Is more exercise counter-productive?

joowelz
joowelz Posts: 172 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Exercise stimulates my appetite. On days I jog, I allow myself an additional 130 calories (and burn twice that). Just wondering what the advantage is to increasing my exercise time. I'm just going to get hungrier and want to eat more, so isn't it counter productive to losing weight? I'm not saying no exercise, just why exercise more?

Also, will lifting weights actually create visible changes to my muscles? It just seems like a lot of time and work and I'm not sure that everyone benefits in the same ways. It seems like women like me with a natural "meatiness" don't benefit as much as women who are either naturally athletic or rail thin. I would love to have those sexy curves on my shoulders and round calf muscles, for example, but to achieve visible changes like that, don't you have to start with a pretty lean body? Even if I reach my target weight, I'll never be super lean. Here's a pic pav95xom8qhc.jpg
of me (right) a few months ago. I want to lost about 20 lbs.

Replies

  • sarko15
    sarko15 Posts: 330 Member
    MFP doesn't take into account exercise calories when it creates your recommendation, so definitely eat your exercise calories back. I also don't think working out and hunger is totally correlated--I mean yes, you will need more calories, but it doesn't mean you'll necessarily be hungrier if you do one more work out a week. Lastly, we're human beings and hunger usually is telling us something. Listen to that, and adjust accordingly. Don't be afraid of eating more if you are exercising and your body needs it.
  • ajwcyclist2016
    ajwcyclist2016 Posts: 161 Member
    So true the post above. You need to be slightly more positive the body needs fuel to perform. It doesn't ask for anymore to do the task it's just a case of working out there right amount for the task. Through trial and error. It's no use thinking Evan if I get down to my target weight. In that sentence you're already beaten. When it should be I'm going to lose say 3kg. Then hit that goal. Hitting small goals is better than having a big goal and not hitting cause it felt too hard. Lots of small goals make a big goal
  • suruda
    suruda Posts: 1,233 Member
    I don't think more exercise is ever counter productive. Can you shake up what you do a little bit? Add some yoga, pilates or some weights along with running. I feel the same way when I do cardio but the others not so much. Make sure you are getting good calories too...protein, veggies, fruit, healthy fats and whole grains. If your calories are coming from less impactful foods (like bread or pasta) you won't stay full and satisfied as long.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    Strength training is good for everyone. Don't use the "I have the wrong body type" excuse to defeat yourself before you start. It doesn't matter what you start with. What matters is that the work is put in and you eat for the appropriate level of exercise that you are doing.

    All of this.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    suruda wrote: »
    I don't think more exercise is ever counter productive. Can you shake up what you do a little bit? Add some yoga, pilates or some weights along with running. I feel the same way when I do cardio but the others not so much. Make sure you are getting good calories too...protein, veggies, fruit, healthy fats and whole grains. If your calories are coming from less impactful foods (like bread or pasta) you won't stay full and satisfied as long.

    Actually, there are a number of studies that indicate a point of diminishing returns with exercise and that basically, a lot of exercise often results in your body slowing you down in other ways...less twitching or fidgeting...a reduced NEAT in general as you are more passive when tired, etc. And if you've ever trained for an endurance event, you know how ravenous the body becomes...it's virtually impossible for me to diet in cycling season.
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,759 Member
    Exercise is good for your overall health and well being. It is worth doing for its own sake, for the good it does you, aside from the calorie burn. Also, most of those who lost weight and kept it off long term, did so by regular frequent exercise.
  • Cahgetsfit
    Cahgetsfit Posts: 1,912 Member
    lifting weights WILL change your body :) it's not a hassle once you get into it and learn how to do it properly. exercise in general is good for you. Unless you are going stupid and exercising intensely for hours a day, then it's not detrimental. Of course you will feel hungrier when you do exercise too, that's ok though, eat back half the exercise calories. Keep it up! you look nice BTW :)
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