Do I need to eat back the calories I've burned exercising?

mnishi · January 2011

Do I need to eat back the calories I've burned exercising if my daily calorie intake is 1200? I've read that if I don't have at least 1200 calories per day my body will go into starvation mode, but how does exercise factor in? Please help.

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

4Matt · January 2011

I've been wondering the same thing...hope someone knows the answer!

ZebraHead · January 2011

Hi - I think Yes.

Please read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

mistigoodwin · January 2011

I've heard that you are supposed to eat the calories you burn, in order to lose weight. I can see doing that if you want to maintain your weight. I thought in order to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you eat, so I don't get it. But I would really love to know!!

arbragg · January 2011

Yes, eat them so that your net calories ( calories consumed minus exercise) does not go below 1200! I exercise so I can eat more :laugh:

mariasheehan · January 2011

Hi there,

Here is some information from one of our 'experts' on this site, his blog is great if you read down a little he tackles this question and others; hope this helps you somewhat.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/stroutman81

arbragg · January 2011

You are most likely running at a deficit already, from what your body burns from normal daily activities. So make sure that you are getting at least the minimum "net" 1200 calories.

papastu · January 2011

i really dont understand, if i burn off 1500 calories in a session, your saying i need to eat 1500 extra, so i might aswell not exercise then.............

Trecois · January 2011

@arbrag--
I agree, I burn so that I can eat. Someone that is not doing this program said, "well that doesn't make sense, you are just breaking even." but that is not true. I know that if I didn't work this program, I would be consuming more and I would be less likely to workout on days that I feel tired.

ObviousIndigo · January 2011

You need to eat back at least half of the calories you have burned. It works like this

calories eaten - 1240
calories burned - 350
net calories - 890

890 calories per day is not enough for your body to function properly. 1200 cals is the bare minimum if you are laying in bed not moving too much.

So in order for your body to be getting enough you would have to eat back 310 calories to make your net 1200.
Make sense?

All_Mimsy · January 2011

Yes, eat them back. The great thing about MFP is that they already calculate a deficit into your daily goal WITHOUT factoring in any exercise. So if you DO exercise, you have to add those calories to your daily goal in order to get the minimum net calories recommended for your weight/goal/desired rate of weight loss/etc.

I know it is confusing because other weight loss programs assume that you will be exercising a certain amount before they calculate your daily calorie totals. What I love about this website is that if I am sick one day or can't exercise for any other reason, I'll still have a calorie deficit built in. If I do exercise, I get to eat more as a reward!

mnishi · January 2011

Thanks for the help everyone. I was just hoping to speed things up, but a pound a week isnt too bad. At least I'll get to indulge a little. Anybody that's looking for more friends, please add me.

FAKECED · January 2011

The key is eating the right foods to replenish your body.

scagneti · January 2011

Thanks for the help everyone. I was just hoping to speed things up, but a pound a week isnt too bad. At least I'll get to indulge a little. Anybody that's looking for more friends, please add me.

Treating yourself once in a while is recommended, but don't take that to mean that because your eliptical machine said that you burned 500 calories, you should eat 500 calories of chocolate cake. First make sure that the amount of calories you're said to have burned is accurate with a heart monitor. Secondly, replace the calories burned with calorie dense foods that help your body like fruit, nuts & nut butters, whole grains and lean meats & cheeses. This isn't an excuse to fill up on chocolate or white pasta!!

troyacobb · January 2011

Yes, eat them back. The great thing about MFP is that they already calculate a deficit into your daily goal WITHOUT factoring in any exercise. So if you DO exercise, you have to add those calories to your daily goal in order to get the minimum net calories recommended for your weight/goal/desired rate of weight loss/etc.

I know it is confusing because other weight loss programs assume that you will be exercising a certain amount before they calculate your daily calorie totals. What I love about this website is that if I am sick one day or can't exercise for any other reason, I'll still have a calorie deficit built in. If I do exercise, I get to eat more as a reward!

papastu · January 2011

if you had an allowance of 2000 and had a great day at the gym and burnt off 2000 where would you stand on intake?

does that mean I should eat 4000? if so I would rather just eat my 2000 and not go to the gym, its hard

I always take my allowance before exercise and find this so confusing, I read the above links

a very confused Stu

AMummysLife · January 2011

Thank you, that makes more sense to me. I've always assumed you need to eat less than the daily goal to loose the weight but if they have already given me a deficit even before the fitness side of things that makes a lot of sense.

BMoynihan · January 2011

if you had an allowance of 2000 and had a great day at the gym and burnt off 2000 where would you stand on intake?

does that mean I should eat 4000? if so I would rather just eat my 2000 and not go to the gym, its hard

I always take my allowance before exercise and find this so confusing, I read the above links

a very confused Stu

But the benefits of exercise go far beyond just losing weight. Not only will you burn the calories during the exercise, but your body will go on burning calories for hours after. Also your metabolism will speed up and your heart will get fitter. Your body also creates endorphins when you exercise so you will feel better for it.

So yes you could just eat 2000 less calories and not go to the gym, but you would lose all the other benefits.

FearAnLoathing · January 2011

sometimes I eat them,sometimes I dont.More often than not I dont.So far im ok

Bmorrow · January 2011

Do I need to eat back the calories I've burned exercising if my daily calorie intake is 1200? I've read that if I don't have at least 1200 calories per day my body will go into starvation mode, but how does exercise factor in? Please help.

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Glad you posted this question. It almost seems weird that one could actually lose weight eating so much but I'll know Monday if it's working for me. New at this site but I want it to work and looks like a lot of folks are losing a lot of weight, so something must be working. Good luck on your journey. Feel free to add me as a newbie friend if you like.

Cherri_ToP · January 2012

Haha I'm just wondering this

sunshinegirl2012 · January 2012

I don't...I think one of the main points of exercising is to burn calories, so why would I want them back? I make sure I eat a looot of protein and veggies in my diet and limited fats/sugars. so far so good, I don't feel deprived, I'm seeing results at a good pace, and my body has gotten a lot stronger from working out. (:

LuckyLeprechaun · January 2012

Thanks for the help everyone. I was just hoping to speed things up, but a pound a week isnt too bad. At least I'll get to indulge a little. Anybody that's looking for more friends, please add me.

Treating yourself once in a while is recommended, but don't take that to mean that because your eliptical machine said that you burned 500 calories, you should eat 500 calories of chocolate cake. First make sure that the amount of calories you're said to have burned is accurate with a heart monitor. Secondly, replace the calories burned with calorie dense foods that help your body like fruit, nuts & nut butters, whole grains and lean meats & cheeses. This isn't an excuse to fill up on chocolate or white pasta!!

actually, please feel free to use your exercise calories on chocolate OR white pasta. Or BOTH.

Calories in minus calories out folks.....

DrumlineGirl · January 2012

EXAMPLE:

How many calories should you be eating to MAINTAIN? 1800
How many calories should you be eating to LOSE 1 LB a day? 1500 (made up number by me for example)
How many calories did you eat today? 1800
How many calories did you burn off today? 600
What is your net? 1200

which means you are under your calories to lose weight and can eat back 300 of the calories you burned to go back to 1500, and still lose a pound a week since your net would be 1500. Just eat back to hit your losing calorie number and not your maintenance number if you want to lose weight.

duckpond11 · January 2012

depends. For example, today I took a circuit training class at the gym, and logged it. Came back claiming I burned 800+ calories. I wish. There is no way I burnt that much, and the battery went out on my HRM so I couldn't tell you what I really burnt. Probably 300-500. I don't put too much stock into what MFP calculates for exercise cals.

DrumlineGirl · January 2012

Your body needs at least 1200 to function. If you eat 1200, and burn off 1200, you are at 0 calories for the day, then your body will start to shut down as you are starving it. But 1200, for most people, would be WAY below your maintenance, so you will lose.

amberpickens · January 2012

I've heard that you are supposed to eat the calories you burn, in order to lose weight. I can see doing that if you want to maintain your weight. I thought in order to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you eat, so I don't get it. But I would really love to know!!

you have to have a net intake of 1200 or more or your body will save fat to help it keep you going. the reason you want to eat the calories you burned is because it helps with your energy level and everything...take me for example when i had my son i gained 20 + pounds when i ate my burn calories i lost all of it and more with in a year(i didnt work out all the time) and ive been back on this since dec 26th and i have lost almost 5lbs it does work

staceyb_2003 · January 2012

its all about seeing whats right for you eatting back exercise cals works for some people some people find only eatting half back and other people find they cant eat them back and lose i am the last one unfortunatley :-(

twhitney · January 2012

I'm having the same dilemma. I've decided to not eat them back. Felt I was consuming too much food. I feel that it defeats the purpose of working out. Guess I'll find out when I weigh myself!