"Do I eat my exercise calories?"

13

Replies

  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    These posts, like this one, just confuse me even more on the whole subject. :sad:


    answer: www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com
  • toots99
    toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
    These posts, like this one, just confuse me even more on the whole subject. :sad:

    Read this link. Hopefully it helps. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo
  • toots99
    toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
    These posts, like this one, just confuse me even more on the whole subject. :sad:


    answer: www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

    While I do love that site :laugh: , it doesn't really help explain WHY. :laugh:
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    These posts, like this one, just confuse me even more on the whole subject. :sad:


    answer: www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

    While I do love that site :laugh: , it doesn't really help explain WHY. :laugh:

    Oh, I don't know why - I just post the link for teh funsies.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    i say no

    well you are out voted

    so there :tongue:

    and your all wrong so there

    I think you should talk to a nutritionist.

    ditto.

    And I wouldn't take health and nutrition advice from someone who's name states that she "NEEDS skinny".

    How about "wants healthy" ?

    skinny= gross

    muscle and strength = sexy
  • toots99
    toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
    These posts, like this one, just confuse me even more on the whole subject. :sad:


    answer: www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

    While I do love that site :laugh: , it doesn't really help explain WHY. :laugh:

    Oh, I don't know why - I just post the link for teh funsies.

    :laugh:
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    The best explanation on this subject is this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/173853-an-objective-look-at-eating-exercise-calories

    There's nothing really special about "exercise" calories (thermic effect of activity - TEA) in comparison to say spontaneous physical activity (SPA) / non exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) when it comes to energy balance. The way some people bang on about it you would think it is the holy grail of fat loss.

    What is important is what your overall calorie deficit is, whether that overall deficit is suitable for your current body composition and fits your goals.

    Outside of this website and a few others you won't find any real debate over this subject as more standard calculations are used which tends to result in a simper / cleaner approach.
  • brittanyjeanxo
    brittanyjeanxo Posts: 1,831 Member
    The best explanation on this subject is this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/173853-an-objective-look-at-eating-exercise-calories

    There's nothing really special about "exercise" calories (thermic effect of activity - TEA) in comparison to say spontaneous physical activity (SPA) / non exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) when it comes to energy balance. The way some people bang on about it you would think it is the holy grail of fat loss.

    What is important is what your overall calorie deficit is, whether that overall deficit is suitable for your current body composition and fits your goals.

    Outside of this website and a few others you won't find any real debate over this subject as more standard calculations are used which tends to result in a simper / cleaner approach.

    It's empty, hollowed advice like this that I hate. This is clearly a case of not reading what I wrote, and not reading responses. Get out --->
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member

    It's empty, hollowed advice like this that I hate. This is clearly a case of not reading what I wrote, and not reading responses. Get out --->

    Fair enough. I will leave you to it.

    I hope someone else found my empty, hollow but factual advice useful in their fat loss attempts rather than the pushing of one viewpoint without question.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    In response to the OP - good for you, it seems plenty of others do too. Whether you should or not is a different debate. I think I may have seen it discussed here before somewhere.....
  • brittanyjeanxo
    brittanyjeanxo Posts: 1,831 Member

    It's empty, hollowed advice like this that I hate. This is clearly a case of not reading what I wrote, and not reading responses. Get out --->

    Fair enough. I will leave you to it.

    I hope someone else found my empty, hollow but factual advice useful in their fat loss attempts rather than the pushing of one viewpoint without question.

    If you had taken the time to READ the thread, you would know this whole thing is meant to be fun, sarcastic, and all in jest. I am not "pushing" my view point on anyone. Have a lovely evening.
  • arhzon
    arhzon Posts: 150
    All I know is that I put gas in my car before I run out of gas. If I have burned a lot of calories, I put fuel in my body, which, much like a car, will eventually stop going without fuel.
  • SiltyPigeon
    SiltyPigeon Posts: 920 Member
    I snort my exercise calories.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    I know this topic is supposed to be fun and games but i agree with this:
    The best explanation on this subject is this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/173853-an-objective-look-at-eating-exercise-calories

    There's nothing really special about "exercise" calories (thermic effect of activity - TEA) in comparison to say spontaneous physical activity (SPA) / non exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) when it comes to energy balance. The way some people bang on about it you would think it is the holy grail of fat loss.

    What is important is what your overall calorie deficit is, whether that overall deficit is suitable for your current body composition and fits your goals.

    Outside of this website and a few others you won't find any real debate over this subject as more standard calculations are used which tends to result in a simper / cleaner approach.


    Especially this:
    What is important is what your overall calorie deficit is, whether that overall deficit is suitable for your current body composition and fits your goals.

    The whole "exercise calories" concept has confused the **** out of people who suck at math.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    I just make sure I eat my exercise calories first :wink: jk

    For me, when I was on 1200 net, exercise calories were my saviours. Food preparation and cleaning? Yup! If I could've logged sneezing I would have.

    Now I'm maintaining, I'm including all of that in a top limit of 2450. I don't reach goal every day, because it's not a goal any more. I don't see it as 'not eating my exercise calories' coz as Taso says, calories, in this sense at least, are calories.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    coz as Taso says, calories, in this sense at least, are calories.

    Well in this case, international man of mystery, msf74, said it. I just quoted him. :) I think I just want to copy & paste his whole post from now in exercise calories threads.
  • yea, eat back as many as you can. Not on this site, but on a better one, I have my daily cal intake set for 1500-1600 calories. I typically burn 300-500 per day at the gym.. never used to eat them back, and also used to only eat about 1200.. Since upping my cal intake and eating them back, I've lost 5lbs.. took me right out of the plateu.
  • becca3211
    becca3211 Posts: 98 Member
  • becca3211
    becca3211 Posts: 98 Member
    I still say no..... it works for me! :smile:
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    I still say no..... it works for me! :smile:

    The exercise calorie gods will eat your soul for this.
  • celticmuse
    celticmuse Posts: 492 Member
    If you don't eat them....
    How about now?

    STILL YES.

    OK - I'll eat them. Please don't pull the trigger....
  • celticmuse
    celticmuse Posts: 492 Member
    I just started eating mine this week, and I finally started losing again, after a 2 month plateau. I'd say if you are close to your goal, and get stuck on a plateau, trying eating the exercise calories and see what happens. My calorie goal is 1,330/day, so if I burn 400 calories exercising, and I don't eat some of them back, my net calorie intake is only about 900 calories, which is too low. I finally get it! Yes!!!
  • brittanyjeanxo
    brittanyjeanxo Posts: 1,831 Member
    I just started eating mine this week, and I finally started losing again, after a 2 month plateau. I'd say if you are close to your goal, and get stuck on a plateau, trying eating the exercise calories and see what happens. My calorie goal is 1,330/day, so if I burn 400 calories exercising, and I don't eat some of them back, my net calorie intake is only about 900 calories, which is too low. I finally get it! Yes!!!

    Thank you! Someone finally sees the light! lol
  • This would make sense because the calorie goal the pc will give you is what you need to just exist. If you exercise and don't eat more you might go into starvation mode which in turn will make the body hold on to the fat. Wish a nutritionist would answer to this post. I find it a valid concern.
    My opinion is to NOT eat the exercise calories if you can help it. Your daily calorie level should be where if you didn't exercise, you would still slowly lose weight. The exercise calories are a bonus to the weight loss effort. Since you have to burn 3500 extra calories to lose one (that's right 1!) pound, I do my best to not consume by exercise calories. However, not always good at that and will sometimes eat some of them; but always aim to have calories left over if possible.

    Disagree. You should be *netting* at least 1200 or you're going to p*ss off your body and defeat the purpose. If you eat 1200 calories and burn 1000, you're netting 200. Bad news bears, my friend.

    Bottom line to all Exercise Calorie Non-Consumers: Do what you want, but don't come crying when you work your *kitten* off at the gym and don't drop a pound or inch in 3 months.
  • becca3211
    becca3211 Posts: 98 Member
    I still say no..... it works for me! :smile:

    The exercise calorie gods will eat your soul for this.
    what????? :noway:
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    I still say no..... it works for me! :smile:

    The exercise calorie gods will eat your soul for this.
    what????? :noway:

    Totally true. Go ahead...try your luck :indifferent:
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    What if I do this?

    stevedance.gif

    Do I eat those calories?
  • becca3211
    becca3211 Posts: 98 Member
    ok...what do you do when you cant force yourself to eat? i have a very hard time eating that many calories. my stomach is very sensitive and when i force myself to eat all it does is make me sick. protein drinks any good? i can drink ensure. is that the right kind of calories? :sick:
  • CGSW4
    CGSW4 Posts: 12
    I have lost 20kg so far and the medthod I have used is:
    Eat c 1200 Calories per day (any less probably puts you in starvation mode)
    Exercise c 700 - 1400 Calories per day (Cardio and some weights)

    I never eat the calories I have burnt and thus have a deficit, technically some times my weight loss is not matched by the calorie deficit but it always moves in the correct direction

    I think it matters:
    What you eat (cleaner the better)
    The proportion of protein / carb/ fats
    and its better if you eat 6 times a day and not late at night

    I have found this to be the best strategy for losing the fat, getting my weight down and also building muscle

    Hope this helps
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    I never eat the calories I have burnt and thus have a deficit

    You would still have a deficit if you ate them back.
This discussion has been closed.