I have a question....

The story behind that is this...
Let's say when you set your MFP account up, you entered that you would like to lose 1 pound per week. There are approximately 3500 calories in a pound so to burn off 1 pound per week you would need a 500 calorie deficit per day (500 x 7 days). When MFP calculates your daily calories, they have already subtracted that 500 calories from the total.
Losing 1 to 2 lbs per week is the recommended "healthy" way to lose weight; therefore, MFP only calculates up to 2 lbs per week loss. That's why exercise calories are added back in.
Some people swear by eating back their calories and others don't.
Personally, I switch it up. Some days I do and some days I don't. Keeping your body confused at all times is the best way to go IMO.
Do what works best for you thru trial and error.

I switch it up. Some days I do and some days I don't. Keeping your body confused at all times I think works best for me with the weight loss. Everybody is different.

Very good question. I never realize this myself,, :embarassed:

I concur with our colts fan above... Everyone has a personal take on this- mine is I am working off calories that have been stored by my body- and I dont want to eat them back. I dont see the logic behind buring off 400 calories and then eating 400 calories- why not just sit on the couch and enjoy not sweating off 400 calories..but I'm not a nutrutionalist.. so perhaps my logics skewed.

The bulk of my exercise comes from skating for derby practices- and it can burn alot of calories-. I cannot eat before I skate - or it will come back up- so sometimes afterwards- I am ravenous- and then I will eat some- but I am usually well below calories because I didnt eat dinner before skating- so I'm eating the dinner calories- not the ones I burned- ya dig?

Try it both ways and see what works for you- but I look at it like working an extra job because you need the cash for bills- but then spending that second paycheck on shoes..

To reply to your post real quick... you could absolutely lose weight if you "sit on the couch and enjoy not sweating off 400 calories". You don't have to exercise to lose weight. All you need is a calorie deficit. Your body burns calories all day, every day, regardless of what you're doing. Eat less calories than what your body is burning, lose weight.
As far as exercise goes... there are numerous other benefits to exercise aside from just burning calories.

Here are 7 benefits to exercise according to the Mayo Clinic:

1. Exercise controls weight
2. Exercise combats health conditions and diseases
3. Exercise improves mood
4. Exercise boosts energy
5. Exercise promotes better sleep
6. Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life
7. Exercise can be fun

Even if you eat back your exercise calories, when it seems counter-productive, that exercise can increase your metabolism and you can actually burn MORE calories when you ARE sitting on the couch than you did before exercise.