So CONFUSED..... MAYBE YA'LL CAN HELP...

elmobabie84
elmobabie84 Posts: 112
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm alotted 1560 calories a day... but when i exercise it goes up... do i need to eat the calories that i've burned as well??? And if so how will that help me lose weight???

Replies

  • Ctinahan
    Ctinahan Posts: 1
    From what I have noticed in my limited experience is that yes, the extra calories are needed to get you back to that level to lose the extra weight. Otherwise, your metabolism may not work the way you want it to. It took me a while to figure it out as well. I have used two weight loss programs on my computer and andriod and both programs did this. What I have noticed is that I continue to lose...so far. Hope it works for you, too
  • scarletfever2005
    scarletfever2005 Posts: 141 Member
    Yes, you need to eat those calories burned during exercise. But it's not strictly a calorie in calorie out type thing. You need to eat those calories primarily in protein and carbs. This is important to help you keep reducing fat instead of reducing muscle mass. You want to keep as much muscle mass as possible because muscle "burns" more calories than fat. So having more muscle makes you lose fat at an increased weight. (This is a very simplistic explanation.)
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Opinions on this vary. GREATLY. However, I'm a fan of eating as much as possible. So try eating your extra calories. If that doesn't work, try eating half of them. If that doesn't work, try not eating any. If that doesn't work.... Come back and ask more questions. ;)
  • sbrown6
    sbrown6 Posts: 334 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

    THis may help
  • tuscaroragal
    tuscaroragal Posts: 78 Member
    I've followed my own pattern of eating my exercise calories when I am hungry and if I'm not, I at least keep to my base calories (I try not to leave more that 300-400 calories left). If you try to go too low, your body thinks you're starving, and will hold onto the fat. I've lost 39 pounds as of today, and it's worked really well. Best of luck to you!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I'm alotted 1560 calories a day... but when i exercise it goes up... do i need to eat the calories that i've burned as well??? And if so how will that help me lose weight???

    MFP gave you 1560 calories to lose your goal amount of weight/week by giving you a caloric deficit below your maintenance calories. To make sure you lose your goal and keep your deficit at a safe and healthy amount, MFP adds back those calories, for instance if you eat 1560 and don't workout you will lose your goal amount of wieght, if you burn 300 calories you will eat 1860 and you must to lose you goal amount of wieght, as the 300 burned means your maintenance is 300 calories higher.
    So 1860 - 300 = 1560 - 0
  • Jellyphant
    Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
    I believe you're supposed to, but I personally don't, really. I dunno if I'm in the wrong or not, but I feel like it cancels out all my hard work if I eat back all those cals. /shrug
  • cee134
    cee134 Posts: 33,711 Member
    Remember, your calories are based on your BMI according to your average day. It is not based on how much you exercise. If you burn calories by exercising then you can't meet your calorie goal because it would be too low. For example, if your goal is 1500 and you burn 500 exercising then your body has only taken in 1000 calories for the day. If you are too far under your goal your body will go into survival mode and you will not lose weight. It is important to eat back or most of your exercise calories that are burned. Remember you have to have deficit of 500 - 1000 calories a day without going under 1200 calories. If you lose to fast, and start eating normally then your body will put weight back on fast.

    Goal calories - calories burned by exercise = net calories.

    Your net calories in the day is what your looking for. If you aren't eating enough calories, you could be doing something really bad to your body.
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