Does Eating Back Exercise Calories ACTUALLY Work?

i started out at 185 and YES eating em back definitely helps! If you click my success story link below, it shows in the chart WHEN i started eating them back AND the resulting downward weight loss.

I am 5'8 and started at 262 pounds in June 2010. I am now at 189.2 (give or take) and at the beginning I DIDN"T eat back my calories but i really wasn't watching either. Now I watch everything and log EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth. I do a lot on the elliptical normally 20-30 minutes 5-6 times a week. I also started lifting but nothing crazy In an average I burn 200-300 calories a day and now I eat those back. I am still losing just not as fast as I once was but the scale is still going down. I also try really hard to get atleast 100 grams of protein a day and that seems to help. Hope this helps and good luck!! If you need a friend request me I'm here !
~TIffany~

I started at 261... I guess that qualifies me to reply.

I don't stress too much about eating ALL my exercise calories (though I often do), but what I make sure of is that I NET 1200 calories for the day. If at the end of the day my net calories on the homepage are not yet at 1200, I go find myself a snack. Generally I do my workouts at a gym here in town that is sort of like Curves but isn't... in 30 minutes I usually burn about 245 according to my HRM. I also teach preschool and I'm often running around with little kids on recess during the day... lol.

Seems to be working well enough. I've lost 26 lbs. and over 15 total inches since January 1st.

[sorry removed, as I am not a woman]

I started above 250lbs and do eat back my exercise calories. I've recently increased my calorie intake in general and it seems to have kickstarted the loss again.

Hey girl I started out at 229 so not quite 250 and in 25 days I am down to 221.5 and I have been going back and forth with this. I have noticed that when I don't eat back most of my exercise calories I get sick because it puts my body under 1200 net calories and your body needs at least 1200 before working out to maintain a healthy weightloss. I do A LOT of cardio with a little bit of strength training and I workout on the Xbox Kinect and Wii. This is my first week at really eating back most of my exercise calories and the work outs are getting harder and longer so I will let you know how the loss goes for the week. Up until a few days ago I WAS NOT eating back ANY exercise calories and was losing about 2lbs per week except I did start to gain which I believe was due to not having enough net calories which is why I am eating most of my exercise ones now. Hope that makes since and helps you with knowing what to do.

I started out over 300 lbs. I lost two pounds when I first started using this site, but then fell off track prepping for my husband's deployment. When I got back on track, I'd gained back my 2lbs, plus three more. Now, almost one month later, MFP says I've lost 15lbs (but if you count the 3 I gained back, it's actually been 18).

As far as consuming exercise calories, I don't usually. I have really ambitious goals (I need to lose 3 sizes in the next four months to meet the goal in my signature), so I try to cut out as much as I can without causing myself a problem. So, in a typical day, I try to burn 500+ cals (usually by doing the eliptical, stationary bike, and strength training if I'm at the gym). Now, if I end up tapping into my exercise cals, I don't beat myself up over it or anything.

When you're more overweight, it's okay to create bigger calorie deficits without doing damage to yourself. Someone who only has like 20 lbs to lose has to go slower than someone who has over 100 lbs to lose.

Hope this helps

i started out at 240, im now 217. i do not eat my calories back intentionally, i use those as a cushion if i want something extra, like a guilt free snack. but normally i dont

My diary is open and I log everything and honestly. I started at 225. I eat at least half of my exercise calories, but leave cushion because I do not have an HRM and like to have some cushion for error. I am consistently losing (28 pounds to date).

Since I am still obese for my height, I could afford a larger deficit and not eat them back. But I prefer to lose weight gradually, have my skin remain tight, and maintain my muscle mass as much as possible. I do not want to get down to goal weight and then tone up. I want to lose fat, keep muscle and look like a size six athlete. I know I cannot do that with a high deficit. I must have plenty of protein and calories. So, I am content losing an average of 3 to 4 pounds a month, in exchange for lost inches.

As for exercise, I take yoga at least 3 times per week. This is the center of my fitness, and I commit to going to yoga even if I do no other exercise all week. I often do 15 minutes of intervals on the elliptical prior to yoga class, because it helps get me warmed up and burns a few more calories. I also lift weights, take zumba (1-2 times per week), and occasionally BodyPump or Pilates, when I can fit it in. Occasionally, I do 30 Day Shred at home, but prefer to workout in the gym.

I do eat them back if I am hungry, but try to net at least 1200 cals. I burn a ton of calories doing about 2 hours of cardio or Zumba (according ot my HRM) so sometimes its hard to eat everything. But I hit a plateau for about 3 weeks and did not lose a thing when I didnt eat them back, then I started eating them back and the weight has been coming off, so I know that it works.