worth it to exercise on top of cutting calories ?

insanitylater
insanitylater Posts: 10 Member
edited September 27 in Health and Weight Loss
so far i have been burning about 500 calories extra per day running/walking on top of already cutting 500 calories food wise

after i exercise i eat back 400 or so of them. good approach ? i def feel a lot better and am slowly losing inches

Replies

  • bekihughes
    bekihughes Posts: 59
    I was told that you should eat back half of what you burn.... But not sure if that is right.
  • JesaGrace
    JesaGrace Posts: 799 Member
    It's seems that everybody has a different opinion of this....
  • Charger440
    Charger440 Posts: 1,474 Member
    If it works for you and makes you feel good then, I would say stick with it! :)
  • heatherjm27
    heatherjm27 Posts: 10
    The health benefits of exercise are huge, so it is as important as healthy eating and cutting calories. That is why you can have skinny people who are really unhealthy. Even if it is not helping you loose weight faster, it will make you more healthy and fit. Plus, you will look better.
  • SabrinaJL
    SabrinaJL Posts: 1,579 Member
    YES! Exercise isn't just about losing weight, it's about strengthening your body.
  • TS65
    TS65 Posts: 1,024 Member
    Definitely worth it. If you've ever dieted and not exercised, you know that you'll be thin but jiggly. When you add exercise ON TOP of dieting, you'll be thin and FIRM. Exercise isn't just about burning calories, it's about getting strong (muscles, bones, tendons - heart!!) and healthy (something many dieters have a hard time wrapping their head around).

    Yes... sometimes it's hard to eat back all the exercise calories, but it's worth it in the long run. Besides, who wants to settle for 1200 calories a day and not be able to allow themselves a little freedom?!? (that'll set anyone up to cheat!)
  • bigredhearts
    bigredhearts Posts: 428
    theres a few notes on this in the "general diet and weight loss help" forum section right at the top and are always there for your convenience. i suggest you read those. they explain why eating back your exercise cals is imperative to healthy weight loss, plus a few other good reads :) hope this helps!
  • Ash852
    Ash852 Posts: 10
    I am doing the same thing too. I eat 400 to 500 calories and burn 500 calories in a day. Then I eat around 500 calries back.

    And I am also, slowly loosing those extra inches :)
  • jdm_taco
    jdm_taco Posts: 999 Member
    I enjoy excersising and it only helps to improve my health. Plus I get to eat more. :bigsmile:
  • insanitylater
    insanitylater Posts: 10 Member
    thx for the replies! i know exercise and more food helps speed up your metabolism

    i tend to eat the healthier stuff in the morning so some of the food i eat post exercise isn't always the best for me. need to make it fruit or something with protein
  • bmontgomery87
    bmontgomery87 Posts: 1,260 Member
    YES! Exercise isn't just about losing weight, it's about strengthening your body.

    this.
    regardless of your goals, you should be excercising.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    theres a few notes on this in the "general diet and weight loss help" forum section right at the top and are always there for your convenience. i suggest you read those. they explain why eating back your exercise cals is imperative to healthy weight loss, plus a few other good reads :) hope this helps!

    omfg THANK you! FINALLY someone who JUST joined who actually read the stickies and understood them. I love you.

    After you're here for about a year and see the same questions 100 times a day you won't put it as politely as you did....

    now I just post this:
    http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com
  • insanitylater
    insanitylater Posts: 10 Member
    yeah i have been aiming for at least a week of cardio since it's as good for the mind as it is for the body. last time i got down to 140 i was way too lanky looking at 5'8. i overexercised but didn't eat back enough calories

    hoping to do it slow but right this time
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    I am doing the same thing too. I eat 400 to 500 calories and burn 500 calories in a day. Then I eat around 500 calries back.

    And I am also, slowly loosing those extra inches :)

    Do you mean that's ALL you eat? 400-500 calories net????

    if so, you are in for some serious trouble sweetie. you need to reevaluate your goals to what MFP tells you to eat and actually EAT those calories.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    yeah i have been aiming for at least a week of cardio since it's as good for the mind as it is for the body. last time i got down to 140 i was way too lanky looking at 5'8. i overexercised but didn't eat back enough calories

    hoping to do it slow but right this time


    slower is always better. Healthier and more maintainable in the long run. And ALWAYS eat at LEAST 1200 net bare minimum. preferable more.
    7 days a week cardio is too much though, Your body needs a day of rest. try 3 cardio, 3 strength, and one off.
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    s220184389.jpg

    http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com
  • insanitylater
    insanitylater Posts: 10 Member
    that wasn't my question though

    of course i eat back my exercise calories
  • bigredhearts
    bigredhearts Posts: 428
    theres a few notes on this in the "general diet and weight loss help" forum section right at the top and are always there for your convenience. i suggest you read those. they explain why eating back your exercise cals is imperative to healthy weight loss, plus a few other good reads :) hope this helps!

    omfg THANK you! FINALLY someone who JUST joined who actually read the stickies and understood them. I love you.

    After you're here for about a year and see the same questions 100 times a day you won't put it as politely as you did....

    now I just post this:
    http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com


    :) well i was actually reading a question similar to this and someone mentioned to read those. so i did. and i definately understood them, and i can imagine its hard to deal with the same question over and over but as you said, me being a newbie, i try to be polite :) hopefully this person chooses to read them as well, they are very informative and help tremendously explaining to newbies how this whole thing works :)
  • bigredhearts
    bigredhearts Posts: 428
    that wasn't my question though

    of course i eat back my exercise calories


    i think we all understand your question, you stated what you do and asked if it was a good approach. this is our response :)
  • insanitylater
    insanitylater Posts: 10 Member
    yeah i have been aiming for at least a week of cardio since it's as good for the mind as it is for the body. last time i got down to 140 i was way too lanky looking at 5'8. i overexercised but didn't eat back enough calories

    hoping to do it slow but right this time


    slower is always better. Healthier and more maintainable in the long run. And ALWAYS eat at LEAST 1200 net bare minimum. preferable more.
    7 days a week cardio is too much though, Your body needs a day of rest. try 3 cardio, 3 strength, and one off.

    i run 4 times a week then walk 2 to give my legs a break but still maintain some exercise. otherwise i'm just too sedentary. once a week i let myself be lazy
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    that wasn't my question though

    of course i eat back my exercise calories


    i think we all understand your question, you stated what you do and asked if it was a good approach. this is our response :)

    exactly! yes, it's a very good approach! It's necessary for success. There are those out there that will tell you they "never" eat them and are "fine" but you don't see that person later on when they are in starvation mode and posting the "omg why am I not losing, I only eat 800 cals and I am gaining weight! " threads.

    eat eat eat! I wish I could get others to understand what you already know. At least you're not starving yourself! This is a lifestyle change, not a "diet". :happy:
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member

    i run 4 times a week then walk 2 to give my legs a break but still maintain some exercise. otherwise i'm just too sedentary. once a week i let myself be lazy

    A lazy day is actually VERY good for you. your body needs that time off. good for you. you seem to have a grasp on what you need to do. you've got this down, just keep at it.
    my only suggestion is to ADD WEIGHTS!
    strength training is VERY beneficial.
  • happyhappyjoy72
    happyhappyjoy72 Posts: 71
    I do the elliptical 3 days a week for 35-45 min, walk for 20 min one night and then do cardio kickboxing for 1hr for the fifth night. We also work with weights in cardio kickboxing so I’m not all cardio. So far this is working for me. I don’t always eat back all my workout calories i have a few left over. You seem like you are doing it all correct and if it is working for you then that is awesome!
  • insanitylater
    insanitylater Posts: 10 Member
    that wasn't my question though

    of course i eat back my exercise calories


    i think we all understand your question, you stated what you do and asked if it was a good approach. this is our response :)

    exactly! yes, it's a very good approach! It's necessary for success. There are those out there that will tell you they "never" eat them and are "fine" but you don't see that person later on when they are in starvation mode and posting the "omg why am I not losing, I only eat 800 cals and I am gaining weight! " threads.

    eat eat eat! I wish I could get others to understand what you already know. At least you're not starving yourself! This is a lifestyle change, not a "diet". :happy:

    haha thx i didn't mean to sound snippy if i came across that way

    not eating back the calories makes sense only if you are eating a lot more calories than the minimum then i assume it balances out. i gather most people here are eating the minimum calories so if you don't eat them back you are not getting enough nutrition even if "you feel good"
  • Charger440
    Charger440 Posts: 1,474 Member
    Why is that people must impose what makes them feel good on other people when a simple "If it works for you and makes you feel good then, I would say stick with it! :)" would suffice?

    I mean its really simple the question was asked if exercise was worth it. The person has stated they DO exercise and eat back most of the calories exercised yet you still seem to push what makes YOU feel good on them. I would love one time to see a simple question answered with a simple answer instead of a bunch of know it alls trying to convince people to live they way they do.

    You don't see me on here picking apart all the "biodegradable" foods and the sticks and twigs that make some of you people so happy. Why are you trying to press your "healthy" food on the rest of us?

    The answer simply put is, If what your doing now makes YOU feel good and have a better outlook then its good for YOU.

    Geez! Can't we just let each other live our own lives and be happy for one another? Yea I know, Someone will have some smart comment about this post. Do yourself a favor and save it I'm tired of hearing it!
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