, like many people seem to do. I usually only try to eat about half of them back and leave the other half alone. thats what a majority of people seem to do, so thats how I have been kinda doing it as well. I like knowing i have some extra calories left over just incase i miscounted something along the way neways, having extra cals left over is re-assuring to me

Jo_Bird · February 2011

I just listen to my body and if it feels like I am hungry or craving something then I eat them. If I'm full and not hungry then I don't. I just try and keep balanced meals, healthy snacks and know some days are different than others. When I do a hard workout my body usually just wants to drink tons more water. You've got to do what you feel is right for your body and listen to it's que's. Overall as long as you are eating healthy, exercising and drinking plenty of water you're heading in the right direction. And, you'll learn what works for you.

zeeeb · February 2011

i don't eat the exercise calories generally, and perhaps on the weekend, if i feel like a treat, i might use up a few of those calories from the weeks exercise.

EmilyJ1979 · February 2011

I just listen to my body...if I'm hungry I eat some, if not I don't.

aimlow · February 2011

If I eat them all back I don't lose weight. I try to have low calorie days then higher calorie days to zig zag so some days I eat them back and other days I don't.

ChassityGetsFit · February 2011

When I was dieting in the past I never ate my exercies calories because I figured that created a larger deficit of calories burned. If I was super hungry and had no more calories to spare at the end of the day then I would consider it, but other than that, I didn't and don't plan on it this time around either!

exercise calories...do you eat them?

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