Eating all of your exercise calories back?

aurorasangel2000
aurorasangel2000 Posts: 38
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I know that it's better to eat at least a portion of your exercise calories back. I already do that, by at least half, if not more. I was just wondering if it's necessary to eat ALL of the exercise calories back. I actually aim to have a decent amount left over at the end of the day. Curious on what others may think or feel about this, and whether it may be more of a harm than help to my weightloss journey...

Replies

  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    bump
  • Marcel7
    Marcel7 Posts: 52 Member
    It doesn't make sense to me to force yourself to eat. I don't worry about eating all of my exercise calories. I try to stay under my calorie goal like you do since I am trying to lose weight.
  • mccgivens
    mccgivens Posts: 91
    bump
  • sarscott
    sarscott Posts: 189 Member
    I typically do not eat back any of my exercise calories. It doesn't make sense to me to eat back what I've worked so hard to burn off. But maybe that's a wrong thought?
  • LiL_MisS_C
    LiL_MisS_C Posts: 332 Member
    I leave 4 at the most usually....and eat back the rest of each delicious calorie. ;) lol.
  • unhinge
    unhinge Posts: 318 Member
    You will get loads of answers both ways on this and there are allot of posts if you search but this might help:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

    Good luck!
  • Megan2Project
    Megan2Project Posts: 351 Member
    I have a lot of weight to lose, so I don't usually eat them back. As I get closer to my goal I plan on starting to eat them back.
  • laneybird
    laneybird Posts: 532 Member
    Because I weigh a lot, I burn a lot because I have intense workouts. I only eat back some of my calories if I am hungry. I know when I hit a plateau, I will try to eat more back or tweak my numbers, but in 5 months I've steadily lost this way.
  • Victoriav99
    Victoriav99 Posts: 260 Member
    I don't..... Because most of the time I'm not hungry enough to eat my calories back. I won't force myself If i am not hungry.
  • karenbobaren
    karenbobaren Posts: 127 Member
    It doesn't make sense to me to force yourself to eat. I don't worry about eating all of my exercise calories. I try to stay under my calorie goal like you do since I am trying to lose weight.

    So far I've been doing the same and then I also tend to fall off the band wagon so I'm wodering if I continue to eat under my calorie goal and don't eat my exercise calories will the affect me in the future?
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    This website is designed for you to eat them back.

    A lot of people do and a lot of people don't. I personally eat them back because I've found that NOT eating them back causes me to gain weight. Everyone's body is different and you'll just need to figure out what works best for you. But, if weight loss slows down or even stalls - don't be afraid to try something different. :)
  • sharonus
    sharonus Posts: 102
    I always ate back my exercise calories. I always aimed to be within 100 calories (over or under) the total I was supposed to eat for the day. Frankly, I don't understand the people who talk about forcing yourself to eat those calories. I didn't become overweight because I had a problem eating! It doesn't take a lot of food to add up. Two tablespoons of peanut butter is nearly 200 calories, a container of yogurt (at least the kind I eat) is 180, 23 almonds is 160. Have a piece of chocolate or a beer. Feed yourself to help avoid the need to "break your diet" or "binge" later on.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    I eat my exercise calories back, sometimes all, sometimes only most, but I try to get at least within 100 or so calories to the net goal with exercise included. It's helping to fuel your body to respond and recover from the exercise, it will help you be much healthier in the long run. Faster weight loss by depriving your body extra nutrients it craves from exercise is going to lead to more muscle loss than a nice slow pace. At least that's my opinion. :drinker:
  • daydream58
    daydream58 Posts: 572 Member
    Nice - a couple of people actually mentioned staying within 100 calories of the daily goal... that is new information I've been wondering about as I noticed I have a HUGE tendency to do whatever it takes to make it about 250 under. No wonder I am not losing that fast. Very interesting!
  • aurorasangel2000
    aurorasangel2000 Posts: 38
    Thank you so much, everyone :-) I really appreciate the feed back. I had read something on a previous blog/post about how the site was designed to add the exercise calories back into what you were supposed to eat and still help you lose. I've just been burning a lot more calories recently, which is great :-) But, I've also found that when I have around 300-500 calories left at the end of the night, it tends to affect me differently than when I eat closer to my suggested calorie goals. I usually get sleepier and just don't have much of an appetite, which I know can't be a good sign... Thanks again! :-)
  • lovelee79
    lovelee79 Posts: 362
    bump

    What does "bump" mean ????
  • Birder150
    Birder150 Posts: 677 Member
    I eat them back even when I don't exercise. :happy:
  • shorty458
    shorty458 Posts: 163 Member
    Depends on the particular day. For example yesterday I took a 7 1/2 mile walk. Ended up having some pizza. I probably wouldn't have had pizza if I didn't exercise. However, if I am just doing the Wii Fit I typically don't eat those back. As long as I eat close to 1200 calories a day (w/o exercise) I am happy.
  • robinso5
    robinso5 Posts: 310 Member
    bump back to the top!
This discussion has been closed.

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