eating back your exercise calories - again!

cheddar2000
cheddar2000 Posts: 43 Member
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, I know a topic run into the ground...but. Here is my problem. I do not lose weight when I am eating back my exercise calories. I had not been losing weight at the 2 lbs per week (more like 1/2 lb a week or even none most weeks) for the last 2 months of last year. I eat well, keep up my nutrients. I am assuming (I know what assume means:-)) that I just do not burn the amount of calories per exercise that fitness pal says I am. I am at about 250lbs (lost 48lbs last year in all) and at least do the stationary bike every day for at least 30 minutes then again for 40 minutes and it says I burn about 1000 calories. Note that I even lift small 1 lb weights the whole time I am on the bike too. I just don't see me burning that many calories. I have checked with other sites and do do pretty much line up with what MFP says I burn for my weight and height. I believe I have a really slow metabolism and with the past 3 weeks or so of my net being around 400-700 calories I am losing about 1.5 - 2lbs a week. Remember I am eating well. I do not feel hungry.

Question, do I trust my instincts and stay like I am as long as I am eating well rounded meals (total before net of 1800-2000 calories) and not hungry or do I believe the high calorie burn that the exercises say I am expending in MFP?

Replies

  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    Ok, I know a topic run into the ground...but. Here is my problem. I do not lose weight when I am eating back my exercise calories. I had not been losing weight at the 2 lbs per week (more like 1/2 lb a week or even none most weeks) for the last 2 months of last year. I eat well, keep up my nutrients. I am assuming (I know what assume means:-)) that I just do not burn the amount of calories per exercise that fitness pal says I am. I am at about 250lbs (lost 48lbs last year in all) and at least do the stationary bike every day for at least 30 minutes then again for 40 minutes and it says I burn about 1000 calories. Note that I even lift small 1 lb weights the whole time I am on the bike too. I just don't see me burning that many calories. I have checked with other sites and do do pretty much line up with what MFP says I burn for my weight and height. I believe I have a really slow metabolism and with the past 3 weeks or so of my net being around 400-700 calories I am losing about 1.5 - 2lbs a week. Remember I am eating well. I do not feel hungry.

    Question, do I trust my instincts and stay like I am as long as I am eating well rounded meals (total before net of 1800-2000 calories) and not hungry or do I believe the high calorie burn that the exercises say I am expending in MFP?

    Some questions:

    What is your net calorie goal?
    What is your activity level set to?
    What are you using to calculate your calories burned?

    I ask these questions because if your activity level already factors in your exercise activity, then you could be double counting your exercise. If you are using MFP database of exercise (which can be pretty inaccurate), you could over estimating the calories burned.

    Eating back exercise cals worked for me when I corrected set my activity level and got a HRM to measure my cals burned. Currently, I use another formula for calories that takes into account my exercise level. So I eat 1700-1800 static calories a day instead of 1200+exercise calories. It's much simpler.
  • cheddar2000
    cheddar2000 Posts: 43 Member
    1. do not have a net calorie goal as it was 1200 and I was not losing what MFP said (1.9lbs a week) so I just eat about 1800-2000 calories a day and exercise 2x a day on the bike and swim when I can.
    2. I swim moderately (according to MFP and other sites) and my bike is set to moderate as well. I use my breathing to gauge the intensity as well as heart rate.
    3. I use MFP to get the calories burned. I have also used several other calculators on the web. I make sure they all consider weight, height, and sex when calculating.
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    So you eat 1800 +exercise calories?
  • tropaze
    tropaze Posts: 317 Member
    From what I understand: you're eating in total 1800-2000 calories period. You workout 2x a day, and you're alright.
    I would keep on as you are if that's what you're really doing!
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    Yea...I basically do the same thing. It looks ok to me. I wasn't certain if you were eating 1800 to 2000 AND eating back exercise cals
  • cheddar2000
    cheddar2000 Posts: 43 Member
    Yes, I eat 1800-2000 total. I don't count my exercise calories any more. Just makes my net look so low.
  • continue29
    continue29 Posts: 16
    personal experience has shown me that the exercise cals earnt on here are over estimated.. by quite some way. I had a HRM for xmas & it shows me im actually burning only about half what i thought using MFP's counts...

    I swim a fair bit & this was an even bigger revelation for me.. HRM tells me im only burning roughly a third of what MFP was telling me.

    Obviously everyone is different & no forumla, HRM or stats are going to be 100% accurate but for me since ive amended the calories burnt (at least 50% lower than i was previously calculating) & eating according to that.. the weight has started to come off again
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    Yes, I eat 1800-2000 total. I don't count my exercise calories any more. Just makes my net look so low.

    Oooo Ok I understand I do the exact same thing. I don't use MFP's calculator. I use the Katch McArdle formula for my TDEE (which includes exercise). It gives me 1795 to lose a lb per week. I just don't log my exercise anymore.
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