Do I eat back calories from workout

awaite3
awaite3 Posts: 20 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Question I'm new to my fitness pal. I'm on a 1200 cal allowance for the day. I'm at 1135 if I workout tonight do I eat the calories back that I burnt off? I'm currently at 182.6 down from 195lbs and my goal weight is to be at 135 in one yr.

Replies

  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,196 Member
    MFP is set up for you to eat back your exercise calories. Sometimes the exercise calories are over estimated so many people only eat back half. I would recommend eating back at least half and if you lose too quickly you know you can eat more. I usually eat about 75% back. I think it is especially important to at least eat some back if your goal is 1200 or 1300.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,196 Member
    Your stats are similar to mine. I started at 195 and my goal is 135. I'm at 153 now. I have my goal set to 1300 and eat back about 75% of exercise calories.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    This is one of my favorite explanations on the topic: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • hulesjames
    hulesjames Posts: 10 Member
    Yes you could eat back your calories off you feel like it
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Absolutely, MFP expects you to eat them back and if you're eating the lowest possible calories then I highly recommend eating back the exercise calories or at least a portion of them.
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    Experiment. Eat all of them back. If you stall or gain, eat back about 75% instead. And so on down the line until you find your sweet spot.

    I can not eat any of my exercise calories back. If I do, I stop losing. I have seen many people here say they can eat all their exercise calories back, and they lose like crazy. And everything in between these two extremes.
  • awaite3
    awaite3 Posts: 20 Member
    Thank you guys for all the advice
  • AlphaCajun
    AlphaCajun Posts: 290 Member
    I do BUT I also have my activity set to sedentary, UA band synced and negative adjustments turned on! Eat them all.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    AlphaCajun wrote: »
    I do BUT I also have my activity set to sedentary, UA band synced and negative adjustments turned on! Eat them all.

    that doesn't matter really.

    Sedentary is based on your activity level before exercise and you use a fitness tracker...
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    edited April 2016
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    AlphaCajun wrote: »
    I do BUT I also have my activity set to sedentary, UA band synced and negative adjustments turned on! Eat them all.

    that doesn't matter really.

    Sedentary is based on your activity level before exercise and you use a fitness tracker...

    I agree with this. I am set on sedentary and regardless, I can't eat my exercise calories back. :) Once in a while I'll have 25-ish of them, and in a greater while, about 50, if my workouts plus walks came to over 300 or thereabouts (per MFP's calculations). Otherwise, no can do (and still lose weight).

    People all seem to be different on whether they can eat their exercise calories back and if so, how much, so it may be a learning curve, or you may be able to luck out, OP, and just eat them all and keep losing. :)
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    kgirlhart wrote: »
    MFP is set up for you to eat back your exercise calories. Sometimes the exercise calories are over estimated so many people only eat back half. I would recommend eating back at least half and if you lose too quickly you know you can eat more. I usually eat about 75% back. I think it is especially important to at least eat some back if your goal is 1200 or 1300.

    This^

    You are at the lowest minimum already (1200).....so start by eating calories back.

    The reasons eating back calories "doesn't work" for some.......estimates.

    Your food intake is an estimate; people who weigh portions are much more accurate. Your activity level (before exercise) is a range of calories....not just 1 value. Finally exercise calories....yet another estimate.
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