Vets-Do you eat "back" the calories you burn through exercise?

[M2G 1,836]

I know this topic has been posted about in other forums, but I'm wondering about how the vets handle this.

My short answer is NO.

I typically burn 300-700 calories in a workout depending on what it is. 1 hour of spin class of pretty intense cardio where I'm dripping sweat and there is NO stopping for the entire hour probably nets me around -700 calories burned. And I just don't see the sense in eating an extra +700 calories on my sleevers diet of 1,200 cals/day.

I know there are are LOTS of theories on this topic and everyone is different, so your mileage may vary. I'm also *still* trying to lose weight so in my mind, burning extra calories just to eat them back seems like it would be counter-productive to losing weight.

What are your thoughts, ideas, examples, and experiences? I would love to hear from other vets...

[Sassafras 136]

I have been wondering this same thing but didn't know quite how to word it. Thank you for asking this!

[Fiddleman 4,376]

No, I do not eat back calories lost from exercise. No reason really, just don't. I keep calories burned separate from calories gained from food and do not attempt to balance my caloric checkbook. I eat to satisfaction. No more then that. If I did a really hard workout, I might have an extra shake or something, but only because my body says it needs fuel. I do not really track any longer and eat according to strategies I have learned during 1st 6 months. It is working well as to provide enough fuel to do aggressive training.

[OneWritersSoul 353]

I know this topic has been posted about in other forums' date=' but I'm wondering about how the vets handle this.

My short answer is NO.

I typically burn 300-700 calories in a workout depending on what it is. 1 hour of spin class of pretty intense cardio where I'm dripping sweat and there is NO stopping for the entire hour probably nets me around -700 calories burned. And I just don't see the sense in eating an extra +700 calories on my sleevers diet of 1,200 cals/day.

I know there are are LOTS of theories on this topic and everyone is different, so your mileage may vary. I'm also *still* trying to lose weight so in my mind, burning extra calories just to eat them back seems like it would be counter-productive to losing weight.

What are your thoughts, ideas, examples, and experiences? I would love to hear from other vets...[/quote']

Thank you for posting this question! Every day MFP changes the calorie count I'm "supposed" to be eating because I exercise, but like you, it seems counter-productive to me. So, if my body (and that app!) think I'm operating at some deficit, so be it!

[lsereno 2,525]

While I was in the losing phase, I ate the recommended amounts of foods in the lowest calorie way I could have them. For example, I ate 3 oz. of Protein at dinner, but I chose low calorie Proteins, such as chicken breast, low fat ground beef, or fish. And same with vegetables, dairy and starches. I did not eat extra just because I exercised.

Now that I'm in maintenance, I do eat higher fat foods on occasion and I have more treats, but I still don't eat extra on days I exercise.

Lynda

[clk 3,519]

I'm not great about structured exercise but I do track what I burn and only occasionally eat back just a small portion of those calories. Only if I feel a real, genuine need to eat and have topped out my calorie limit for the day will I do it, and it's only happened a handful of times in more than two years.

I never quite trust that I really burned that many calories and I also think the idea of eating more because I exercised odd. I can understand it for serious athletes that need those calories and energy but I simply don't.

~Cheri

[feedyoureye 3,087]

I eat back most of the calories I exercise away(400+ cals 4-5 days). I use a fitbit, and eat at a 500+ calorie a day deficit from what myfitnesspal and fitbit thinks I should eat to maintain. I find I am more likely to exercise more if I do this, and I can get to a level of calories that leaves me satisfied. I have cut my baseline of calories to try and lose more weight(1200), but I am in the camp that thinks that you can train your body to live on less.. and I just do not want to do that anymore than I already have. Earlier in the year I was eating closer to my TDEE, at around 1600-2000 a day including exercies calories, and did not gain...or lose.

[coops 1,790]

NO! I don't either... in fact, I don't look at exercise in that way and I never have. Exercise for me, is a way to get a stronger and healthier body. Simples! =]

[Kalimomof3 613]

I normally don't but if I am genuinely hungry then I may eat some of them but not all 500 I tend to burn in a workout Sometimes if I know I am going to eat something "bad" I will exercise more than normal to compensate for those calories.

[lyndynojo 140]

I think it would depend on if you were wanting to lose or wanting to maintain. Eat less calories than you burn, you lose weight, but if you are trying to maintain your weight you might need to eat some of them back to keep from losing.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

When I eat back my exercise calories I am STILL eating 500 calories a day less than I burn according to the charts and fitbit.

[Globetrotter 1,340]

Calories in calories out makes me want to pull my hair screaming as I run around the room! I have been with my body for awhile now and I know it's sneaky sullen backstabbing ways, I can exercise hard cardio for one hour, 6 days a week and eat a balanced diet of 1200 calories a day and barely see the scale move almost a pound in a week. Bump that up to 1400 and I GAIN. The only time in my life where I have seen genuine movement on the scale was in the 6 months following surgery when I focused solely on severe low calorie/carb - 600 cals, >30 carbs. I did exercise during that time, but it was 30 minutes gentle walking on the treadmill or elliptical with a weights rotation, nothing strenuous at all.

Now that I am not super mobidly obese and cannot rely on the sheer momentum of weight that needs to be lost to drive forward the weight loss, I am at a *loss* as to how to actually lose weight. What do those "light weights" do, the ones who have VSG with *only* 60 lbs to lose? I'd really like to know.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

I don't know what to say Globe, my metabolism is pretty un-normal as well. That TDEE plan suggests backing off of cardio to a couple times a week and lifting weights instead.. build muscle, change your shape, burn more calories... its not about the scale as much as the look of your body....and you can eat more (= satisfaction) I need to lift more to really comply...and eat more too... but at this point I am seeing a minuscule drop at the scale,and the way my body looks is changing...so It MIGHT be working even with my moderate compliance...

[Nicolanz 1,484]

I don't know the answer but do remember reading someone's post about their nutritionist saying don't eat back the calories. If I'm super hungry, I may eat an extra snack but not the full calories burned.

[Globetrotter 1,340]

I want to lift weights/weight train but the gym here is ... a deployment gym, hyper macho testosterone etc. and, have you ever heard the expression "undressed her with his eyes"? Yeah, I always thought that was just a figure of speech ... it gets really uncomfortable, and when you stop and thing about the positions we have to be in to do a lot of the exercises ...