Eat or Not to Eat

JuicyJBaby3
JuicyJBaby3 Posts: 123 Member
edited September 22 in Food and Nutrition
Ok.. So last night I went to the gym and burned close to 1000 calories. I had about 150 left before going. So I was left with almost 1200 calories to the good before going to bed.

Question: Is it healthy to have that many calories remaining? Is it better to consume extra calories earned?

In my mind, if 3500 calories is equivalent to 1 lb, I dont want to eat any of those fitness calories. On occasion, I will eat some of them and that only happens when I go over my limit, so I do some cardio to make up for it.

Am I sabotaging my weight loss progress????

Replies

  • emersoam
    emersoam Posts: 179
    It's a good compromise to eat half of your "exercise calories." Make sure you don't fall below 1,200 cals in a day...you'll enter the dreaded "starvation mode."
  • schnarfo
    schnarfo Posts: 764 Member
    How did you burn 1000 at the gym? Thats a hell of a work out!!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Remember MFP already sets you up in a caloric deficit to lose you goal amount of weight per week, adding another 1000 to that deficit can be quite unhealthy. Think of it this way: If you eat 1200 calories and burn 1000 through exercise it is as if you body has only taken in 200 calories Net. The minimum amount you should have is 1200 net which would have been you eating 2200 calories (1200+1000), and you would still lose your goal amount of weight as long as your exercise calories burned is accurate. Due to accuracy issues many people suggest eating 50-75% of workout calories.
  • sweetbn
    sweetbn Posts: 318
    Some people can still lose weight by not eating them all, some need to eat them all to see a drop (counter intuitive.)

    Try it a few ways changing it up every 3 weeks or so and see what works best. Personally I eat a few of my calories but hardly ever do I eat all of them. But again - you CAN sabbotage yourself by NOT eating enough so be careful!
  • JuicyJBaby3
    JuicyJBaby3 Posts: 123 Member
    How did you burn 1000 at the gym? Thats a hell of a work out!!

    I get most of those using the elliptical. Which I will work for 30-40 min. Then I will do 30 minutes worth of weights, followed by another 20 min of cycling or the treadmill!!

    I always leave the gym feeling refreshed!! :happy:
  • schnarfo
    schnarfo Posts: 764 Member
    Goodness thats a lot. I spend like 2 hours in the gym and I dont burn anywhere near that amount no matter how hard I work and I do a lot of classes and cardio machines plus weights! :)
  • amccrazgrl
    amccrazgrl Posts: 315 Member
    I would say eat something. Maybe some protein to build muscle if your looking to do that.
  • brwnsugababe
    brwnsugababe Posts: 102
    I would say eat something. Maybe some protein to build muscle if your looking to do that.


    I would eat a little something to play it safe. That was quite a lot of extra calories burned.
  • ErinMarie25
    ErinMarie25 Posts: 733 Member
    Eat another snack if you want. If I am feeling hungry after working out, but doing a lot of working out, I don't mind going over my calories for the day. I don't eat my exercise calories, so going over it without exercise logged in.
  • stroutman81
    stroutman81 Posts: 2,474 Member
    I highly suggest reading my posts in this thread.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/95109-exercise-calories?page=1#posts-1314191
  • JuicyJBaby3
    JuicyJBaby3 Posts: 123 Member
    I highly suggest reading my posts in this thread.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/95109-exercise-calories?page=1#posts-1314191

    Thanks... very imforamative!!
  • c7eat2live
    c7eat2live Posts: 308 Member
    Im an evening workout person almost always, so Im in the same boat as you. In general, I eat none or less than half of my workout cals. I make sure I get to 1200 or 1300 cals, but Im still loosing weight by not eating exercise cals. I usually eat something high protein before and after my workouts (i shoot for 10 grams on each side for a total of 20 centered around each workout) and that helps me add some cals in an rebuild some muscle.
  • JuicyJBaby3
    JuicyJBaby3 Posts: 123 Member
    I do think I was pushing it having that many calories left over. It worried me some..

    I think I will try to consume more the next time just to be on the safe side. I do NOT want to force my body into starvation mode later down the line.

    Thanks for the advice guys!!
  • stroutman81
    stroutman81 Posts: 2,474 Member
    Im an evening workout person almost always, so Im in the same boat as you. In general, I eat none or less than half of my workout cals. I make sure I get to 1200 or 1300 cals, but Im still loosing weight by not eating exercise cals. I usually eat something high protein before and after my workouts (i shoot for 10 grams on each side for a total of 20 centered around each workout) and that helps me add some cals in an rebuild some muscle.

    I'd shoot for some carbs post-training as well. That's sort of vague, more often than not I'd include some carbs.
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