Exercise calories
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lessismoreohio
Posts: 910 Member
Do you eat your exercise calories?
What is the MFP stance on this?
Sometimes I eat my exercise calories and sometimes I don't; I don't know what is the recommended approach.
What is the MFP stance on this?
Sometimes I eat my exercise calories and sometimes I don't; I don't know what is the recommended approach.
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Replies
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I eat them all.
MFP is based on eating your exercise calories. Your deficit is built into the base calorie goal and then exercise calories are added on top. People tend to think that the calories are overstated so they eat only a portion. Or they want to try to rush weight loss so they don't eat them at all. I eat them all.0 -
If you are using MFP method, then yes you should eat some. MFP does not include exercise in its calculation for your calories. It is based on just ordinary activity, not purposeful exercise. When you do exercise and you log it, it gives you more calories to eat. Be aware that the calorie allowances of exercise are often high, so many people do not eat all of them.
If you are using a calorie goal that includes exercise, then no, you would not eat more for exercise. (TDEE method) In that case you would be cancelling out your deficit.
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MFP designed around Non Exercise Activity Thermogensis (NEAT) which does not include exercise in its setup and includes the assumption that accurately calculated exercise calories are eaten back. This is why your daily goal increases as you log exercise.0
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I have started using only about 50% of my exercise calories. Mainly because I am concerned about my exercise calories being over estimated through my fitbit.0
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It is the way MFP is designed...you have to account for exercise activity somewhere right? I mean that just makes sense right? Since MFP doesn't account for exercise in your activity level, you account for it after the fact when you log it and get those calories to "eat back" Of course, most people vastly overestimate their burn and also tend to underestimate their intake.
I'd also say that this depends largely on what your exercise is...if your exercise is just going for a walk or something it's not going to be as imperative...but if you're training and really putting your body through a moderate to vigorous workout, you need nutrients and calories (energy) for recovery and repair....exercise is very good for you...it's also a major stress on the body and breaks down the body...calories (energy) and nutrients, along with proper rest help to repair that which has been broken down...that's when you make fitness gains.
You also have to ultimately wrap your head around fitness for the sake of fitness here...not just weight loss...fitness should be done for the sake of fitness...when you wrap your head around that, fueling it makes a lot more sense than not.0 -
I think if you want to loose weight faster then do not eat all of the calories you burnt off. I do not eat more than 1/2 of the calories I burnt off.0
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cwolfman13 wrote: »It is the way MFP is designed...you have to account for exercise activity somewhere right? I mean that just makes sense right? Since MFP doesn't account for exercise in your activity level, you account for it after the fact when you log it and get those calories to "eat back" Of course, most people vastly overestimate their burn and also tend to underestimate their intake.
I'd also say that this depends largely on what your exercise is...if your exercise is just going for a walk or something it's not going to be as imperative...but if you're training and really putting your body through a moderate to vigorous workout, you need nutrients and calories (energy) for recovery and repair....exercise is very good for you...it's also a major stress on the body and breaks down the body...calories (energy) and nutrients, along with proper rest help to repair that which has been broken down...that's when you make fitness gains.
You also have to ultimately wrap your head around fitness for the sake of fitness here...no just weight loss...fitness should be done for the sake of fitness...when you wrap your head around that, fueling it makes a lot more sense than not.
That is such a good point and one that I often forget when reading these boards. My focus is primarily on fitness. Others might be focusing more on looks. There's certainly crossover and neither is wrong/right but this is a good reminder to me of that point.0 -
misswillpower wrote: »I think if you want to loose weight faster then do not eat all of the calories you burnt off. I do not eat more than 1/2 of the calories I burnt off.
"faster" should very rarely be the goal...0 -
misswillpower wrote: »I think if you want to loose weight faster then do not eat all of the calories you burnt off. I do not eat more than 1/2 of the calories I burnt off.
MFP includes the deficit for your weekly loss goal. Fast loss is not necessarily healthy loss nor does it mean you're losing more fat.0 -
When I used the NEAT method MFP is known for yes I ate them all back...I was following the suggestion and fueling my next workout.
I lost the weight I wanted while doing that and worked out consistently and never felt lethargic.cwolfman13 wrote: »You also have to ultimately wrap your head around fitness for the sake of fitness here...no just weight loss...fitness should be done for the sake of fitness...when you wrap your head around that, fueling it makes a lot more sense than not.
Because so much this.
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Its interesting to see but I don't eat it back unless it is a really heavy day. This conversation has me thinking...0
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brianpperkins wrote: »misswillpower wrote: »I think if you want to loose weight faster then do not eat all of the calories you burnt off. I do not eat more than 1/2 of the calories I burnt off.
MFP includes the deficit for your weekly loss goal. Fast loss is not necessarily healthy loss nor does it mean you're losing more fat.
Agreed, fast weight loss is generally an indicator of muscle loss in a less than desirable ratio to fat loss.0 -
Awesome feedback; thank you all.0
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I eat them all BUT I don't use the calculations that MFP provides. I enter my exercise calories based on my HRM.0
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I eat them all.
MFP is based on eating your exercise calories. Your deficit is built into the base calorie goal and then exercise calories are added on top. People tend to think that the calories are overstated so they eat only a portion. Or they want to try to rush weight loss so they don't eat them at all. I eat them all.
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Sometimes I eat them, sometimes I don't. Most of the time I save them and eat them all on a Saturday and Sunday.
It just depends.
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I lost 7 pounds in 8 days is that alot of weight lost. Well I stop eating for 2 people.0
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The bootcamp I participate in has me eat 20% of my calories back so as not to eat all of the calories that I've burned.0
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I usually eat some of them back - some days all, some days none - depends on how hungry I am on that given day and how well my stomach is cooperating with me that day.0
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MFP expects that you will eat them back, but many people who do usually eat back a portion of them to offset any overestimations.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1
As a personal rule of thumb I make sure that I eat at least a net 1200 calories a day. My goal before exercise is 1460.0
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