Calories - Eating back from workout

ClairBears84
ClairBears84 Posts: 531 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Should I be eating ALL my calories back when I have worked out? I know there are allot of opinions on this topic, I normally eat some of them back but not all of them?! Some nights I work out and burn 400 - 700 cal and then I eat back 100 - 300.

Should I not be doing this at all or should i be eating them all back!? somehow that doesnt make sense to me

Replies

  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    if you are hungry you should eat. But I personally eat at least some back.
  • krystyleee
    krystyleee Posts: 219
    If I am hungry, I eat some of them back. There's no point in starving yourself when you've earned them. Just eat a grilled chicken breast or some sort of protein, not too high in calories. You'll be fine!
  • Impy84
    Impy84 Posts: 430
    I don't eat back my calories unless I am absolutely starving. i burned them i don't want them back.
  • laraceleste27
    laraceleste27 Posts: 1
    :smile:
    I don't eat back my calories unless I am absolutely starving. i burned them i don't want them back.
  • emg9
    emg9 Posts: 112
    i'd like to know why the urgency to eat them back? i'm kinda new to this, whats a long term effect of me not reaching my calorie goal every day? sorry for the naivety haha
  • suzbyrd
    suzbyrd Posts: 1 Member
    I tend to think of eating after working out as re-fueling. Typically, something with a little protein and a little complex carb. For example, a PBJ on wheat bread, FF yogurt w fruit added, or the best one--8oz of low fat chocolate milk. You have to get some fuel back into your muscles, and the first hour after exercise is the absolute best time for it because your muscles are more receptive. I like to replace half the calories I burn with a protein/carb mixture food or drink.
  • JayneCW
    JayneCW Posts: 8
    The problem with not eating back calories that you burn is that it takes away from what your body needs to function. Your body needs a basic amounts of calorie or energy which is your Basic Metabolic Rate. Everyone's is different depending on their height, weight, and age. My BMR is around 1450 calories. If I exercise 300 of those off I need to eat them back in order to give my body what it needs. If I go over and burn that off, then I don't replace it. But I think in general for your health it's necessary to maintain a certain number of calories each day and I'd trust what this site gives you. Or you can check your BMR on another page :)
  • akathatoneguy
    akathatoneguy Posts: 38 Member
    It kind of depends. If you're using MFP and your calorie goal is already at a deficit, then you can eat back all of your exercise calories and still come out ahead.

    Personally, I'm trying to put on muscle and get stronger while slowly dropping some fat, so I try to not be at more than a 200-300 calorie deficit on any given day.
  • andreanicole686
    andreanicole686 Posts: 406 Member
    It depends on what works for you. I usually eat back half of my calories from a workout.
  • kaylageserick
    kaylageserick Posts: 79 Member
    I don't eat back my calories unless I am absolutely starving. i burned them i don't want them back.


    Same here :wink:
  • andreanicole686
    andreanicole686 Posts: 406 Member
    I don't eat back my calories unless I am absolutely starving. i burned them i don't want them back.

    That's like running a car on low fuel...your body needs more food after a good workout.
  • jesusHchris
    jesusHchris Posts: 1,405 Member
    It depends how accurate the daily goal you set for yourself is. This can take some time logging to get down. I've experimented and found what I need to eat on a daily basis to maintain my weight (not including workouts). Let's say that is about 2300 calories. I want to very slowly lose a small amount of weight, so I set my daily goal to 2100 (usually you would have a larger deficit to lose weight).

    I am now at a deficit of 200 calories (2300-2100).

    Now, if I go and do an intense workout and burn 600 calories, I would be at a deficit of 800 calories for the day. For me, this is too large of a deficit and I would plan to eat 600 calories more this day so that I can stick to my meticulously planned 200 calorie deficit.

    If you are simply using the defaults that MFP gives you, it is hard to say. Maybe try that and watch the scale and the tape measure and then work the math out.

    Good luck!
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    I've heard that you should net no less than 1,200 calories.
  • JayneCW
    JayneCW Posts: 8
    1200 is really low for most people too. My BMR is 1450.
  • TriciaAnnette
    TriciaAnnette Posts: 3 Member
    My understanding of MFP is that if you are on a weight loss plan, you are already given a deficit in your calories....which would mean you need to eat the most of what you burn to fuel your body. The problem with not eating them is your body goes into starvation mode and your metabolism slows down causing your body to burn even fewer calories in general....you have to feed your body to lose weight.

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