"I feel like a Snickers, so I'm gonna run 2 miles..."

nyiballs

We've all said something like that before. Either proactively or reactively.,, we've run off a slice of pizza after the fact, or worked out ahead of time in anticipation of a snack or meal.

Is this healthy and effective for a maintenance lifestyle? No facetiousness.

I would imagine that if you are measuring and hitting your marks with these adjustments, then it's fine. I also would think that the thought process of action/consequence as it relates to junk food and exercise is a good balance. Yet... I dunno... Something about the philosophy seems almost unnatural.

Do you subscribe to this approach? Has it made you snack more? Have you maintained? Any thoughts to add?

strangeone25

My problem is that after I run I do not feel like snacking...that being said if I have the munchies really bad I go for a run so I don't over indulge.

Chris_Pierce

I don't see any problem with it. I'm cutting and I do it all the time.

Madame_Goldbricker

I'm a binger. I will probably always be a binger. My options are I either work my backside off or I don't bother and I will gain weight.

For me that's the reality and I've accepted it. Is it particularly healthy for a maintenance lifestyle? Nope. Is it effective for a maintenance lifestyle? For me yes.

I've lost and gained many times over the years. For me the deciding factor has always been when I've cut the exercise. I will probably always have to run the proverbial/literal 2 miles not because "I feel like snickers", but because sooner or later I will eat a whole bag of them.

Chris_Pierce

I think that it is MORE healthy. You're exercising more, which is improving your body. And you're providing more nutrients, which is improving your body. Of course you could exercise too much and hurt yourself, but one snickers bar worth of exercise is probably not too much.

ranchbrat

I was wondering if you have tried the Quest bars, when you want to eat a candy bar, its a good alternative and its got a good amount of protein in them.

kiesha22001

The day I work out, I usually end up with a deficit because I'm not overly hungry. I'm always starving the day AFTER a workout, and I always feel guilty for going over my calorie goal since I didn't work out that day. Instead of going day by day, I've switched to a weekly total and it seems to help me quite a bit. There are some days where I just don't feel like eating and I am lucky to reach 800 calories and then the next day I may hit 2200. As long as I continue to lose at a healthy rate, I don't see any issues with my methods. My stomach doesn't reset at midnight, so I don't see a reason why my diary needs to.

kirili3

I think it's okay for something small.

If you try to exercise off a whole pizza, good luck!

hearthwood

I workout because I like too, it makes me feel good when I am done and keeps me fit. I have never really looked at exercise thinking well if I work out today I can have a Snickers, donut, cookie, etc.

If I want to eat those items, I will, but I'll be eating less for dinner so I don't blow my calorie goal for the day.

mebepiglet123

I love working out too... So I eat what I want, within reason, not super skinny, not super overweight.... If I want a snickers bar I will freakin have one, no guilt...finally figured out I will always have an Issue with weight and food... Just manage the exercise and it all sorts itself out..it's as soon as you do more of the one ( eating) and less of the other (exercising) then you start having issues.

SLLRunner

A snicker bar sounds wonderful, and there is nothing at all wrong with doing extra exercise because you want a snickers.

I have desert every night, and once in awhile i go over. It's okay, too, because I know on Sunday I will go for one heck of a run.

PippiNe

Ha Ha! Have to reply to this one because I just went out for a half hour late night power walk so I would have enough calories to eat a protein bar. So yep, been there, done that.

It works for me because I don't have any willpower if I go over my calories. If I'm over, I throw in the towel and just eat whatever because "I blew it". If I do extra exercise beforehand, I can treat myself because the snack won't put me over my limit. May not make sense for everyone, but it keeps me on track )

Yagisama

As long as Calories out > Calories in, I see no issues with it.

cowbellsandcoffee

I usually start the day eating 500 calories, then go burn 500-2000 on the bike then come home and feast throughout the day. No problems yet.

metacognition

I don't know if it's healthy, but I regularly jog five miles on the days I want to eat more.

fryfat

Exercising makes me appreciate food. I'd have to run 2.5 miles for a Snickers? Ugh.

Homemade key-lime pie (with real key limes) is worth 2.5 miles. I'd run a marathon for the whole pie.

paperpudding

I think in general it is fine.

A snickers bar type example like you gave - no issues.

Of course, like everything, there could be an issue if taken to extremes - eat 3 pizzas and run all night or something like that.

jtm4210

If I know I'm going to have a big-food day I will go for a long (10k-ish) run that morning in anticipation. Failing that, as long as the numbers balance over the course of the week I try not to worry about it too much.

sabified

I read an article (wish I had saved it so I could share) which spoke about a study of runners... basically said that runners have been found to have worse body fat than others (can't remember the control group they used) because they fall into that "I run so I can eat whatever I want" line of thinking...

I'm trying to lose weight to avoid the blood pressure, obesity and diabetes that runs in my family, so that article was truly an eye opener. Yes, allow yourself to indulge in a treat if you want, and if you're trying to lose/maintain weight then burn if off if you want... but don't fool yourself into thinking that because you work out your diet is a free-for-all.

It's still all about moderation.

acpgee

I do this all the time. I do big cardio on the weekend, so I can afford to order whatever I feel like at the restaurant later.

sijomial

Something about the philosophy seems almost unnatural.

It's certainly unnatural.
For 20 years I followed the natural method of exercise and portion control to control my weight without counting calories and only the vaguest idea of exercising more/less means eating more/less. I played squash to a reasonable standard, hit lifetime bests for some strength lifts, stayed fit and had spells where circumstances meant I had the time to devote many hours to exercise. For those 20 years I also stayed fat.

Whether it's short term calorie balance for treats or special occasions or long term differences in overall diet (I burned 80,000 calories in a year just from my cycling, currently averaging about 5,000 exercise calories a week) then I don't see it as a problem, just an effective technique.
There will come a time when I can't sustain this level of exercise and I will have to adjust my intake but for now I'm thoroughly enjoying my food and (importantly) my exercise.

SezxyStef

prior to using TDEE method I did it...now that I "can't earn" extra calories I just make sure the treats fit in...if I want a snickers or in my case cadbury milk chocolate I work my calories/macros around it...seems to work great.

My sister lives life like that...and maintains quite well...

nentecular

It works perfectly for me. In fact, I do it every day as I eat utter rubbish and want to earn the calories to continue doing it.

stuffinmuffin

I used to be a lot like this, but since I changed my workout approach to gaining strength, not gaining calories (normally by running for miles) for junk-food/wine and started paying attention to macros - so much protein I barely feel hungry by mealtimes, my attitude has really changed. I want the food I eat to be doing something good for me so I will try and avoid 'empty' calories. Saying that though, I'm no saint and I want to enjoy life too, so there's always wriggle room in a week for an ice-cream should I want one, or some wine, or chocolate...thing is I just don't crave it so much.

litsy3

Exercising makes me appreciate food. I'd have to run 2.5 miles for a Snickers? Ugh.

Homemade key-lime pie (with real key limes) is worth 2.5 miles. I'd run a marathon for the whole pie.

I agree with this. I'd have to run 3 miles and Snickers aren't even that nice. I like running though so I don't do it for a specific treat. But if I'm having a rest day and want to eat more food (not one specific item) I might think of a reason I need to cycle 10 miles, so I can eat bigger portions.

MyChocolateDiet

No, I don't really do this.

TadaGanIarracht

I'd say as long as they weren't overdoing it, then what's the harm?

kommodevaran

The principle is cool, but it doesn't work for me - at all.

When I eat more than just a little bit of chocolate, chips or whatever, I get so tired and lazy that exercise is totally out of the question.

Reversely, when I do exercize, I don't feel like chocolate or nything like that, I want real food.

So the idea is of a negative feedback loop, that with me turns into a positive one. And that's not good.

Shropshire1959

Snickers used to be called Marathon (over here) - so you need to run 26.2 :-)

lambeau_leap

I definitely have the same problem. I eat well for a while then BAM eat a 1/2 gallon of ice cream!

Hellbent_Heidi

I've always heard the expression "you can't out-exercise a bad diet", but if you generally eat well, and want to feel free to indulge on something specific, why not plan for it?