Were you using a HRM to get calories burned? That might be part of it. Don't trust the exercise numbers here, my experience is that they are way off on certain exercises. Also, most sites recommend only eating back half.

I am an advocate of eating back none unless you are hungry and need them. If you eat back some for that reason, only eat more protein and non-starchy veggies and not carbs.

I eat some of them back - about half, I'd guess. I try to leave myself about 100 calories under my goal most days (although on hungry days, I'll eat them all) to account for errors in the numbers. I've had good success so far - 13lbs in 8 weeks, which has been comfortable and encouraging.

i use a heart rate monitor to calculate my cal burn, and so far, i've eaten my exercise back most days, give or take a few calories and i lost... mfp's calculations for cal burns are grossly overestimated

Either you've proven wrong everything science has ever found to be true in the known universe, or you've miscounted.

Or ... get a heart rate monitor. Not perfect, but better than guestimates and self-starving?

If you can eat the amount of calories before exercise and not be hungry, do that. That is what I do. If you are hungry all the time when not eating exercise calories, get a HRM or fitbit to have a more accurate calorie count and eat half or all.

I eat them back when I want or need them and don't stress about it otherwise. Go with the ebb and flow of your body.

Agree! There is some miscounting going on. I am set at sedentary and eat back nearly all of my exercise calories to net 1200. It works very well because I'm very careful in my counting. I weigh my food. I use an HRM while exercising and subtract my BMR from the results.

I could be losing faster, but I'd rather be losing in a way that is sustainable over the long term. Almost 15 months for me now so it's obviously working.

It also becomes less of an issue if you're only burning 200 calories while exercising. I run and bike and typically burn 600+ calories per session five times a week. WAY too many calories not to eat them back.

Like others have said, I don't eat all of my calories I gain back from exercise.
And the HRM idea for you is great.

I never eat my work out calories if I am being really strong. I would only gain weight if I did.

I NEVER eat back my exercise calories and have been losing a good 2lbs a week for a few months.

Eat them if you're hungry. Don't force yourself to eat. Some days you will want to and some days you won't. Don't force your body either way.

Just curious, If not eating your exercise calories back was working for you, why did you decide to change that? I never eat mine back and it works for me. I would never change what works just because someone on this site says it worked for them. Everyone is different.

I do this as well. If I'm going over I make sure it's with protein and non-starchy vegetables and not on simple carbs.

Its really good reading through the replies ... a lot of people have the same mind set as me when it comes to this type of thing (that sounded kind of snobish hey? not what im going for)

I see calories burnt as a BONUS to your journey ... even if you thrash yourself and burn mega calories a day ...

I eat to survive and live and don't take exercise into account at all when i choose what to eat ... i keep it simple stupid and say that food keeps me alive and exercise is making my weight loss journey as successful as what it is. But at the same time, if you get hungry ... then eat! Your body will tell you when it needs food or rest :)

I hear a lot of blah blah as well about eating back your calories, a lot of people preaching it ... and i don't believe in it to be honest. But i also don't believe in starving yourself either ... just wanted to make that clear. "But what about losing muscle instead of fat if you don't eat back your calories", yeah i don't think so either ... if you eat enough protein and the right foods it wont be a problem ... if it was then why do i still have very decent muscles in my arms, chest and shoulders after losing close to 30 kilograms (66 lbs) ? Do feel free to add me and have a look at my diary if you wanted to :)

After all that garble i have just written ... i also wanted to add that this is just my opinion and what im doing works for me :) Other people may have different opinions and will do what works for them :) and that is totally cool ...

ANYONE who is out there using MFP is an absolute superstar in my opinion ... we are mighty :)

Just read through the replies - some in favour of eating back calories, others not.

I firmly believe you need to eat at least 1200 net a day, or near that.

The suggestion to get a HRM or even a pedometer to check your activity during the day is a good idea - being a nurse you are probably more active than you think, if you are working on wards?

One thing that has not been suggested (that I could see anyway) is are you ensuring your portion size and calories ingested correct? Get some scales, measure your food, double check the nutrition count before you add it (a lot are WAY wrong).

Eat fresh unprocessed food more often than processed packaged food. Eat more fruit n veg. Watch your sodium.

Good luck!

I believe in eating at least 1200 calories for nutrients sake, but I don't worry about netting less than that. Many diet plans have recommended 1200 calorie intake for women and don't qualify that as a net 1200.

I eat back most of my exercise calories and that is working for me. I do use an HRM for my cardio, and am very active. Also weigh and measure all my intake, and record everything that goes in my mouth.

I don't believe in eating back ex. If I did I know I'd gain. Ex cals to me are a bonus and I try not to go over my normal cals. However of I've had a good day or even week, I'm not fussed about going over occasionally.

I have a heart rate monitor and I think its very accurate for calories burned. With that, I will eat my usual amount and then if I'm hungry eat more.

Hi there. My personal trainer told me ABSOLUTELY NOT. Calories in vs calories out. This is the only site I have seen that does that also. He watches my food log like a hawk. Why add the calories back in? There are people that are not going to agree with me or my trainer. What I do know is this. When I stay with in my calorie allowance or at least very close to it, and work out... I do very well. On July 15 I weighed in at 234.4 for a weight lost contest at my gym. I weighed in Tuesday July 24 at 229.4. I did not intentional add any calories back. I have only been able to work out 1 day this week and I weighed in at my doctors office today at 227. Try it without adding the calories back. Try not to go over much if you do. See how it works for you. Good Luck!

My goal is to have calories left between food and exercise. No real number goal, just as long as I'm not in the red! Didn't track cals during 1st month of P90x and lost nothing. Now 3/4 thru month 2 and lost 2lbs already. Nt much for some but enough for me.

If you actually have MFP set to lose 2lb/week that means you already have a 7,000 calorie weekly deficit before exercise. In order to gain "weight" (not water weight) you would have had to eat (7,000 calories + the workout calories that made a bigger deficit + extra to gain .8lb (so whatever .8 of 3,500 calories is)). I mean, that's simplifying it, but you get the idea. So - did you eat that much?

If my numbers are wrong, please someone correct them but I'm pretty sure that's right. Eating back 50-75% should be a safe buffer for inaccuracies.

I agree with this!

Most of the time, I do not eat any of the calories back. I also do not log,"accidental," exercise. I only eat calories back when I know I would still be safe with the overestimation.