Eating Excercise Calories

amndaob
amndaob Posts: 5
edited September 24 in Fitness and Exercise
So I am completely frustrated. I have my calories set at 1200 per day. I also excercise using a heart rate monitor and I normally burn 400-800 calories a day.

I am eating my 1200 calories and then when I punch in my excercise calories, it says to eat those calories as well. SO I DO!

I have lost a lot of weight but would like to lose about 7 more pounds. My weight is going up rather than down with the plan of eating 1200 calories and eating my excercise calories.

Am I doing this correctly?
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Replies

  • foxxybrown
    foxxybrown Posts: 838 Member
    Eating them works for some but not all. Try not eating those calories and see what happens. Those last 10 lbs are the hardest to lose.
  • Without more information it's hard to answer the question accurately. Prior to eating the correct number of calories were you extremely low in your intake?

    If you weren't eating enough to start with and then you adjusted to correct, it will take your body time to adjust to the extra food. But, it will adjust, and the numbers will start coming down. Just don't give up.

    What is your goal loss per week? The healthy goal is about 1 pound a week.
  • kao708
    kao708 Posts: 813 Member
    If you are getting that close to goal you may want to reduce the amount of your exercise calories that you are eating back. What you are doing is normal for most people but you have to tweak things a bit once you get close to goal. Your body may be used to the extra calories and just need a kick in the rear (calorie reduction) to get moving in the right direction again! Good luck!
  • OLP76
    OLP76 Posts: 768 Member
    Hows the Sodium intake & you drinkin' 8+ water per day?
  • MRudman
    MRudman Posts: 63 Member
    Each person's body is different, but I don't eat my exercise calories. They say that you are supposed to, but it just seems counter-productive to me. I am a fan of Biggest Loser, and on there they (even the really large people) eat +/- 1200 calories a day and burn at least 3500 or more and they seem to be okay. If they can do it why can't we???? Good Luck!
  • My weightloss stalled when I ate my exercise calories, once I stopped eating them, I saw results again (losing around a pound a week). I think we tend to underestimate how much we're eating and overestimate how many calories we burn.
  • rvice2
    rvice2 Posts: 132 Member
    I eat my exercise calories back, but NOT every single day. On days that I do long runs and burn around 1100 calories I only eat half of them back. Just mix it up and see if that works for you. 2-3 days a week I try to eat all of them back; 2 days I don't eat any of them back; the rest I eat half back. As long as I mix it up my body seems to like it. Also, check your sodium intake. Drink lots of water and you might want to try to increase the protein and decrease the carbs. The last 10 is definitely the hardest so you have to keep track of a bit more!
  • MRudman
    MRudman Posts: 63 Member
    My weightloss stalled when I ate my exercise calories, once I stopped eating them, I saw results again (losing around a pound a week). I think we tend to underestimate how much we're eating and overestimate how many calories we burn.



    I agree with you completely!
  • noneh1
    noneh1 Posts: 5 Member
    Maybe I/m wrong but I don't think it tells you to "eat those calories " earned from exercise. I am by no means an expert but I
    thought calories in is calories in.. Basically if you eat 1200 calories & eat earned calories of 400, then you ate 1600 calories a
    day & eating the 400 calories wipes out the calories you burned from exercising.......So if you are going to eat the calories you
    burned from exercising what is the point of exercising ??? Would it not just make you break even for the day so the weight
    would stay the same ? I do know what you mean though- the food/ exercise log gives you credit for those calories burned
    during exercise but I never use them since it makes my weight loss stop. to loss weight have to create a calorie deficticny
    in the body . consumng the same amount we use just keeps the weight at the same level...... Aloha .
  • katiemcb09
    katiemcb09 Posts: 6 Member
    Hmm, I have definitely been having this problem. I should be eating around 1800 calories a day, but when I work out that adds roughly 400. So I've been averaging 2100 ish a day. I shouldn't be eating those though, right? Wish it didn't tack them on like it does, makes me feel like I can go right ahead. :(
  • I have been there too!!!! Actually currently there. I posed these same questions and one thing I was told is to go back into your settings and update your weight. This will adjust your goals. I didn't know this before. See if this happens with you and then adjust your intake accordingly.
  • Why don't weight lifting calories count? I get a lot of credit for walking the dog but nothing for an intense gym workout. Please explain if you know. Thanks.
  • GettingFit45
    GettingFit45 Posts: 22 Member
    Thanks for this post! I'm eating more now than I ever did in my life (I'm 45) and I am frustrated that my weight went up after 3 weeks of daily exercise and calorie watch. No change in the inches and an up on the scale.

    When I first started logging here it was telling me I was not eating enough so I thought OK I'll do more eating. Now the scale has gone up. I keep within all the recommended items (fat, chol, carbs etc).

    I will stick it out longer and see if things get better. I'm doing Turbofire and 30 Day shred. (Started with Turbo but thought it was a little too challenging! Thought 30 day shred LOOKED easier so switched...ha ha! Easy NOT!

    I've never been over weight but I'm sooooo out of shape I get tired at work after only a 4 hour shift. I sell eye glasses for a living so it's not exactly tiring...on the feet alot but still I shouldn't be that tired.

    I do believe I have more energy now though. So that's one bright side. I'm really just trying to get into shape and maybe be able to wear that nice tankini I have without the muffin tops popping out!
  • mjheinrich
    mjheinrich Posts: 87 Member
    There is a weight lifting category under 'cardio' which awards some calories. That's what I use when I weight lift. Its not tons of calories like cardio but its something and much more accurate than zero calories.
  • MRudman
    MRudman Posts: 63 Member
    Why don't weight lifting calories count? I get a lot of credit for walking the dog but nothing for an intense gym workout. Please explain if you know. Thanks.

    Record it under cardio instead of strength training. I think that one is there to help you keep track of what strength training you did instead of calories burned from it. Look at my exercise diary and you will see how I record mine.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Eating them works for some but not all. Try not eating those calories and see what happens. Those last 10 lbs are the hardest to lose.

    I COMPLETELY 100% DISAGREE, if you only have 10 lbs to lose you should set your goal to lose 0.5lbs/week and eat most of your exercise calories. The less you have to lose the closer you should eat to your maintenance calories.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Hmm, I have definitely been having this problem. I should be eating around 1800 calories a day, but when I work out that adds roughly 400. So I've been averaging 2100 ish a day. I shouldn't be eating those though, right? Wish it didn't tack them on like it does, makes me feel like I can go right ahead. :(

    What did you choose as your weekly loss goal? 1800 seems quite high unless you are set at maintenance. In order to meet your MFP goal you must eat you calories, including exercise calories as MFP bases your goal on a set caloric deficit, if you workout you increase that deficit so MFP adds back the cals so your deficit is at your goal.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Each person's body is different, but I don't eat my exercise calories. They say that you are supposed to, but it just seems counter-productive to me. I am a fan of Biggest Loser, and on there they (even the really large people) eat +/- 1200 calories a day and burn at least 3500 or more and they seem to be okay. If they can do it why can't we???? Good Luck!

    They also weigh 300 lbs plus, and have trainers, doctors and nutritionists watching their every move.
  • katiemcb09
    katiemcb09 Posts: 6 Member
    Ohhhhh I see, that explains it... so I probably want to actually lower it to probably 1500. I probably need to lose roughly 5 pounds, and I like food lol so I don't want to go to low, but 2100 is a lot for me I think
  • I don't want my body to start storing the calories as fat. I thought that you have to consume at least 1200 net calories a day as the bottom line. Anything less than can mess badly with your metablolism. Don't know if I am write or not.
  • nick1109
    nick1109 Posts: 174 Member
    I don't want my body to start storing the calories as fat. I thought that you have to consume at least 1200 net calories a day as the bottom line. Anything less than can mess badly with your metablolism. Don't know if I am write or not.

    You are right. A guideline is women no lower than 1200 and men no lower than 1800. Any lower than this is setting yourself up for a fall in my opinion. Use the benedicts formula to work out your BMR ( calories required to simply lie in a bed all day breathing) and you will be suprised how many calories your body needs. So a 1200 calorie a day diet along with training is a really bad idea.

    Key is to work out how many you need for maintenance and simply start by reducing this by 500 as a base point. Monitor weight loss and adjust accordingly

    Hope this makes sense
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I don't want my body to start storing the calories as fat. I thought that you have to consume at least 1200 net calories a day as the bottom line. Anything less than can mess badly with your metablolism. Don't know if I am write or not.

    You are right. A guideline is women no lower than 1200 and men no lower than 1800. Any lower than this is setting yourself up for a fall in my opinion. Use the benedicts formula to work out your BMR ( calories required to simply lie in a bed all day breathing) and you will be suprised how many calories your body needs. So a 1200 calorie a day diet along with training is a really bad idea.

    Key is to work out how many you need for maintenance and simply start by reducing this by 500 as a base point. Monitor weight loss and adjust accordingly

    Hope this makes sense

    From my understanding the threshold for men is 1500 not 1800, but for a 6'4 man or taller could very well be a min of 1800. I on the otherhand am much shorter than that and my maintenance is under 2000 cals, I think if I wanted to lose weight, I would have to eat below 1800 cals.
  • nick1109
    nick1109 Posts: 174 Member
    I don't want my body to start storing the calories as fat. I thought that you have to consume at least 1200 net calories a day as the bottom line. Anything less than can mess badly with your metablolism. Don't know if I am write or not.

    You are right. A guideline is women no lower than 1200 and men no lower than 1800. Any lower than this is setting yourself up for a fall in my opinion. Use the benedicts formula to work out your BMR ( calories required to simply lie in a bed all day breathing) and you will be suprised how many calories your body needs. So a 1200 calorie a day diet along with training is a really bad idea.

    Key is to work out how many you need for maintenance and simply start by reducing this by 500 as a base point. Monitor weight loss and adjust accordingly

    Hope this makes sense

    From my understanding the threshold for men is 1500 not 1800, but for a 6'4 man or taller could very well be a min of 1800. I on the otherhand am much shorter than that and my maintenance is under 2000 cals, I think if I wanted to lose weight, I would have to eat below 1800 cals.


    Depends where you get your info from really. See the link below for mine but I have also heard the number 1500 for men.

    Just need to be very careful I think as alot of people make the mistake of wanting massive results quickly thus think that eating 800kcals a day with 1 hour cardio will do the job when in fact this will only cause serious problems before long.

    For myself as an example I'm 6'0 tall and weight approx 13.7 stones (189 pounds) and a BF of roughly 10%.

    My BMR is 1975kcal Approx. multiply by 1.725 for activities (office job but alot of weight training and HIIT) and it works out for maintenance I need 3406 on heavy training days.

    So you can see how easy it may be for somebody of my size,in-experienced and desparate to loose weight to say ' I'll eat 1500kcal a day and jog an hour a day' only to run into serious trouble early (namely have health problems or give up and eat junkand go off the rails within the first week or two)

    Best to eat around 500 below maintenance, not to panic, monitor and adjust along the way when progress stalls.

    Hope this helps

    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/harris-benedict-equation/
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I don't want my body to start storing the calories as fat. I thought that you have to consume at least 1200 net calories a day as the bottom line. Anything less than can mess badly with your metablolism. Don't know if I am write or not.

    You are right. A guideline is women no lower than 1200 and men no lower than 1800. Any lower than this is setting yourself up for a fall in my opinion. Use the benedicts formula to work out your BMR ( calories required to simply lie in a bed all day breathing) and you will be suprised how many calories your body needs. So a 1200 calorie a day diet along with training is a really bad idea.

    Key is to work out how many you need for maintenance and simply start by reducing this by 500 as a base point. Monitor weight loss and adjust accordingly

    Hope this makes sense

    From my understanding the threshold for men is 1500 not 1800, but for a 6'4 man or taller could very well be a min of 1800. I on the otherhand am much shorter than that and my maintenance is under 2000 cals, I think if I wanted to lose weight, I would have to eat below 1800 cals.


    Depends where you get your info from really. See the link below for mine but I have also heard the number 1500 for men.

    Just need to be very careful I think as alot of people make the mistake of wanting massive results quickly thus think that eating 800kcals a day with 1 hour cardio will do the job when in fact this will only cause serious problems before long.

    For myself as an example I'm 6'0 tall and weight approx 13.7 stones (189 pounds) and a BF of roughly 10%.

    My BMR is 1975kcal Approx. multiply by 1.725 for activities (office job but alot of weight training and HIIT) and it works out for maintenance I need 3406 on heavy training days.

    So you can see how easy it may be for somebody of my size,in-experienced and desparate to loose weight to say ' I'll eat 1500kcal a day and jog an hour a day' only to run into serious trouble early (namely have health problems or give up and eat junkand go off the rails within the first week or two)

    Best to eat around 500 below maintenance, not to panic, monitor and adjust along the way when progress stalls.

    Hope this helps

    http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/harris-benedict-equation/

    When I say 1500 I mean 1500 plus any calories you burn from working out, so if you burn 800 cals then your min is now 2300 (1500+800) to lose weight.
  • That did make sense. So my maintaining is 1717.74 when I said that I excercise 6-7 days, which I do, in the formula. So 500 less than that would be 1200. I am assuming that is taking in my excercise calories as well. So that means once i exercises my net calories on the myfitnesspal will say 400-800 for most days. Is that healthy?
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    That did make sense. So my maintaining is 1717.74 when I said that I excercise 6-7 days, which I do, in the formula. So 500 less than that would be 1200. I am assuming that is taking in my excercise calories as well. So that means once i exercises my net calories on the myfitnesspal will say 400-800 for most days. Is that healthy?

    The 1200 cals ignores exercise, 1200 is what you need to lose your goal amount of weight without working out. If you exercise you are supposed to eat those back to keep your caloric deficit intact to lose your goal amount of weight. so if you burn 400 cals you new goal is 1600 to get 1200 Net (1600-400). You should not go below 1200 Net. so 400-800Net is not healthy and you should eat more.
  • Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it.
  • madamelaporte
    madamelaporte Posts: 404 Member
    I never eat my earnt calories just see it as a bonus that I have worked all that off :)
  • nick1109
    nick1109 Posts: 174 Member
    That did make sense. So my maintaining is 1717.74 when I said that I excercise 6-7 days, which I do, in the formula. So 500 less than that would be 1200. I am assuming that is taking in my excercise calories as well. So that means once i exercises my net calories on the myfitnesspal will say 400-800 for most days. Is that healthy?

    The 1200 cals ignores exercise, 1200 is what you need to lose your goal amount of weight without working out. If you exercise you are supposed to eat those back to keep your caloric deficit intact to lose your goal amount of weight. so if you burn 400 cals you new goal is 1600 to get 1200 Net (1600-400). You should not go below 1200 Net. so 400-800Net is not healthy and you should eat more.

    Yes I'd say this is sound advice. In short I'd say eat your calories burned especially if you're on such a low calorie diet
  • nick1109
    nick1109 Posts: 174 Member
    That did make sense. So my maintaining is 1717.74 when I said that I excercise 6-7 days, which I do, in the formula. So 500 less than that would be 1200. I am assuming that is taking in my excercise calories as well. So that means once i exercises my net calories on the myfitnesspal will say 400-800 for most days. Is that healthy?

    I'd also bear in mind that my fitness pal estimates for calories burned are optimistic. Obviously everybody is different but I still think MFP gives calories burned values that are too high
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