Exercise Calories

TracyRexroad
TracyRexroad Posts: 14 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
My goal is 1200 calories but then I walk around 2 miles a day, should I be eating those exercise calories as well? I'm not losing much weight because I've been eating part of the excerise calories.

Replies

  • Silentpadna
    Silentpadna Posts: 1,306 Member
    How much is your deficit at 1200? Other stats? Age, height, weight? Can't answer the question without context.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    edited April 2017
    If you're using MFP, then yes its expected you will eat additional for doing intentional exercise.

    You have not given much information though. What is your current height, weight? How much weight do you need to lose? And how much weight have you lost, in what time? It could be that you're losing at a good rate but have unrealistic expectations.

    For 2 miles walked, personally I'd only consider that to be 'worth' an extra 75 calories or so.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    When you say "not losing much weight" how much have you lost in what time frame? What are your stats?
  • Silentpadna
    Silentpadna Posts: 1,306 Member
    edited April 2017
    StaciMarie1974 wrote: »

    For 2 miles walked, personally I'd only consider that to be 'worth' an extra 75 calories or so.

    That would be worth quite a bit more for me (like about 250, which depends on my size and pace) - I say that because the context (stats) are important to be able to answer the OP's question.

  • Blitzia
    Blitzia Posts: 205 Member
    As other posters have said, yes, MFP is designed with the expectation that you will eat back your exercise calories. However, if you eat back exercise calories, it's important that you're estimating these calories correctly. How many calories did you estimate that you burned in 2 miles of walking? How did you calculate that number? If you overestimate the number of calories burned and try to eat them back, then yes, you can wreck your deficit.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    2 miles * 1/3 = 2/3 * your weight, which appears to be 250, and the calories burned is 166 2/3. Have a nice banana.
  • TracyRexroad
    TracyRexroad Posts: 14 Member
    I'm 5'4" and now 153, I started out at 156. I started about a month ago. My calorie allowance is 1200. My goal weight is 135.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Three pounds in a month when you don't have all that much to lose is fine. It's not going to be a quick process.
  • Azzie521
    Azzie521 Posts: 32 Member
    Yes you can eat the calories you burn from exercise. It is still a calorie deficient. I do it all the time and am losing weight. Losing is just a slower process then we'd like it to be
  • cherilee0831
    cherilee0831 Posts: 44 Member
    Since you don't have much to lose, it may be the type of calories you are eating. Drink a lot of water (half your body weight), eat mostly protein and minimize carbs/sugar. A lot easier said than done! I just started my 100lb weight loss journey and this is what my doctor has me on. I have lost 7 lbs in 3 days, mostly from water.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    cherilee0831 wrote: »
    Since you don't have much to lose, it may be the type of calories you are eating. Drink a lot of water (half your body weight), eat mostly protein and minimize carbs/sugar. A lot easier said than done! I just started my 100lb weight loss journey and this is what my doctor has me on. I have lost 7 lbs in 3 days, mostly from water.

    Nope. Weight loss comes down to being in a calorie deficit, not to what you're eating or how much water you're drinking.
  • WyattsMomKimberly
    WyattsMomKimberly Posts: 59 Member
    malibu927 wrote: »
    cherilee0831 wrote: »
    Since you don't have much to lose, it may be the type of calories you are eating. Drink a lot of water (half your body weight), eat mostly protein and minimize carbs/sugar. A lot easier said than done! I just started my 100lb weight loss journey and this is what my doctor has me on. I have lost 7 lbs in 3 days, mostly from water.

    Nope. Weight loss comes down to being in a calorie deficit, not to what you're eating or how much water you're drinking.


    malibu927, Yes this is true that you need a calorie deficit but when cherilee0831 has that much to do the increase of water helps shed water weight you are retaining especially when you are a bigger person. The same happened to me and my doctor told me it would happen. Weight loss is not a linear idea and sometimes having a deficit is only part of it.

    To the OP if you are concerned that it is not a fast enough rate talk to your doctor about it. Only your doctor knows your whole health picture and can give you the best advice. 3 pounds in a month isn't bad. Make sure you aren't drinking your calories and stick to water thats my advice. Best of luck.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    WyattsMomKimberly wrote: »
    malibu927 wrote: »
    cherilee0831 wrote: »
    Since you don't have much to lose, it may be the type of calories you are eating. Drink a lot of water (half your body weight), eat mostly protein and minimize carbs/sugar. A lot easier said than done! I just started my 100lb weight loss journey and this is what my doctor has me on. I have lost 7 lbs in 3 days, mostly from water.

    Nope. Weight loss comes down to being in a calorie deficit, not to what you're eating or how much water you're drinking.


    malibu927, Yes this is true that you need a calorie deficit but when cherilee0831 has that much to do the increase of water helps shed water weight you are retaining especially when you are a bigger person. The same happened to me and my doctor told me it would happen. Weight loss is not a linear idea and sometimes having a deficit is only part of it.

    To the OP if you are concerned that it is not a fast enough rate talk to your doctor about it. Only your doctor knows your whole health picture and can give you the best advice. 3 pounds in a month isn't bad. Make sure you aren't drinking your calories and stick to water thats my advice. Best of luck.

    I know weight loss isn't linear. Water isn't a factor in fat loss, though. And the OP is only eight pounds above a healthy weight.
  • don9992
    don9992 Posts: 49 Member
    I can't see the point in working my butt off and then negating the extra calorie loss by stuffing my face.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    don9992 wrote: »
    I can't see the point in working my butt off and then negating the extra calorie loss by stuffing my face.

    You already have the deficit built into your diet if you're using MFP as designed...that target is also without exercise. If I ate 1900 calories to lose 1 Lb per week and went on a 30 mile ride and burned 1,000, that would leave me a meager 900 calories to fuel my existence and other daily activity...not to healthy...not to mention the loss of lean mass.

    There's a lot more to exercise than burning calories or losing weight. Improperly fueling your training isn't doing you any favors in regards to fitness gains, etc.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    don9992 wrote: »
    I can't see the point in working my butt off and then negating the extra calorie loss by stuffing my face.

    Because you want to continue to be able to train hard and meet your fitness goals?

    Because, for the vast majority of people, retaining muscle is a goal?

    Because we generally feel better when we're meeting our nutritional needs?
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    don9992 wrote: »
    I can't see the point in working my butt off and then negating the extra calorie loss by stuffing my face.

    Use one of these and you'll understand.

    calculator.png
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