Do you eat your exercise calories?

No way. That obviously will slow down your weight loss.

It will actually aid your weight loss. MFP puts you on a calorie deficit when you join. When you exercise you're creating more of a deficit. If you don't eat back at least most of your exercise calories your body could go into starvation mode,which could slow your weight loss or stop it all together.

I disagree with this. It is proven that the only way you will lose weight is if you burn more calories than you eat so it will ultimately slow down your weight loss. You will still lose but I don't believe it aids your weight loss.

There is nothing to disagree with. MFP puts you at a calorie deficit if you choose any goal except maintenance. That deficit does not assume any exercise. Eating your exercise calories on MFP is MAINTAINING that calorie deficit, not decreasing it.

I.E.

if I go on MFP and choose a 1 pound per week weight loss goal, MFP puts me at a 500 calorie a day deficit.

If I then go exercise for 400 calories, for that day I now have a 900 calorie deficit.

so in order to maintain the goal MFP puts me at, I need to eat back 400 calories over and above my normal calories.

This would keep me at that 500 calorie deficit and on track.

If I don't, there is the strong possibility (depending on where my health, body fat, metabolic rate...etc. all are) that I'll push my body past what it considers normal calorie intake, and it will start the process commonly referred to as "starvation mode" where the metabolism slows down, and you actually require less calories to maintain, thus stalling or at least slowing down any weight loss efforts.

Hope this helps.

I was just looking at the exercise database - surprised to see stuff like cooking, housecleaning, and playing piano listed. I'm going to be doing all that today but it seems like cheating to add those as exercise calories.

:ohwell: Does anybody count those calories?

No way. That obviously will slow down your weight loss.

It will actually aid your weight loss. MFP puts you on a calorie deficit when you join. When you exercise you're creating more of a deficit. If you don't eat back at least most of your exercise calories your body could go into starvation mode,which could slow your weight loss or stop it all together.

I disagree with this. It is proven that the only way you will lose weight is if you burn more calories than you eat so it will ultimately slow down your weight loss. You will still lose but I don't believe it aids your weight loss.

Did you see the amount of weight lost by the people above who do eat their exercise calories?

Imagine what their weight loss would be if the hadn't eaten back their calories. I'm not arguing it doesn't work. I just think it slows down the process.

No way. That obviously will slow down your weight loss.

It will actually aid your weight loss. MFP puts you on a calorie deficit when you join. When you exercise you're creating more of a deficit. If you don't eat back at least most of your exercise calories your body could go into starvation mode,which could slow your weight loss or stop it all together.

I disagree with this. It is proven that the only way you will lose weight is if you burn more calories than you eat so it will ultimately slow down your weight loss. You will still lose but I don't believe it aids your weight loss.

Did you see the amount of weight lost by the people above who do eat their exercise calories?

Imagine what their weight loss would be if the hadn't eaten back their calories. I'm not arguing it doesn't work. I just think it slows down the process.

...and maintains a safe, healthy sustainable weight loss? If they hadn't eaten their exercise calories, they probably wouldn't still be on their plans.

Like I said earlier. When I do go over my calories I try to work off the extra calories by exercising; however, I do believe it will slow down the weight loss if you eat back your exercise calories everyday. Finish logging your calories without eating back your exercise calories and on your home page there will be a greater weight loss in 5 weeks if you do. Someone asked for input and I gave mine. I didn't mean to start a MFP argument, but if I wanted input I would want to hear what everyone's thoughts were. I would also seriously consider the people's input that aren't 150 lbs overweight.

No way. That obviously will slow down your weight loss.

It will actually aid your weight loss. MFP puts you on a calorie deficit when you join. When you exercise you're creating more of a deficit. If you don't eat back at least most of your exercise calories your body could go into starvation mode,which could slow your weight loss or stop it all together.

I disagree with this. It is proven that the only way you will lose weight is if you burn more calories than you eat so it will ultimately slow down your weight loss. You will still lose but I don't believe it aids your weight loss.

Did you see the amount of weight lost by the people above who do eat their exercise calories?

Imagine what their weight loss would be if the hadn't eaten back their calories. I'm not arguing it doesn't work. I just think it slows down the process.

...and maintains a safe, healthy sustainable weight loss? If they hadn't eaten their exercise calories, they probably wouldn't still be on their plans.

Like I said earlier. When I do go over my calories I try to work off the extra calories by exercising; however, I do believe it will slow down the weight loss if you eat back your exercise calories everyday. Finish logging your calories without eating back your exercise calories and on your home page there will be a greater weight loss in 5 weeks if you do. Someone asked for input and I gave mine. I didn't mean to start a MFP argument, but if I wanted input I would want to hear what everyone's thoughts were. I would also seriously consider the people's input that aren't 150 lbs overweight.

Healthy arguement is good for the soul.

For me, I have lost and gained the same 10 pounds over the past 10 yrs or so. Each time I went on 1200 calorie diet and exercised each day. Each time I was a raging beyotch or exhausted. My body needed more fuel........period.

This time I went by exactly what MFP stated. I started with 2 pound loss, which turned out to be a bad idea because if you are at 1200 at your highest weight, where will you go when you are 10 pounds from goal?

Turns out I really slowed my metabolism by doing that and it took about 4 months to get it back up and running.

I can say that I have lost almost 35 pounds, I feel like a million dollars, I am healthy and in better shape than the past 20 yrs of my life.

Most importantly this journey has been wonderful!! I have made some wonderful friends who have given me great advise (and the occasional azz kickin' ) and the weight is still GONE!!!

Good luck to you. You have your youth on your side and I hope you will be able to maintain after you drop the weight. You are a beautiful young lady and I wish you luck:flowerforyou:

No way. That obviously will slow down your weight loss.

It will actually aid your weight loss. MFP puts you on a calorie deficit when you join. When you exercise you're creating more of a deficit. If you don't eat back at least most of your exercise calories your body could go into starvation mode,which could slow your weight loss or stop it all together.

I disagree with this. It is proven that the only way you will lose weight is if you burn more calories than you eat so it will ultimately slow down your weight loss. You will still lose but I don't believe it aids your weight loss.

Did you see the amount of weight lost by the people above who do eat their exercise calories?

Imagine what their weight loss would be if the hadn't eaten back their calories. I'm not arguing it doesn't work. I just think it slows down the process.

...and maintains a safe, healthy sustainable weight loss? If they hadn't eaten their exercise calories, they probably wouldn't still be on their plans.

Like I said earlier. When I do go over my calories I try to work off the extra calories by exercising; however, I do believe it will slow down the weight loss if you eat back your exercise calories everyday. Finish logging your calories without eating back your exercise calories and on your home page there will be a greater weight loss in 5 weeks if you do. Someone asked for input and I gave mine. I didn't mean to start a MFP argument, but if I wanted input I would want to hear what everyone's thoughts were. I would also seriously consider the people's input that aren't 150 lbs overweight.

As far as I know, those people aren't 150 pounds overweight any longer, or are you just referring to me? I would want opinions of people who had lost large amounts of weight, and were successfully keeping it off over those who have lost 10 pounds or so in the last year +. Just sayin.

Well actually I didn't start my ticker until I got to 150, but I started at 155. Does 15 lbs make my advice any better? And just so you know when you actually get down to a healthy weight range, it is EXTREMELY hard to lose so my 10 lbs is a pretty great accomplishment.

No way. That obviously will slow down your weight loss.

It will actually aid your weight loss. MFP puts you on a calorie deficit when you join. When you exercise you're creating more of a deficit. If you don't eat back at least most of your exercise calories your body could go into starvation mode,which could slow your weight loss or stop it all together.

I disagree with this. It is proven that the only way you will lose weight is if you burn more calories than you eat so it will ultimately slow down your weight loss. You will still lose but I don't believe it aids your weight loss.

Did you see the amount of weight lost by the people above who do eat their exercise calories?

Imagine what their weight loss would be if the hadn't eaten back their calories. I'm not arguing it doesn't work. I just think it slows down the process.

...and maintains a safe, healthy sustainable weight loss? If they hadn't eaten their exercise calories, they probably wouldn't still be on their plans.

Like I said earlier. When I do go over my calories I try to work off the extra calories by exercising; however, I do believe it will slow down the weight loss if you eat back your exercise calories everyday. Finish logging your calories without eating back your exercise calories and on your home page there will be a greater weight loss in 5 weeks if you do. Someone asked for input and I gave mine. I didn't mean to start a MFP argument, but if I wanted input I would want to hear what everyone's thoughts were. I would also seriously consider the people's input that aren't 150 lbs overweight.

I find your last statement very disrespectful. You should not try to discredit advice based on weight. Why not look at progress? I lost 110 pounds eating exercise calories. I did not have as much trouble keeping a steady weightloss.

If you were to take your MAINTENANCE calories (which are no where NEAR 1200 for ANYONE) and then do exercises to help you lose weight...then no, obviously you would not eat them back.

But, the way the MFP program works is that the goal set for you already includes a healthy deficit. You are trying to maintain this deficit, not increase it to an unhealthy range. So MFP has already deducted the proper amount of calories from maintenance to get you to your goal. By eating your exercise calories, you are keeping to that precise deficit of 500 or 1000 to lose the weight. Where many people mess up is 1) being truthful about what they eat, 2) portion sizes, 3) inaccurately estimating activity levels, 4) overestimating calories burned through exercise and 5) not using the proper nutrient balance for their particular body.

No way. That obviously will slow down your weight loss.

It will actually aid your weight loss. MFP puts you on a calorie deficit when you join. When you exercise you're creating more of a deficit. If you don't eat back at least most of your exercise calories your body could go into starvation mode,which could slow your weight loss or stop it all together.

I disagree with this. It is proven that the only way you will lose weight is if you burn more calories than you eat so it will ultimately slow down your weight loss. You will still lose but I don't believe it aids your weight loss.

Did you see the amount of weight lost by the people above who do eat their exercise calories?

Imagine what their weight loss would be if the hadn't eaten back their calories. I'm not arguing it doesn't work. I just think it slows down the process.

...and maintains a safe, healthy sustainable weight loss? If they hadn't eaten their exercise calories, they probably wouldn't still be on their plans.

Like I said earlier. When I do go over my calories I try to work off the extra calories by exercising; however, I do believe it will slow down the weight loss if you eat back your exercise calories everyday. Finish logging your calories without eating back your exercise calories and on your home page there will be a greater weight loss in 5 weeks if you do. Someone asked for input and I gave mine. I didn't mean to start a MFP argument, but if I wanted input I would want to hear what everyone's thoughts were. I would also seriously consider the people's input that aren't 150 lbs overweight.

I find your last statement very disrespectful. You should not try to discredit advice based on weight. Why not look at progress? I lost 110 pounds eating exercise calories. I did not have as much trouble keeping a steady weightloss.

I agree, her statement was disrespectful, and actually downright rude.

I think every single body is different. We can ask for advice but when it comes down to it we can only go by what works for our body. I gain weight when I eat all of mine, so I don't eat all of mine. Some people lose weight when they eat theirs so they eat theirs... the only person who can decide is that person...