question about exercise calories

karenmetfan
karenmetfan Posts: 62 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I noticed this past week I had about 200 or so calories left (with exercise calories added). Is this too much to have left and will it confuse my body? BTW--I'm about 3 weeks in.

Replies

  • jakejacobsen
    jakejacobsen Posts: 584 Member
    If your full and losing weight I would say no, but I always leave a few hundred calories uneaten.
  • horror_hamster
    horror_hamster Posts: 278
    I don't think i've even eaten one of my exercise calories back. Like said above, as long as you're full every day and you continue to lose weight, that means it's working for you just the way you're doing it. if you start to notice stalls in your weight loss, take a look at your diary and see if you can find a pattern re: whether you did or didnt eat back all of those calories.

    You gotta do what works for you and only you, each body is different. so if you continue to lose, then you're doin' it right! :-D

    keep up the great work.
  • Cr357
    Cr357 Posts: 238
    Eat your exercise calories. Your goal that MFP gave you already has a deficit calculated. Not eating those calories pushes you further into a deficit which could eventually stall weight loss.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Depends how you measure your exercise calories and what your typical burn is. If you go by some online calculator and you think you may be overestimating, then it's a good idea to leave some on the table. If you use an HRM and have all your numbers "dialed in", then eat them all in order to keep your net calories constant.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    i agree with guru
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    double post - BUT ill add this too
    Here is how it works, in a simplified manner:

    You tell MFP: I want to lose 1lb per week.

    MFP says: Okay, you need to eat X calories per day in order to lose 1lb/week, without exercise.

    You do what MFP says, but then you decide to exercise and you burn an additional 400 calories. MFP then says "Hey, I told you to eat X per day to lose 1lb/week without exercise. You exercised, now you're going to lose it too fast and that's not ideal. Now I want you to eat X+400".
  • karenmetfan
    karenmetfan Posts: 62 Member
    Okay, thanks, that makes sense rockerbabyy :) Gotta make sure I don't leave that many then. Only 3 weeks in and I think I've started to slow down--didn't really notice a change in weight this week. Now have to make sure I don't get too down. Losing those first 13 lbs made me very happy :)
  • tschmelzer
    tschmelzer Posts: 120
    I would say no as long as you aren't starving. I rarely eat any of my exercise calories.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    <double post deleted>
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    I would say no as long as you aren't starving. I rarely eat any of my exercise calories.
    12236106.png


    ^^^ note the ticker
  • stephabef
    stephabef Posts: 936 Member
    I don't think i've even eaten one of my exercise calories back. Like said above, as long as you're full every day and you continue to lose weight, that means it's working for you just the way you're doing it. if you start to notice stalls in your weight loss, take a look at your diary and see if you can find a pattern re: whether you did or didnt eat back all of those calories.

    You gotta do what works for you and only you, each body is different. so if you continue to lose, then you're doin' it right! :-D

    keep up the great work.

    Speaking of tickers, I love yours.
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    I would say no as long as you aren't starving. I rarely eat any of my exercise calories.

    That is interesting advice. Have you had a lot of success with this method?
  • poulingail
    poulingail Posts: 110
    The program includes a recommended minimum number of calories. When I have been under 1200 calories and completed the diary for the day, there's a message that tells me I should be eating a minimum of 1200 to avoid driving my body into "starvation" mode. When I add to the calories available with some exercise, I still have the 1200 minimum. It doesn't change things. Skip the calories if you can for faster results.
  • llkilgore
    llkilgore Posts: 1,169 Member
    Skip the calories if you can for faster results.

    And a faster yo-yo effect.
  • poulingail
    poulingail Posts: 110
    I guess I don't get it because my exercise is generally under 200 calories burned. That's not enough to drive up my appetite so I don't feel the need to eat more.
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