AM I DOING THIS WRONG?

Nathalia2009

I have been loosing weight. Started at 196 and am now at 174. This was 2.5-3 months ago. But I want to make sure I am doing this right. So I am allowed 1500 calories before working out. I work out 4-6 times a week. Which I burn 230-400 during workouts. I always eat my 1500 calories. Usually I am a few under but never over. I normally do not eat my workout calories because I am not hungry. Should I just force myself to eat them? This is my normal Mon-Fri weekends vary...

breakfast: yogurt with granola (110 cal)
snack: apple (70 cal)
lunch grilled chicken (4oz) cauliflower and steam carrots (about 300-400 cal) or subway with chips (320 cal)
snack fit bar (80 cal) and or fruit (50-100 cal), mini bel cheese (50cal)
dinner: lean protein and veggie (around 400 cal)
snack: random (100-200 cal)

after this I am just not hungry. Should I force myself to eat more crackers or something when i work out that day? I can only eat so many fruit and veggies. I just dont want to be eating to little but i am getting really close to my 1500 mark just not eating my workout calories.

amy8400

After a workout, it's a good idea to refuel your body with some form of protein within an hour. I keep protein bars or little containers of dried fruit and nuts in my purse to make it easy. That also let's me eat back about half my workout calories so I'm not starving my body.

I'd LOVE to not be hungry after working out. Nice problem to have!

Anniebotnen

No, it sounds like what you are doing is working just fine! You should not force yourself to eat if you're not hungry. The MFP calorie goal is an estimate, the exercise calorie burn is an estimate, and the number of calories you are eating may or may not be correct. So listen to your body.

If it was me, I would be constantly hungry with that much exercise and only 1500 calories, but that's me...

diannethegeek

The answer is that it depends.

How accurately are you logging your food (a food scale would be ideal)? It's possible you're already eating slightly more than you realize.

How accurately are you estimating your calories burned? It's possible you're not burning as many calories as you think. A lot of people aim for only 50-75% of their exercise calories if they aren't able to track them more accurately.

How aggressive is the weight goal you've chosen? If you're set to .5 pounds per week you may be able to get away with not eating them. If you're set to lose 2 pounds a week then you really don't want to make that deficit any bigger and you should be eating them.

What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight? Lose fat? Retain muscle? The bigger the calorie deficit the more likely you are to lose muscle along with the fat.

Are you getting enough vitamins and nutrients into your day?

Remember that hunger isn't the only indicator of whether or not you're eating enough. The hormones that control our hunger cues can be suppressed by too many things, including exercise and prolonged undereating. You also need to watch your mood, focus, energy levels, gym performance, as well as things like healthy skin and nails.

Nathalia2009

After a workout, it's a good idea to refuel your body with some form of protein within an hour. I keep protein bars or little containers of dried fruit and nuts in my purse to make it easy. That also let's me eat back about half my workout calories so I'm not starving my body.

I'd LOVE to not be hungry after working out. Nice problem to have!

I work out at 445AM so i eat breakfast after workout....

Nathalia2009

All my meats go on a scale. Lunch is 4oz and dinner is 6. I am aiming to loose 1 pound a week until I am at my ideal. I have a polar HRM that I wear while working out to determine how much has been burned.

The answer is that it depends.

How accurately are you logging your food (a food scale would be ideal)? It's possible you're already eating slightly more than you realize.

How accurately are you estimating your calories burned? It's possible you're not burning as many calories as you think. A lot of people aim for only 50-75% of their exercise calories if they aren't able to track them more accurately.

How aggressive is the weight goal you've chosen? If you're set to .5 pounds per week you may be able to get away with not eating them. If you're set to lose 2 pounds a week then you really don't want to make that deficit any bigger and you should be eating them.

What are your goals? Are you trying to lose weight? Lose fat? Retain muscle? The bigger the calorie deficit the more likely you are to lose muscle along with the fat.

Are you getting enough vitamins and nutrients into your day?

Remember that hunger isn't the only indicator of whether or not you're eating enough. The hormones that control our hunger cues can be suppressed by too many things, including exercise and prolonged undereating. You also need to watch your mood, focus, energy levels, gym performance, as well as things like healthy skin and nails.