Eating your exercise calories?

So, I'm 7 weeks post-op and already full swing into jogging.  I use MFP to track calories and it automatically raises your daily calorie allowance if you exercise.  My doc wants me at 600-800 calories a day for the first year, and didn't mention if I can raise that when I exercise.   So, when I exercise, I'm burning anywhere between 250-400 for a 30-50 minute jog/fast walk.  So far I have been trying not to eat my exercise calories, but I have read that I should eat right after a workout and that it's actually good to eat those calories burned.  What is everyone else's take on this, and what do your doctors say about it?

My doc wants me to exercise while eating within his limit during the weight loss phase.  Why not just eat after your workout without going over your limit?  

The first 6 months (especially) and up to a year is the easiest time to lose weight after sugary (the honey moon period) because of the decreased appetite, and lower capacity so my surgeon stresses that this is when we want to do everything possible to take advantage of this time by staying on plan.

I am on MFP also and sometimes it can overestimate the calories burned for a workout.  Just to be safe, I try not to eat back any of my calories that I burn.  I eat between 900 to 1000 calories a day and even if I burn 400 calories running that day, I don't pay attention to the Net or Remaining number. I just go by the Food Calories before the exercise is subtracted and keep that between 900 and 1000.  Now, if I am STARVING and need to have a little something extra, I will but normally I don't allow that number to go over 1000 at all.

While you're in losing mode there really is no reason to "eat back" the exercise calories.  You want to create a calorie deficit.  At this point you are probably not burning that many calories that it's an issue (exercise machines notoriously overestimate the # of calories burned, especially for those of us who have been MO and have wrecked our metabolism).   

Now, after exercise it is advisable to eat a bit of protein and carb, but that can be accomplished with drinking a regular protein shake or eating whatever you would have normally eaten (greek yogurt, etc.).   

The goal right now is to lose the weight and lose it quickly during the honeymoon period.  Once you're in maintenance you can play around with eating back your exercise calories. 

Thanks everyone.  I guess the reason I was concerned is that this article, and others I have read since, warn that if you don't eat back your exercise calories, your resting metabolism will drop over time and weight loss and maintenance will get increasingly difficult.  I don't want to hurt my resting metabolism any more than I have already.  I know I wouldn't eat back 400 calories no matter what.  I actually can't imagine getting in 1200 calories at this point unless I eat terrible foods or snack a lot. What I'm thinking is drinking a protein shake after every workout, so about 160 calories.  It may put me over 800 calories for the day, though and that is higher than what my doc wants me eating.  So I would have to cut back in a meal to compensate.  At this point I have only needed one shake a day and I drink it at night which is when I am most likely to snack (suggested by my bariatric nurse).  Maybe I could split the shake in half and have half after workout, half at night. Sorry, just rambling now!

I guess it's worth noting that the stuff I have read had nothing to do with WLS patients.  I guess those of us in the MO category are different than those who are just trying to lose a few pounds.  I know I can trust everyone's advice on here since you have all done such a fabulous job at your weight loss!

I've always set my eating limits based on getting my protein in, and feeling some level of satisfaction.  At first, I could do this with 400 to 600 calories, but I found that as I proceeded, I needed to eat a bit more.  I would guess that I kept it in the 600 to 800 calorie range for the first 6 months, but by month 7, I was eating 1000 cals per day.  At 11 months, I am finding that I am consuming 1100 calories per day, and I will probably stop fighting to keep it under 1000.  Mostly, I'm adding veggies, but the calories do mount up.  I never included my exercise calories in the equation, but I only burn 100 to 150 calories a day with exercise, so it probably doesn't matter much.

best wishes,

Carol

I've never eaten back exercise xalories. Those estimatec burns are wayyyy off. You aren't burning nearly as many calories as you think. 

Use the honeymoon period to get as much weight off as quickly as possible. Don't be one of those people looking for an excuse to eat more.

Oh, I am definitely not trying to find a way to eat more.  I was simply curious after reading about this on other sites. 

Yeah, I see it on MFP all the time. The exercise calories and starvation mode notjobs are in full bloom over there.