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Adding calories burned to calorie allowance....

seamoth
seamoth Posts: 57 Member
edited November 20 in Social Groups
I would like to know whether this is a good thing or not? If I burn 800 cals doing exercise, if I add that to my 1200 MFP daily allowance it would give me a daily allowance of 2000 cals. If I don't add them, and eat only 1200, will I really be eating too little? Wouldn't I just lose weight that much faster? If what I do eat is balanced and nutritious wouldn't it be better, in fact, not to add the (for example) 800 calories? I would appreciate some advice here. Thanks

Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Your calorie goal already has your deficit built in, so you must eat back your exercise calories. The calorie burns & counts are estimates, so some people reduce the margin of error by eating back a percentage of their calories.

    Undereating will not get you to goal any more quickly. In fact, it usually leads to bingeing.

    Food is fuel, and we should all be looking for the maximum number of calories at which we lose weight—never the minimum.
  • bluefish86
    bluefish86 Posts: 842 Member
    I would aim to eat back at least 50-75% of what you burn.

    Right now that's my main reason to work out - I get to eat more. :wink:
  • seamoth
    seamoth Posts: 57 Member
    OK, thanks for the advice!
  • plantboy2
    plantboy2 Posts: 224 Member
    A lot of the activities pre-logged on MFP are wildly over generous on calories burned. Roughly, if you run (or walk) a km you will burn 100KCal if you are of average build, but if you are heavy this burn will be higher, lower if light. Basically, take the burns given on MFP with a pinch of salt. Also, what the other two said, eat back or eventually you will go all dizzy and pass out in the shower. This is the end of this post.
  • hippytee
    hippytee Posts: 249 Member
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    Your calorie goal already has your deficit built in, so you must eat back your exercise calories. The calorie burns & counts are estimates, so some people reduce the margin of error by eating back a percentage of their calories.

    Undereating will not get you to goal any more quickly. In fact, it usually leads to bingeing.

    Food is fuel, and we should all be looking for the maximum number of calories at which we lose weight—never the minimum.

    Thanks for that, I was wondering the same thing, I never eat all mine back I'd say half of cals lost by exercise and it's working so far.
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