[MidnightRaven]

I need friends on my fitness pal! I only know 3 people on there (and only 1 active) - and I need people to keep me accountable! I'm gsprow, if anyone is on there and needs a friend - add me and I'll add you back!

Now the question. Do you log your exercises in MFP, and essentially "eat back" some/all of the calories you burned?

I ask because even though I try to overestimate what I eat and underestimate my exercise, I think it gives way too many calories for the exercise. Even though I'm usually under my goal (with calories set for 1.5lb loss per week), the scale isn't moving at all. I'm wondering if I should just stop putting in exercise (I log all that on Fitocracy anyway - friend me there if you want, I'm MidnightRaven there too!) and just try to stay below the 1300ish calories a day I'm given there.

Some days though, I know I NEED to eat back some calories, but I don't know how much. Right now, I'm just aiming to eat when I'm hungry and avoid snacking on those days. For example, today I had a lot of energy so I spent quite a long time at the gym (went to 3 hour long classes - BodyStep and BodyPump in the morning and spin class in the afternoon). MFP claims that I burned 1541 calories (yeah, right) - but if that's anywhere near true, my daily intake should probably be a bit higher than the 1320 I have as a goal.

TL;DR - Eat back any of the calories "burned" according to MFP? Or just stick to the goal calories and consider anything burned a bonus?

[Chele615]

I'm Chele615 on MFP as well if you want to add me!!! Search around here too, especially on the calorie counters subforum, and you'll find some threads where people list their names.

I don't go by the numbers that MFP gives me for my exercises. I usually use the distance I go as my calories. So, if I do 4 miles on the elliptical, I usually put 400 calories in. This is usually a big difference from the 700+ calories it wants to tell me.

However, I don't really eat back a good chunk of my exercise calories, so I guess the exercise calories don't really matter much to me anyway. If I go over my limit, it's usually no more than 100-150 calories total.

[krystalb]

im xokit on there.. i will add you! and i tend not to eat back the calories

[XLMuffnTop]

I'm XLMuffnTop on MFP as well.

I don't exercise enough for those calories burned to be an issue but when I do get off my rump eating back the calories strictly depends on my mood and tummy. If I'm hungry I'll eat, if I'm not I don't. I don't make it a point to eat them though.

[caramelkitty]

Hola!! I'm princesskittykat on MFP

I don't eat back my workout calories. I like the additional burned calories.

[KatTheAmazon]

RoseySunshine. Feel free to add me :O)


Some days I eat back the calories (or some of the calories). I just got a heart rate monitor, so i will be able to more accurately track the calories that i burn.

[MidnightRaven]

Thanks everyone, I added you all!

Let's do this!

[juliana77]

You can add me, I'm joolzsd

I eat some of my exercise calories, I like to keep my net over 1000 for sure, and usually over 1200. If I am extra hungry or it's a special occasion, I will eat close to all of them.

But, I've been all over the map. I had spans where I ate only 1200, and maybe 100 exercise cals. I've eaten 1300-1350 and no exercise cals. Now I'm at 1400 and I guess averaging half of the exercise cals. I normally use a heart rate monitor to track my burn for running.

[MidnightRaven]

Those of you who use heart rate monitors - any recommendation for a good one? I've been toying with the idea of getting one.

[LockItUp]

Hi. I added you, and the rest of you ladies.

I don't eat back my exercise calories typically.

[juliana77]

Originally Posted by MidnightRaven

Those of you who use heart rate monitors - any recommendation for a good one? I've been toying with the idea of getting one.

I have the Polar FT4 - comes in a bunch of different colors and is a good basic HRM. You really need one with a chest strap (it's comfortable, and it's the only way to get continuous monitoring). It can be fun trying to beat your "score"

[fatbookworm]

I'm fatbookworm on there and I would love to have any of y'all as a friend!

[lyrical]

lyrical87 the more the merrier

[LozzCowell]

Feel free to add me too. Same name there as on here.

I don't eat back the calories, purely because I feel like I'm eating loads already lol I only used to eatmy evening meal and binge on crap. If I eat anymore I won't lose weight! I'm losing on an average of 2lbs a week so I must be doing something right

[ruby5839]

I just signed up for MFP today and I wish I'd checked it out sooner! I've been using Livestrong My Daily Plate for the last few years and I caved and bought the app a few months ago. Now I find out MFP is basically the same (maybe even better?) and FREE! Doh!

I'm not very active on the forums but I need the accountability as I hop back on the wagon, so I hope you don't mind that I'm adding you all

ETA: My username is rcizzle