Probably a silly questions about under/over calories

shavasana35

So, I'm not sure I'm doing this right. I want to lose about 10 pounds. I'm allotted 1,200 calories a day and I work a desk job so I chose the "sedentary" category. Some days I'll eat about 1,000 because I'm simply not that hungry. Some days I'll eat 1,600. At least 3 times a week, I do 1.5-2 hours of exercise and burn about 600-800 calories (spinning, running, weights, yoga).

So, on those days when I hit exactly 1,200 and do a spin class, I get a deficit of 400-600 calories. Am I not eating enough? Should I eat more on those days to hit the 1,200 to make up for the loss? Will I go into starvation mode? Or, is it right to eat 1,200 and burn as much as you can of it? I guess I'm wondering if a 1,200 intake should always be my goal no matter the exercise.

This has probably been answered here, but I just want to make sure I'm not ruining my metabolism.

Thanks!

KarenBorter

Not silly at all and it's the burning question always

This is the BEST thread and explains it much better then I ever could (why reinvent the wheel right?)

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/117726-eating-exercise-cals-slowing-your-weight-loss-read-this

Bthack

Yes, you'll want to try and hit a NET of 1200 on the days you do a lot of exercise or you won't be fueling your body enough.

shavasana35

Thanks so much for posting that link. I'll probably will have to read it a few times to really get it.

So basically, I have to experiment a bit to make sure that (1) I'm being accurate with what I log, (2) that my daily total is right for me, (3) I'm eating enough but not too much of my exercise calories. And that I never want a deficit of more than 1,000 including exercise.

I think I got it...

Thanks again!