The people who are losing weight are not eating their exerci

LemonCitron
LemonCitron Posts: 116 Member
edited September 25 in Food and Nutrition
Has anyone noticed that the people who are losing consistently losing weight every week are not eating their exercise calories?

Their calorie goals are 1200 and then they also are working out, burning 500 calories and not eating them back.

I don't think I can do that if that's what it takes to lose weight. I upped my calories to 1452 as it is and then I eat my exercise calories back and I still find myself over eating on days. I don't get how these people are not STARVING all the time.

If you do this, please, explain to me why this is working for you! lol.

I'm so fed up that I'm not seeing the numbers on the scale. I went from eating whatever I wanted, and eating like total CRAP to eating healthy (sugar still gets me though, I have a weakness for that stuff) and not losing the weight. I thought it would just be sliding off me.

Thanks for listening to my rant, haha.
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Replies

  • dlaplume2
    dlaplume2 Posts: 1,658 Member
    That's not true. I have been losing and I eat my execise calories back.
  • jrt9999
    jrt9999 Posts: 114
    I have not noticed that.. I eat back all mine each day plus I eat 500 over each Friday and I lose weight weekly and consistently. My wife follow along and also loses consistently.
  • kerrbear79
    kerrbear79 Posts: 229 Member
    I always eat my exercise calories back. I try not to be more than 100 calories under. I've consistently lost weight and have met my 2nd goal. I would continue to eat them & don't give into the temptation to eat less because you think that will help you lose the weight faster, it will backfire on you in the long run.
  • Just1forMe
    Just1forMe Posts: 624 Member
    Has anyone noticed that the people who are losing consistently losing weight every week are not eating their exercise calories?

    Their calorie goals are 1200 and then they also are working out, burning 500 calories and not eating them back.

    Nope...definitely have not noticed that. And if they are, I'm guessing they've been doing it for less than 3 or 4 months. They will lose very well for that time period, then...not so much. At least that's what I'm seeing on here. I'm in it for the long haul and I'm eating most of my exercise calories and losing better than ever.
  • kaitlinmre
    kaitlinmre Posts: 86 Member
    It only works for a little while.. I know I was doing that and because my body wasnt getting enough food I was binging all the time and therefore not losing as much per week. The way you're doing it is much better for you! :]
  • JPod279
    JPod279 Posts: 722 Member
    I have only been on this site a few days but I have been under my caloric goal each day before any exercise credits and have not eaten back my exercise calories. I spread my meals out, and try to eat more protein and fiber, as they keep you full longer. I have felt some mild hunger, but nothing that I can't stand until my next snack or meal. Drinking a lot of water works for some people, not so much for me. You will just need to try some different things and see what works for you.
  • julwills
    julwills Posts: 286 Member
    Has anyone noticed that the people who are losing consistently losing weight every week are not eating their exercise calories?

    Their calorie goals are 1200 and then they also are working out, burning 500 calories and not eating them back.

    I don't think I can do that if that's what it takes to lose weight. I upped my calories to 1452 as it is and then I eat my exercise calories back and I still find myself over eating on days. I don't get how these people are not STARVING all the time.

    If you do this, please, explain to me why this is working for you! lol.

    I'm so fed up that I'm not seeing the numbers on the scale. I went from eating whatever I wanted, and eating like total CRAP to eating healthy (sugar still gets me though, I have a weakness for that stuff) and not losing the weight. I thought it would just be sliding off me.

    Thanks for listening to my rant, haha.

    Nope, not true. I've been consistently losing weight (about 2lbs a week) and I eat back most of my exercise calories every time. I don't know where you're seeing that.
  • charityateet
    charityateet Posts: 574 Member
    I eat my exercise calories! I'm losing weight.....key is to eat clean! Healty! 6 times a day.....you can do it!
  • neelia
    neelia Posts: 750 Member
    Disagree. I was losing when I ate my exercise calories. Since I have not been exercising, the weight is not coming off...and I'm eating less food.
  • LOVEsummer
    LOVEsummer Posts: 304 Member
    not true, I eat mine and I am losing weight <3 keep your head up girl
  • fuzzymel
    fuzzymel Posts: 400 Member
    My weightloss has been fairly consistant. I am trying for 1/2lb a week and I am averaging just over that (I am so close to my goal that any more than 1/2 lb is not realistic).

    I try my best to keep to my net calories. I have noticed that if the net is less than what I should be eating my loss slows down.
  • allison7922
    allison7922 Posts: 276 Member
    I have lost 15lbs in a little over a month and I always eat my calories!!
  • leilaphoenix
    leilaphoenix Posts: 839 Member
    I think you can lose weight fast without eating your exercise calories to begin with, but the closer you get to your goal, the more important it is to eat (!!)
  • ukgirly01
    ukgirly01 Posts: 523 Member
    I've got a target 0f 1280 on the days I exercise (Though I'd not been brilliant in the last 2 weeks) I'll typically exercise and burn between 600 and 800 calories I rarely eat all of these back but I usually eat around half back If I burned 600 cals I would still be hungry If I stuck to my 1280.
  • loseit4ever
    loseit4ever Posts: 187 Member
    I do not always eat all my exercise calories back, but I do not eat 1200 either. I had to find what worked for me. I tend to eat around 1300-1500 depending on the day. Sometimes I eat some back, sometimes I don't. I wasn't losing at 1200 cals. My progress is sporadic. I lose a small amount one week and then the next it's bigger. I found that I don't always burn exactly what MFP says I do in a day. I have a bodymedia and sometimes I burn a lot more and sometimes less. I use that to monitor what I should be eating. It's more accurate. Find what works for you, and stick with it. It's usually a matter of adjusting every few weeks for me.
  • randa_behnam
    randa_behnam Posts: 488 Member
    its usually only the new people that arent eating their cals because they are excited about a new diet plan so its easier to start with. i used to think 1200 was the maximum amount i should be eating not the minimum.

    I still set my goal to 1200 but i usually eat about 1400 a day and i havent got any bigger.

    These people who arent eating all the calories needed will soon realise they arent doing themselves any favours and will eventually give in to the hunger.

    Just keep going. weight loss shouldnt be a rapid thing. :o)
  • 00trayn
    00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
    I just blogged about this yesterday. It will work for a while, until you have too large of a calorie deficit and you stop losing all together. It only really works for people with lots to lose, once you're closer to a healthy weight, you pretty much need to eat back some of your exercise calories or you'll be stuck in a 3 month plateau like I just got out of.
  • LemonCitron
    LemonCitron Posts: 116 Member
    Hmmmmm. Well I don't know then. I tried eating 1200 calories, then I upped it to 1452 and I've still only lost 4 lbs over 2 months. I have a small frame so I know this fat wants to come off.

    I also work out 6x a week.

    Maybe it's my night time sugar attacks. lol.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    That's absolutely not true. There may be people who do lose, but the vast majority of those people you specified are on the boards in 6 weeks complaining they are stuck.

    I've intentionally slowed my loss to around .5/.75lbs per week- When MFP assigns me 1200 calories, I take that as the sign to slow my loss down. Now I eat in the range of my BMR (it's 1360, so I alt weeks, one at 1300, the next at 1400) and eat almost all my exercise cals back and even go over from time to time. I've only gone 1 week without losing anything at all.

    So if you are at 1200, bump it up a bit. Try your best to fill your cals with quality food when you can, but don't beat yourself up when you go over or have something that's not "health food". Life is just too short.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    The only way I was able to drop the weight I wanted was to eat them back. (and set up a small deficit as well) I know everyone is different, but that is what worked for me.
  • Dynetha
    Dynetha Posts: 42 Member
    if you follow the guidelines the work will actually do itself....i don't set any of my own calorie recommendations...i let mfp do it automatically...the only things i change are the amount of exercise i do or how much i want to lose a week....if you've input your weight and lifestyle correctly (sendentary, active etc etc) and how much you want to lose per week it will tell you exactly what to do...you have to just keep your eye on the numbers....sometimes i eat back my exercise calories and sometimes i don't but when i don't it's not because i'm trying to trick my body but sometimes i'm just not hungry enough to eat that many back...but i'm also pretty heavy lol so my plan requires me to eat more calories...but i just joined a few days ago and for the most part my mind and body just "feels" like everything is about right...just follow the mfp numbers and you'll be okay....and don't forget your water and exercise...good luck ms lady!
  • An unrelated way to feel fuller as someone mentioned is to eat more protein and cut back on the bad carbs. Don't necessarily pay attention to the suggested macronutrient ratios on mfp..

    I've heard .75 carb to protein ratio is optimal. That is to say 3/4 of the amount of carbs you eat should be protein.
  • poustotah
    poustotah Posts: 1,121 Member
    When I started using this site, I was working out with a trainer and was just using the site to track what I was eating, my exercise and to stay within the calorie goal that HE had set for me. So I was actually eating MORE calories than what the site told me to. Eventually that evened out and then he had me eating 900 calories a day for 3 days and 2100 calories for 1 day. At that point I was becoming the incredible shrinking ***** and had lost 90 lbs AND I wasn't losing weight (big shock). So I started doing what the site told me at that point and started losing weight again. I was then able to start my adjustment into weight maintenance. Maybe you need to adjust your goals? Maybe take a look at your diary?
  • I eat them.. most of them. its my "Splurge Calories" Any calories I get from working out, i can use on what ever I want. Some days I get enough that I can go to McDonalds and get a kids meal. Someday I have about a hundred left , and I'm just... full. I might have a Luna bar.

    I eat what I want with in my calorie range (for me its 1200-1500) then say If I'm at a restaurant (and I've already plugged my food into mfp's phone app) and everyone is getting desert & I haven't been to the gym I know I can have something small and still join in on the fun. Grabbing something with fruit or low cal. Knowing that Ill still be full by the end of the day, its also a "last nail in the coffin" to work out. No excuse. type of thing.

    Its worked so far. Lost 10lbs this month.
  • Dynetha
    Dynetha Posts: 42 Member
    Hmmmmm. Well I don't know then. I tried eating 1200 calories, then I upped it to 1452 and I've still only lost 4 lbs over 2 months. I have a small frame so I know this fat wants to come off.

    I also work out 6x a week.

    Maybe it's my night time sugar attacks. lol.

    and also the smaller the frame the slower the weight comes off....like a 150lb person is not going to burn as much as a 300lb person...and keep an eye on your calories burned....the more you burn the more you need to eat to lose the weight :-)
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I presume this is an April fools joke?
    I'm eating around 1600 cals a day plus my exercise calories and have lost 8 kg (about 17 pounds) in just over 2 months.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    Hmmmmm. Well I don't know then. I tried eating 1200 calories, then I upped it to 1452 and I've still only lost 4 lbs over 2 months. I have a small frame so I know this fat wants to come off.

    I also work out 6x a week.

    Maybe it's my night time sugar attacks. lol.

    It's much easier to make better suggestions if your diary is open but I'm at about 140 and have been losing in the area of 3lbs a month for the last two. Part of what you have to understand is that you aren't very overweight, if at all, so your body will be really reluctant to give up much more of your fat %.

    Also, if you had been at 1200 and/or not eating your exercise cals your body is readjusting your metabolism. Be patient. Even if slowly, it will come off.

    My suggestion- weigh in 1x or 2x a month instead of once a week. Mentally prep yourself to lose 1lb every other week.

    I know with summer right around the corner, it's tempting to rush and impatience is easy to fall into. But just take your time.
  • Dean31
    Dean31 Posts: 38 Member
    I also eat my calories back and I am losing consistently.

    I avoid hunger by eating small, low calorie meals more often. You have to give your stomach 5 to 10 min to signal your brain that you're not hungry anymore. Don't eat until you're full. Your hunger will go away with a surprisingly small amount of food.

    Also, you can eat all you want as long as you burn off the calories. I saw someone post that they've been doing "extra exercise so that I can eat more of the foods I like, and I know that's wrong"...This is not at all wrong! You can eat all you want as long as at the end of the day, you've burned off those calories and you've met your caloric goal.

    Also, depending on how much you are eating and and exercising, eating back those calories can be necessary or not. For instance, if your daily goal is 1200 calories, and you eat 2000 calories, and then burn 800 through exercise, your net will be 1200 calories for that day, and in that case you can't eat back any of those calories without blowing your goal, so you would NOT eat those back. BUT, if your goal is 1200, you eat 2000, then burn off 1000, then you have a net of 1000 calories, and therefore a deficit of 200, and you can eat those 200 back.

    You really should strive to not let your daily net calories go below 900. If you do, your metabolism will slow and your weight loss will also decrease dramatically. With so few calories going into your body, your body will react by hording the few calories it has and stop burning fat for anything other than keeping your body alive.
  • BStayer
    BStayer Posts: 22
    I always eat at least part of my exercise calories back. I get too hungry if I don't and I will binge almost everytime. Just make sure that every calorie you eat is quality. No candy, no cakes or cookies, and no fried foods. Calories from fish, chicken breast, whole grain pasta, sweet potatoes, and good veggies like broccoli and aparagus are great calories. And no salt. If you eat these kinds of foods and eat back your exercise calories, I can gaurantee that you will loose weight. Of course, the number of calories you eat everyday will determine how fast the weight comes off. Adding cayenne pepper to your meals can help boost your metabolism. It's been known to raise the core temperature and this helps your body to burn more fat throughout the day.

    Hope this helps.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    Happy April Fools day!
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