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Calories gained from exercise.

MaryAlegado
MaryAlegado Posts: 1 Member
edited December 2024 in Introduce Yourself
Do I have to eat all the extra calories that I gain on exercising on a daily basis even if I have already met my daily calorie goal? If so then I feel like I am chasing my tail. I hate it when I am finished for the day and satisfied yet the system tells me I have to eat more. Who else feels like I do? I'm sure there is good reason for this.

Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    No, you don't. I don't. If your body tells you that you need to, do so. I did once.
  • purplesevens
    purplesevens Posts: 367 Member
    Supposedly, you aren't getting enough if you don't eat back the calories you burn in exercise, MFP treats it as though you didn't eat the right amount. I read discussions on this before here, and some are adamant that you must consume xxx calories a day. Others say they don't ever eat back ex. cals, and some prevent this by altering the calories burned in their exercise log, so that it does not show a deficit.

    I would say let your body be the guide...if you feel hungry, weak, etc, then you probably need more, and of course follow Dr.'s advice first.

    Personally, I don't see the difference between sitting on my rear and eating xxx calories, or sweating my but off then eating it all back lol. Makes me feel like I shouldn't even bother...I know I know, it's for your health. :blush: Exercise is good for you.

    I'm one of those who feels less hungry the more I work out, and I detest seeing "you need 350 more calories" when I'm not the least bit hungry. My cheat fix for this is to have a calorie rich drink, like chocolate milk, cappuccino, or whatever. If you can stand to eat more food, go ahead, but I don't like too. I sometimes make my calorie goal and I'm sometimes under, but only on the days I have workouts.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Do you have to? No, but it's better for your body if you do.

    Say MFP gives you a goal of 1500 calories to lose a pound a week. This means that they believe, for your activity level, you burn 2000 calories a day BEFORE EXERCISE. You then exercise and burn 300 calories. You've now burned a total of 2300 calories. In order to keep your deficit the same and fuel your body, you would eat them back, bringing you back to 1500 net calories (total calories eate minus exercise calories). However, calories burned are often overestimated, so it's best to start out by only eating 50-75% of those back.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    the MFP numbers are only estimates, and they don't really "know" how many calories you burned. if you get hungry eat something tasty, maybe with protein in it. if you don't feel hungry, lightheaded, weak or dizzy, don't eat more.
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