Just started and have a question

wboone73
wboone73 Posts: 1
in Fitness and Exercise
When I input my calorie burn it adds it to my calorie diary...should I consume those calories? or stick to my original calorie number?

Replies

  • PinkEarthMama
    PinkEarthMama Posts: 987 Member
    Eat the calories you have earned by exercise. Not every does, but the way My Fitness Pal is set up - you can, and should. As long as you have truthfully stated your activity level, eat back those calories.

    You're in for a giant parade of advice.
  • fit4lyfeLisa
    fit4lyfeLisa Posts: 529 Member
    I NEVER eat back my calories, and I have lost 51 pounds. :-)
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    The closer you are to goal, the more important this is. I have 15 pounds to lose, use a heart rate monitor (for accuaracy) and eat back ALL my exercise calories. For me one major point of exercise is to KEEP my existing muscle mass. If you have too large a calorie deficit ... you will burn muscle as well as fat. For me, the goal is just to get rid of the fat.
  • strandedj
    strandedj Posts: 128
    I heard no matter what you must consume at least 1200 calories!
  • lforner46
    lforner46 Posts: 103 Member
    Yes, I always eat my exercise calories. I'm starving if I don't.
  • Glucocorticoid
    Glucocorticoid Posts: 867 Member
    The closer you are to goal, the more important this is. I have 15 pounds to lose, use a heart rate monitor (for accuaracy) and eat back ALL my exercise calories. For me one major point of exercise is to KEEP my existing muscle mass. If you have too large a calorie deficit ... you will burn muscle as well as fat. For me, the goal is just to get rid of the fat.
    It's true that you can afford to make less mistakes overall when you are leaner and close to your goal (in terms of preserving LBM and fat loss). But that doesn't mean everyone has to count nor eat back exercise calories. You can just create less of a deficit than the grossly large one that MFP calculates.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    I do eat them back, and the site recommends it so you can stay energetic and support good vigorous workouts and learn about controlling your weight and losing it at the pace you choose.

    You run a calorie deficit to lose weight, not to get fit. You exercise to get fit, not to lose weight.

    You may choose to do as you wish, of course - experiment to see what works for you.
  • trimom10
    trimom10 Posts: 388 Member
    Yes, I always eat my exercise calories since MFP has the program set up that way. However, pay close attention to your activity setting - I set mine at sedentary, since I have a desk job, even though I workout every day on average 60 minutes. I started in January 2012 and have lost 15 pounds.

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