Calories

SouthernBelleSB
SouthernBelleSB Posts: 21
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
My daily calorie count is at 1200, but if I am exercising should I account for those calories burned or should I just stick to consuming no more than 1200 calories regardless of how many calories I burn in the gym?

Replies

  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Yes you should count exercise calories.. and eat most of them too.

    MFP already has figured a deficit into those 1200 calories.. so when you exercise(lets say you burn 500 calories) it's like only eating 700 calories(1200-500).
  • SouthernBelleSB
    SouthernBelleSB Posts: 21
    Thanks!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    ^what she said. And aim to eat 50-75% of the exercise calories as MFP is a bit high on the calories burned. And make sure they are health calories, probably best with protein and healthy fats.
  • Ruchell
    Ruchell Posts: 236 Member
    You're going to get contradictory answers about exercise calories, but if you're sure that you should be set at 1200 calories (it's standard for MFP, but still pretty low) then in my opinion you should definitely be eating back the calories you burn at the gym. Eating 1200 calories and then burning, say, 300 calories working out would only give your body 900 calories to use all day and it's not really enough to fuel your daily needs.
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    ^what she said. And aim to eat 50-75% of the exercise calories as MFP is a bit high on the calories burned. And make sure they are health calories, probably best with protein and healthy fats.

    This is the best reason to invest in a heartrate monitor with a chest strap or an armband (like bodybugg or BodyMedia).
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    You're going to get contradictory answers about exercise calories, but if you're sure that you should be set at 1200 calories (it's standard for MFP, but still pretty low) then in my opinion you should definitely be eating back the calories you burn at the gym. Eating 1200 calories and then burning, say, 300 calories working out would only give your body 900 calories to use all day and it's not really enough to fuel your daily needs.

    And just incase that happens, here are a few threads that can be helpful. Both are pointing out, to eat more to lose more.


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/395881-people-who-lost-weight-eating-more

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/395948-caloric-intake-results?hl=caloric+intake+results&page=1
  • SouthernBelleSB
    SouthernBelleSB Posts: 21
    ^what she said. And aim to eat 50-75% of the exercise calories as MFP is a bit high on the calories burned. And make sure they are health calories, probably best with protein and healthy fats.

    This is the best reason to invest in a heartrate monitor with a chest strap or an armband (like bodybugg or BodyMedia).

    Does a heartrate monitor tell you how many calories you are burning or just measures your heart rate?
  • SouthernBelleSB
    SouthernBelleSB Posts: 21
    You're going to get contradictory answers about exercise calories, but if you're sure that you should be set at 1200 calories (it's standard for MFP, but still pretty low) then in my opinion you should definitely be eating back the calories you burn at the gym. Eating 1200 calories and then burning, say, 300 calories working out would only give your body 900 calories to use all day and it's not really enough to fuel your daily needs.

    Thanks. I was thinking that I should account for the calories burned as well as the calories I consume. But, I wasn't sure if I'd still lose the weight that way. For example, today I plan to eat my 1200 calories and work out for 60 minutes and burn probably 500 calories on the treadmill. So, if I eat 1700 calories (1200 + 500) will I still lose weight since I am consuming more than the 1200 recommended?
  • Ruchell
    Ruchell Posts: 236 Member

    Thanks. I was thinking that I should account for the calories burned as well as the calories I consume. But, I wasn't sure if I'd still lose the weight that way. For example, today I plan to eat my 1200 calories and work out for 60 minutes and burn probably 500 calories on the treadmill. So, if I eat 1700 calories (1200 + 500) will I still lose weight since I am consuming more than the 1200 recommended?

    Yes, because you will still be netting only 1200. If you experience a slowing of your weight loss down the road, you might even consider raising your calories a bit...but cross that bridge when you get there!
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