Do I eat back exercise calories?
alligray4
Posts: 9
I've been wondering... If this apps says for me to eat 1200 calories, but then I burn 400 in a workout, am I to eat 400 extra calories to keep me at 1200, or do I just eat the 1200 calories, which would put me at 800 net calories? I want to do what is going to get me the best result for weighloss. Thank you!
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Replies
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whats your height/weight and activity level?0
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I'm trying to just eat my daily goal calories, and if I exercise that day I try not to eat that much back. As I'm also trying to lose weight. But I'll let it give me a little but of room but not the whole amount.0
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i usually just eat 1200 calories i never eat what i have burned because i want to lose weight unless if i wanna cheat then i will go into what i just burned but overall i dont go in to the calories i just burned...
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I think you are supposed to eat the calories, because the amount of calories you eating is already creating a deficit. I decide not to, so I have a larger deficit. It just make no sense to burn calories and then eat that same amount. It just seems counterproductive.0
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milkydud85 wrote: »i usually just eat 1200 calories i never eat what i have burned because i want to lose weight unless if i wanna cheat then i will go into what i just burned but overall i dont go in to the calories i just burned...
OP don't listen to this. Someone eating only 1200 calories should try and eat back most of their exercise calories, otherwise they will be way under net calories for the day, which is not healthy when only allowing yourself 1200 calories. However, if your calorie goal is not as low, it's not as big of a deal. My calorie goal for the day is around 1900. Sometimes I eat part of my calories back, sometimes I don't. Just make sure you are eating enough and hitting your macros. As your calorie allotment is lower, I would recommend you eat them back, but also make sure your calories burned are accurate.
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lowendfuzz wrote: »whats your height/weight and activity level?
I'm 40, weigh 190, 5'8" tall and I'm doing cardio 5-6 days a week and strength training 3-4 days.0 -
MFP is built around Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenisis (NEAT) calories. You are expected to eat back accurately calculated exercise calories to maintain a net intake at your goal.0
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Be careful you dont overtrain (its not clear what and how much you are doing) and make sure you give your body enough nutrition to do and recover from the exercise.
1200 calories is not very much and I think insufficient for your stats, especially considering the exercise. Too agressive can lead to all sorts of issues.
Eat back 50% of your calories and see where you go from there.0 -
at 40 you should know that posting such a question on a forum you'll only receive random answers. what do you want? attention?-3
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NoblankFRplease wrote: »at 40 you should know that posting such a question on a forum you'll only receive random answers. what do you want? attention?
That's a bit harsh, I don't see what age has to do with it.0 -
NoblankFRplease wrote: »at 40 you should know that posting such a question on a forum you'll only receive random answers. what do you want? attention?
Just trying to get some feedback, not attention. I've been getting conflicting answers, so I'm still confused. Not sure what my age has to do with it, since I'm new to working out and counting calories. Thank you for your concern0 -
Be careful you dont overtrain (its not clear what and how much you are doing) and make sure you give your body enough nutrition to do and recover from the exercise.
1200 calories is not very much and I think insufficient for your stats, especially considering the exercise. Too agressive can lead to all sorts of issues.
Eat back 50% of your calories and see where you go from there.
Thank you. I thought 1200 calories sounded a bit low, so what you said makes sense.0 -
aworkoutroutine.com/eating-back-calories-burned/
please click the above link and u can find a very detail explanation regarding this matter..
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NoblankFRplease wrote: »at 40 you should know that posting such a question on a forum you'll only receive random answers. what do you want? attention?
That's a bit harsh, I don't see what age has to do with it.
I agree. Thank you0 -
OP, there's a reason why so many people ask questions about this - it is confusing. I usually eat back most of my exercise calories because it feels healthier (if I've run six miles, predictably, I will need more fuel) - and I'm not in a hurry to lose my last ten pounds and want them to stay off, so I'm more about listening to my body and making good choices that I can sustain. Also, due to cycle-related stuff, my level of hunger varies greatly, so I just try to respond according to my hunger cues, and not get hung up on whether I go over by 100 here or am under by 100 there. I do my best to stay under but I also trust my body to tell me what it needs (but not a pounder bag of M&Ms when my tummy is rumbling).
Edited to say: ugh ... too many smiley faces. I am not actually as chirpy as I look this morning.0 -
I just found where I can change my activity level, and my calories changed to 1500. It looks like I had it set to sedentary. Thank you all for your help 0
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I have similar stats as you (177, 5'8", 40yo, cardio 3 days, weight lifting 3 days) and I have found eating back about half of my exercise calories works for me. I'm around 1500-1600 calories a day most days. And definitely get enough protein for all of that muscle repair! Good luck with your journey. 0
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I say it depends on the level of activity, and if you're hungry or not.
For someone like me who is pretty sedentary, NO. For someone like you, if you're truly sticking to a 1200 cal day, and doing 400 cal workouts, then you might consider eating back some of the calories.
My husband has done P90X, and at first didn't eat back any of his calories, and was REALLY hungry. He did start to eat back some of his calories - he'd make healthy choices that would take care of the hunger issue. Sometimes that meant eating back all the calories, sometimes not.
For what it's worth....
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aworkoutroutine.com/eating-back-calories-burned/
please click the above link and u can find a very detail explanation regarding this matter..
Thank you for sharing this!0 -
I do but that's mainly because I'm super hungry on workout days.0
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You will lose faster if you don't eat them back0
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milkydud85 wrote: »i usually just eat 1200 calories i never eat what i have burned because i want to lose weight unless if i wanna cheat then i will go into what i just burned but overall i dont go in to the calories i just burned...
If you eat what you actually burned (not an overestimated amount), you will still lose weight. MFP's goal is designed to put you at a deficit even before exercise is added. If you are eating 1,200 and not eating any of the calories you burn, you are netting below 1,200 and that can be quite unhealthy.0 -
hilbertgirl wrote: »You will lose faster if you don't eat them back
Depending on how many calories you wind up netting, you can also wind up exhausted or unable to exercise at full capacity.
Net calories are important.0 -
I don't eat back all of mine because I figure I either didn't account correctly in what i've eaten or didn't really burn all those calories.0
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I eat back some if I'm hungry. If I'm not I don't worry about it. 0
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Ok first things first
Get a food scale if you already don't have one and make sure you're accurately weighing/portioning your food. Most people don't do this and when they start they realize they've been eating more than what they log. Get some measuring cups that you'll actually use as well.
Second off, people on MFP are *kitten*. Just like there are *kitten* in real life MFP is no different. Let them do theirs and you do yours.
Third, As far as eating back your calories like some others have said if you're at 1,200 and you're doing a lot of exercise it'd be best to eat back some of the calories just make sure again you're checking your portions. Buy a heart rate monitor so that you can accurately track how much you're actually doing. MFP over estimates in my opinion.
Everything is about tracking so if you guess what good are you doing?
Most importantly take it slow, it took you a long time to get where you're at. If you're pushing your body too hard you'll injure yourself and end up quitting which will suck. Most important part about getting in shape (losing weight) is the diet.
There are a ton of recipes/resources for you here at MFP. Just don't get discouraged by slow results, *kitten*, or anything else. It's more a mental thing than a physical and more than likely you'll slip and make mistakes but starting the next day just try a little harder.
Some people allow themselves a cheat day if you think this would work for you then go for it. If not then don't, everyone is different and most the people are here for support (remember mental) so don't feel dumb for asking any questions. I would however recommend using the search feature before asking to see if others have had the same question.0 -
lowendfuzz wrote: »whats your height/weight and activity level?
I'm 40, weigh 190, 5'8" tall and I'm doing cardio 5-6 days a week and strength training 3-4 days.
With that amount of exercise 1200 is completely insufficient.
Eat them back the way this site is designed.
Would seriously consider setting a less aggressive rate of weight loss too.
Beware there are a load of people who seem to believe fast weight loss is good weight loss - wonder if they will think the same when (or if) they get to goal and are disappointed with how they look?
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lowendfuzz wrote: »whats your height/weight and activity level?
I'm 40, weigh 190, 5'8" tall and I'm doing cardio 5-6 days a week and strength training 3-4 days.
With that amount of exercise 1200 is completely insufficient.
Eat them back the way this site is designed.
Would seriously consider setting a less aggressive rate of weight loss too.
Beware there are a load of people who seem to believe fast weight loss is good weight loss - wonder if they will think the same when (or if) they get to goal and are disappointed with how they look?
So is what you are saying that with slower weight loss your body will look better when you reach goal? Is there a scientific reason for this? Sorry, I seriously don't know and am curious.0 -
I always cut 10-50% of my time working out, plus if I think the exercise calories are still too high, I reduce them down (for example from 320 to 300). That way my food diary doesn't tell me I have a lot of calories left over when I know I don't. I think the older you are, the less you should eat back exercise calories.0
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davidcliff wrote: »I don't eat back all of mine because I figure I either didn't account correctly in what i've eaten or didn't really burn all those calories.Capt_Inzane wrote: »Ok first things first
Get a food scale if you already don't have one and make sure you're accurately weighing/portioning your food. Most people don't do this and when they start they realize they've been eating more than what they log. Get some measuring cups that you'll actually use as well.
Second off, people on MFP are *kitten*. Just like there are *kitten* in real life MFP is no different. Let them do theirs and you do yours.
Third, As far as eating back your calories like some others have said if you're at 1,200 and you're doing a lot of exercise it'd be best to eat back some of the calories just make sure again you're checking your portions. Buy a heart rate monitor so that you can accurately track how much you're actually doing. MFP over estimates in my opinion.
Everything is about tracking so if you guess what good are you doing?
Most importantly take it slow, it took you a long time to get where you're at. If you're pushing your body too hard you'll injure yourself and end up quitting which will suck. Most important part about getting in shape (losing weight) is the diet.
There are a ton of recipes/resources for you here at MFP. Just don't get discouraged by slow results, *kitten*, or anything else. It's more a mental thing than a physical and more than likely you'll slip and make mistakes but starting the next day just try a little harder.
Some people allow themselves a cheat day if you think this would work for you then go for it. If not then don't, everyone is different and most the people are here for support (remember mental) so don't feel dumb for asking any questions. I would however recommend using the search feature before asking to see if others have had the same question.
Thank you so much! I use a polar heart rate monitor and weigh the foods I eat, most of the time. I am getting a ton of good feedback, so I don't let the haters get to me. 0
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