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Question with working out

calithion
calithion Posts: 4 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
My Wife and I where talking and she brought up a good point.

When you have exercise point d you use them for more food like normal points and if so why ork out then if your just replacing lost calories?

Replies

  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Why work out?
    Fitness, health, strength, muscle retention, enjoyment and the ability to eat more food while still keeping the calorie deficit you selected as a goal.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    Why work out?
    Fitness, health, strength, muscle retention, enjoyment and the ability to eat more food while still keeping the calorie deficit you selected as a goal.

    pretty much...

    you also have to understand that your deficit is built into your calorie targets without considering exercise...with MFP you're not trying to create your calorie deficit through exercise. this can teach you to view fitness for the sake of fitness.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    calithion wrote: »
    why ork out then if your just replacing lost calories?

    Fitness, and because it's good for your health.

    It's also fun, makes you look better, and achieving goals can be a great feeling, and I can't just focus on the scale. My current near-term goal is a marathon, but I enjoy strength training too, as as a woman in my 40s strength training is especially important for bone health and preserving muscle mass.

    Oh, and it's nice to be able to eat more.
  • johnboy916
    johnboy916 Posts: 52 Member
    Exercise is overrated. ...... B)
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Calorie Deficit for Weight Loss
    Exercise for Cardiovascular health, fitness, strength, energy, etc. Also, if you do the right activities, it's quite enjoyable.
  • calithion
    calithion Posts: 4 Member
    we understand all that we mean app wise.... hy even give points back...just makes us want to eat more
  • mlboyer100
    mlboyer100 Posts: 115 Member
    If you're intention is to lose weight, then don't eat your exercise calories back. That's defeating the purpose of trying to use more calories then you take in and lose weight. Now, if your purpose of working out is to build muscle without losing weight, then you have to balance your extra calories between protein, to repair muscle tissue, and carbs for added energy. If ou have any other questions, PM me. I don't check in here often.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    mlboyer100 wrote: »
    If you're intention is to lose weight, then don't eat your exercise calories back. That's defeating the purpose of trying to use more calories then you take in and lose weight. Now, if your purpose of working out is to build muscle without losing weight, then you have to balance your extra calories between protein, to repair muscle tissue, and carbs for added energy. If ou have any other questions, PM me. I don't check in here often.

    To use MFP as intended, you're meant to eat those calories. Since your deficit is built into your calorie goal already, it doesn't defeat the purpose at all. It's supposed to keep your body properly fueled and not risk malnutrition, muscle loss, and other negative effects which can happen if your deficit is too large.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    calithion wrote: »
    we understand all that we mean app wise.... hy even give points back...just makes us want to eat more

    Good, you should eat more. You should be meeting your calorie goal, with or without exercise.
  • calithion
    calithion Posts: 4 Member
    so if your losing weight its better to just not add them back into the app?
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    calithion wrote: »
    so if your losing weight its better to just not add them back into the app?

    No, you should add them in.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    calithion wrote: »
    so if your losing weight its better to just not add them back into the app?

    WRONG!!!
    The idea is to lose weight at a steady, sustainable rate suitable for your goals - it's not a race.
    Read the sticky threads at the top of the various forums.
  • calithion
    calithion Posts: 4 Member
    ok thank you all for your help
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    mlboyer100 wrote: »
    If you're intention is to lose weight, then don't eat your exercise calories back. That's defeating the purpose of trying to use more calories then you take in and lose weight. Now, if your purpose of working out is to build muscle without losing weight, then you have to balance your extra calories between protein, to repair muscle tissue, and carbs for added energy. If ou have any other questions, PM me. I don't check in here often.

    I disagree . here's a hypothetical example -
    Newcomer eats 1200 cals per day but exercises so earns 500 cals . they would now have 1700 cals to eat that day.

    If they didn't eat them back ( or at least a portion of them !) Then they would only net 700 cals for the day. That's far too low for most.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited January 2016
    calithion wrote: »
    we understand all that we mean app wise.... hy even give points back...just makes us want to eat more

    It is set up for a certain deficit, based on your goal and what's healthy. Going too low is not healthy and can cause problems, including more muscle loss than is necessary. You also need to fuel your exercise to make fitness gains and to avoid problems, especially if you are exercising hard. If I were to do my running while eating the calories I get when sedentary and trying to lose (1200, since I'm not that big), I'd be hurting myself and ruining my training.

    Also, cutting too low can lead to failure as people burn out and give up or overeat often. You do better with a consistent sensible deficit that doesn't feel that tough than by going all out for a period of time and then running into problems. Especially if you have a good amount to lose (or want to figure out how to maintain) having a way of eating that feels easy and is good to your body and fuels your activity is important.
  • ModernRock
    ModernRock Posts: 372 Member
    edited January 2016
    I find that I'm far less likely to be "starving" the next day if I eat back most of my exercise/activity calories. It's the same deal with treating my calorie goal as a goal and not as a "maximum". If I have 100 calories left then I'll find 100 calories to eat, and be glad I did by the time lunch rolls around the next day.
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