Not WHY (has been answered), but WHO (exercise calories)

thisismynewmindset
thisismynewmindset Posts: 273 Member
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
I know the topic of "Should I eat back my exercise calories?" has been discussed many, many times on this site. I have searched the forums and I understand why it is recommended to eat back your exercise calories. I do.

But...

I am still unsure as to whether I should do it or not, considering I have a pretty demanding goal and deadline.

My question therefore is, not WHY should I eat back my exercise calories, but... WHO EATS THEIR EXERCISE CALORIES?

I just want to get a feeling of what everyone is doing, and if it is working for them.

Any and all responses would be appreciated!!!
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Replies

  • LisaKyle11
    LisaKyle11 Posts: 662 Member
    bump!
  • beccala18
    beccala18 Posts: 293 Member
    I eat them. Most of the time, my reward for working out is that I get to eat a bit more food that day. For me it's working well, and I do plan my meals before I eat them. I have lost 12 pounds (173-159) since March. Not the most relentless pace, but really steady.
  • Ashleypeterson37
    Ashleypeterson37 Posts: 347 Member
    I try to eat 50% of my exercise calories if I can. I'm not a big eater but I know I need to fuel my body so I try as hard as I can.
  • kr3851
    kr3851 Posts: 994 Member
    I do! Well, I try to eat most of them....

    I wasn't losing as much as I wanted to so am trying to take everyone's advice and eat them back. It worked this week... but we'll see how we go. I'm struggling with keeping sodium down - because I'm used to eating a lot of processed foods and never really knew what I was doing. Trying very hard to incorporate much more fresh veg in my diet - although the low cals doesn't make it easy to eat back everything I exercise - especially on the big workout days, because I'm so full!!
  • lorinjer
    lorinjer Posts: 233 Member
    I might eat about half of mine back a few times a week but most of the time I do not eat them back. I only burn anywhere from 300 to 600 calories per day though. It is working for me. Now as I get closer to my goal weight I may have to change it up but for now, its working. I have about 20 more pounds to lose. Personally I think its up to each individual's body as to what they need to do.
  • chadam1015
    chadam1015 Posts: 58 Member
    I get 1350 calories and if I exercise I eat back up to 1200 net calories. Sometimes that is all, sometimes it is only a few.
  • OLP76
    OLP76 Posts: 768 Member
    I guess I don't...

    I don't have an HRM...
  • countryrunner
    countryrunner Posts: 62 Member
    Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. Just depends on my mood. I can't remember which famous trainer I heard this from, but the other day I read that it is good to eat back half of them. They said that 1/4 of them should be eaten before the work out and 1/4 after. I'm thinking I will give that a shot and see how it works. It was either from Jillian Michaels or the trainer from Extreme Makeover. I've read/heard so many tips lately that it is hard to keep track of where they came from!
  • Msaip
    Msaip Posts: 482 Member
    Well ive been eating back as close to all my calories and have lost 13 pounds with mfp since march

    I know that doesnt seem like a whole lot BUT in reality I did it slow and safe
  • hockeyman28
    hockeyman28 Posts: 136
    I eat em. I think the logic behind why is sound. I know nothing of the famous "starvation mode" That said, I don't think MFP is a "crash" diet where quick losses can happen, because it is set to change your lifestyle, not just lose you some weight for the big vacation. I have a time frame for my goal, but overall have lost just under 2 pounds a week since Ive been here. In however many weeks it takes, I will be my weight, then I can just keep it there. If "however many" became "I need to lose ASAP" I might have troubles with this plan accomplishing that goal.
  • beesareyellow
    beesareyellow Posts: 335 Member
    I eat back about 50% of my exercise calories, it really works for me. If I eat less I feel hungry, if I eat too much more than 50% my weight loss slows down. That's my two cents :)
  • ronniesgirl1982
    ronniesgirl1982 Posts: 103
    I am trying to eat them back but I'm finding it really hard. So if I can't eat them all I try to atleast have 1200 with exercise
  • reese66
    reese66 Posts: 2,920 Member
    I eat at least half and more often I eat them all...
  • mishelnkiki
    mishelnkiki Posts: 775 Member
    i try to do at least half. usually i eat most. some days i dont eat any. today im not eating them. tomorrow, i might. it just depends on the day for me personally!
  • lisapickering
    lisapickering Posts: 374
    I am 5'4" and started at 165lbs. I workout almost everyday burning between 400 - 1200 calories / day. I have been here for about 15 weeks and have lost 12 lbs. I EAT BACK MY CALORIES!! I agree with you in that not everyone should. Those who have alot of weight to lose might not, those who have low intensity calorie burns might not. But I have high intensity, high calorie burns, if I didn't eat those calories I would be sick! I am losing this way too so I guess it's working for me.
  • angievaughn
    angievaughn Posts: 655 Member
    I always try to eat at least half!! When I use my HRM.....I am sure to eat at least half if not all of them!! If I use MFP to set calories....I eat a little less!!

    I work out so I can eat a little more at night...I know it sounds crazy.....but I do!!!

    and the results are 60 pounds off my body and a total of 29 inches~~~ so it works!!!
  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    I do, and it's working for me.

    My daily net goal is lower than 1200 though. On a typical exercise day, I burn about 800 calories and consume about 1700-1750. On a no-exercise day (once a week), I eat about 1400 and GET REALLY HUNGRY in the evening. Thinking about increasing my no-exercise day calories, just a little.

    Everyone's body is different, so your ideal caloric goal will probably be different from mine!
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    me (obviously lol)
  • ShannonBurdick
    ShannonBurdick Posts: 41
    bump (i find it all so very confusing even though like 5 people have explained it to me lol)
  • tammykoon
    tammykoon Posts: 298 Member
    BUMP!!!!
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    Your goal and deadline are only of limited relevance here. You should eat back your calories if you want healthy sustainable and typically consistent weight loss. If your deadline is to lose 30 lbs in a month or two you can try eating very little and exercising very much but what you will likely run into is a point where your body refuses to lose any more. I'm not saying you have to be perfect and eat your cals every day, but you should generally try to meet your goal calories.

    If your goal and deadline are not consistent with a pattern of non-starvation diet, possibly it is the goal and deadline that need adjusting, not the diet.
  • themrs08
    themrs08 Posts: 87
    I don't. I try to keep my calories as close to 1200 as possible.
  • lclarkjr
    lclarkjr Posts: 359 Member
    I eat all or most (at least 90%) of my exercise calories each week. My goal has been to lose 1 lb. per week and I have lost just over 6 lbs in the last 4 weeks. On level of importance for me I place overall fitness at the top of my list, above overall weight loss. I've had enough of the short term fixes and refuse to let the scale be my only motivator. I want to feel the results when I'm pushing hard at the gym or on the road, and honestly the only way you can do that is by fueling your body.
  • cweiler4
    cweiler4 Posts: 374 Member
    I try and eat at least 1/2 of them back or however much I can fit in. Some days I do a double workout where I will burn over 1000 calories and I find that its impossible for me to eat that much. It depends on what I have going on for the day! That's what works for me. Good luck!
  • olsonspring
    olsonspring Posts: 15 Member
    Hi. i have lost 13 since the begining for Feb. Very slowly but a change I am use to now. Just started the gym. I was 248 then and now 235. Good luck.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    bump (i find it all so very confusing even though like 5 people have explained it to me lol)

    There is a point where your body will start reacting to a lack of food by slowing down your metabolism. It's a self preservation tool. If you used to get 2000 or 3000 calories, but then switch to 1500 calories, your body is going to be shocked intitially, but eventually it will adjust to operating on only 1500 calories.

    The level at which it is estimated that this slowing poses a threat to your health is roughly 1200 calories. It is an ESTIMATE, so many people experiment and find what works for them.

    MFP is based around NET calories, so when you do a workout you should be eating back enough of your exercise calories so that the NET number of calories your body gets is at least 1200 calories (NET can be found on your home page)

    Does that make sense?
  • olsonspring
    olsonspring Posts: 15 Member
    Hi. i have lost 13 since the begining for Feb. Very slowly but a change I am use to now. Just started the gym. I was 248 then and now 235. Good luck.
  • Cam_
    Cam_ Posts: 515 Member
    I eat mine 99% of the time. I've had good success. I try to eat my extras as healthy snacks - fruits, vegetables - yogurt .
  • ecreigh2
    ecreigh2 Posts: 14
    I eat them. Though if i have a long workout or race planned, I usually spread them over the day before to the day after. Its really hard to eat an extra 1400 calories!
  • spacecase76
    spacecase76 Posts: 673 Member
    I really try to eat back half of them. I am screwing around with my protein / fiber consumption right now, because I have been in a plateau since April, and it really sucks.
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