Eating Calories Back

kristendo
kristendo Posts: 25
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I don't know if this is a stupid question or not but i had to find out. My calorie goal is 1200. Say i go to the gym and burn 800 calories, if i eat those back on top of my 1200, am i still going to lose weight?

Replies

  • NanBar
    NanBar Posts: 283 Member
    You should search this topic...you will find loads of information!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I don't know if this is a stupid question or not but i had to find out. My calorie goal is 1200. Say i go to the gym and burn 800 calories, if i eat those back on top of my 1200, am i still going to lose weight?

    Yes, it is actually the only way to lose your goal amount of weight. MFP sets you up to lose your goal amount of weight with the 1200 calories this is the net amount you need (net is 1200 + exercise cals) If you burn 800 and only eat 1200 it would be as if you ate 400 (1200-800) and did not workout, which is not enough.
  • princess4mimi
    princess4mimi Posts: 192
    From what I've learned on this website everyone is going to tell you in their own words "YES" you should.

    From what I've observed from my experience, "YES" you should, I am not the greatest weightloss story out there but I have lost about 16lbs or so so far since becoming serious in or around January and that includes when I wasn't working out much and going over my calories. I stopped that immediately because I had gained back 3 lbs from not doing any exercise.

    So what's the point I am trying to make? If you do not exercise then MFP has already calculated what your daily caloric intake should be to accomplish your weightloss goals. BUT if you do exercise then you should eat back some or most of your exercise calories. Some people say all, but I am not always hungry enough to eat all, but I sure do eat some or most.

    Good Luck to you and hope this helps.
  • Celo24
    Celo24 Posts: 566 Member
    I don't know if this is a stupid question or not but i had to find out. My calorie goal is 1200. Say i go to the gym and burn 800 calories, if i eat those back on top of my 1200, am i still going to lose weight?

    Yes, it is actually the only way to lose your goal amount of weight. MFP sets you up to lose your goal amount of weight with the 1200 calories this is the net amount you need (net is 1200 + exercise cals) If you burn 800 and only eat 1200 it would be as if you ate 400 (1200-800) and did not workout, which is not enough.

    What he said. Read the links in my signature too if you want some more detailed explanations as to why it's important to eat those exercise calories.
  • Ms_Natalie
    Ms_Natalie Posts: 1,030 Member
    It's not a silly question.

    Have a look at the sticky posts in the general thread...you will find tonnes of info there. I would link it but im writing from my phone.

    If you feel like you cannot eat all of them back then aim for a minimum of 1200 even after exercise. The most important thing to do is listen to your body...if you are hungry then eat.

    Good luck:flowerforyou:
  • Flossycat100
    Flossycat100 Posts: 103
    I think different things work for different people. I rarely eat exercise calories back and try not to, most of the time. My weight loss has been steady since November and both my doctor, and the trainers at my gym, tell me it's OK not to but that I can if I want. I eat around 1250 calories a day and that is a good mix of everything with plenty of fruit and veg plus lots of lean protein. I rarely feel hungry even after burning 2000+ calories, but if I do I know I can eat a little more.

    It works for me and so far I have not hit a plateau or regained any weight. If I do, I'll rethink. Until then, my body is working just fine and doing exactly what it is meant to do ie converting fat to lean muscle at a satisfying rate.
  • Victorian131
    Victorian131 Posts: 130
    I've had the same problem, its weird having to eat more to lose weight but the science adds up so try it and if it works for you, great. I think the main thing is, I know it sounds korny but, listen to your body too.
    There are loads of people in the same boat so you're not alone.
    Hope everything goes well for you. :smile:
  • kwardklinck
    kwardklinck Posts: 1,601
    Yes but make sure you're really burning 800 at the gym. When I work really hard at the gym, I burn less than 600. I eat those back and I do lose weight.
  • amylynn96
    amylynn96 Posts: 114 Member
    I pseronaly feel like i love the cusion of them being there after all the hard work i did and sometimes might eat a little more to replace some but i quickly learned im NOT going to over eat or keep finding stuff to eat just because theyre there and your "SUPPOSED" to eat them back for accurate weightloss results. You know your body better than anyone else and if you feel like your benefitting more from not eating it all back then dont.
  • brbmom
    brbmom Posts: 10 Member
    In my experience, the answer is yes. To be honest I didn't think I would lose weight by eating back my cals. I haven't been on MFP long and am still trying to find the right formula for me but I have noticed that the days that I've eaten my exercise cals were the days that I lost weight. The concept was completely foreign to me because whenever I had lost weight in the past it was by dramatically cutting back my cals and of course it would come right back when I stopped starving myself.

    Good Luck!
  • Bootzey
    Bootzey Posts: 274 Member
    The only way to know is to try it and see if it works. Every Body is different. Some say yes, some say no. I like that they are a reserve for me to splurge
  • RatBoyGL
    RatBoyGL Posts: 100
    If you were honest in your profile, and what kind of job you have, and your stats, then MFP sets your daily goal at a deficit to start with.

    For me, they set at at BMR (What I burn in 24 hours at rest) MINUS 500.

    So if I eat my exercise cals, I am still at a 500 deficit.
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