For people who track... Do you eat your exercise calories? My fitness pal claims I burned over 450 Cals with exercise today but I've stayed in my usual 700-800 zone. I have been more hungry than usual today though. Thoughts?

I only eat back a maximum of half the calories burned. That gives me a way to ease some of the hunger from a heavy workout day without just canceling out any bonus weight loss effects from the exercise. It also gives me a safety margin, since I absolutely do not believe the usual calculations for calories burned are correct. And I only do any "eating back" of serious, purposeful exercise. I see people on MFP with entries like "burned 800 calories walking in mall" or "burned 300 calories washing dishes" and I would never do something like that!

I don't eat walking around Cals either! I usually walk 10,000 miles per day!

No. I do record my exercise, but calories are not my primary focus. I focus on making sure I get in my protein.

When I was losing I didn't, in maintenance I don't purposefully do it, but eating intuitively I wind up eating a good portion back

Nope. I agree that the estimates seem more generous than what I actually think I burned. I am also still trying to lose, maybe in maintenance that will change.

The thing to keep in mind with MFP is that it's not set up for bariatric patients. I don't eat my calories back, but if I am consistently hungry at a certain level, I know it's time to go up another 100 calories. Before I do that I play around with what I am eating. For me eating more protein rich foods with carbs before and after my workout tend to help. I burn the calories with my workout and it doesn't leave me starving.

I only eat back a maximum of half the calories burned. That gives me a way to ease some of the hunger from a heavy workout day without just canceling out any bonus weight loss effects from the exercise. It also gives me a safety margin, since I absolutely do not believe the usual calculations for calories burned are correct. And I only do any "eating back" of serious, purposeful exercise. I see people on MFP with entries like "burned 800 calories walking in mall" or "burned 300 calories washing dishes" and I would never do something like that!

You can't go by that always. If you are extremely overweight walking in the mall really is a workout. My rule of thumb for logging is I don't count anything that is part of my normal routine so I don't count things like washing dishes, but years ago when my feet and legs were so swollen that standing was painful, I might have.

I do not "eat" my exercise calories. The way to lose weight in its most basic version is to create a deficit between calories consumed and calories burned.

The Nurse Practitioner from my bariatric program recommended I up my calories to 1200 per day when she found out I was swimming 3-5 days per week. I burn close to 1,000 calories an hour swimming according to MyFitnessPal and was eating closer to 800 calories. When I bumped up my calorie intake, my weight loss seemed to pick up a bit. When averaged out, I've lost 2.5 lbs per week since surgery and the stalls have been minimal.

I do not "eat" my exercise calories. The way to lose weight in its most basic version is to create a deficit between calories consumed and calories burned.

Thanks. I didn't know that.

However, if I eat 800 calories a day and have a vigorous workout burning 600+ calories, it makes sense to up the caloric intake with healthy food choices. I saw an article about calculating additional calories needed as per exercise routine. It was written by a bariatric physician and nutritionist. I wish I could locate that article.

It would make more sense to up your Protein and healthy carbs (which will give you more calories) than to just upping your calories. A donut will give you more calories but it won't be what your body needs.

If you are only eating 800 calories a day you will need more calories if you are working out.

Rather than limiting calories consider maximizing protein.

I don't eat walking around Cals either! I usually walk 10,000 miles per day!

10000 miles per day! That's amazing! Lol. Sorry the typo made me laugh

Haha I meant steps!! That would be amazing and require a lot of calories!

I never account for the fitness calories as they are typically on the high side. More than you actually burned. If I am allowed 1700 calories, en that is what I stick with. I think I would get in trouble if I counted the exercise calories into my total for the day. Just my opinion.

I am almost 6 weeks post op and my calorie in take is between 550-600 -

I workout 3 mornings a week at the gym for 90 mins each ( cardio and weights) and 2 days of 90 min Water aerobics.

I have a hard time getting my food shakes and water in as it is. I am only 2 weeks into stage 3 food.