Prof PT (not mine) said not to eat exercise cals back

yirara · June 2020

Ask this guy what his qualifications are on nutrition.

SuzySunshine99 · June 2020

Here's always my thought when people say things like "Don't eat your exercise calories" or when a doctor recommends a 1200-calorie diet for everyone, regardless of their stats/situation....

There is an assumption that most people are not counting their calories accurately, and this gives them the wiggle-room to make up for the inaccuracies and still achieve a calorie deficit. And, that's probably a safe assumption for people who are eyeballing portions and not weighing their food. They are likely eating more than they think, and by not eating exercise calories, or sticking to a low goal, they can still maybe be successful.

But, some people DO weigh their food, and are as accurate as possible with their calorie counting, so this broad, general advice can be dangerous.

MelanieCN77 · June 2020

thelastnightingale wrote: »

I think it's dangerous to say 'this workout burns off X calories' because everyone listening will burn off different amounts, and you don't want them taking an average as gospel.

Someone who is a size 6 is going to burn fewer calories than someone who is a size 16. It would be different if it was a one-to-one session.

Eating back your calories only works if you have a good idea of what that number is. If you estimate with a fitness tracker, that's obviously more accurate than if you google an average calorie burn for that exercise, without taking into account your height, weight and how much effort you put in.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, the PT's intended message may just have come out really badly?

So he could just say that? "It's different depending on body composition but for you about XXX." Withholding information so someone can't make a decision for themselves is manipulative and controlling.

Dalal87Mutar · June 2020

I don't pay a lot of attention to this. I just make sure I burn at least 25% of what I eat. I mean if I usually eat 1200 cals, I make sure I burn no less than 300 cals every morning. In other words, I don't eat any calories back but even when I do, I don't gain weight.

Shortgirlrunning · June 2020

Dalal87Mutar wrote: »

I don't pay a lot of attention to this. I just make sure I burn at least 25% of what I eat. I mean if I usually eat 1200 cals, I make sure I burn no less than 300 cals every morning. In other words, I don't eat any calories back but even when I do, I don't gain weight.

1200 net calories is the lowest recommended number of calories for women. If you are only eating 1200 calories you should definitely be eating back your exercise calories. And there’s no way 1200 is your maintenance calories and that you’d gain weight if you are back all 300 calories from a workout.

What you’re describing here is very unhealthy.

Prof PT (not mine) said not to eat exercise cals back

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