eating your exercise calories

iamkelskels
iamkelskels Posts: 81
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm having issues with the whole "eating my exercise calories" thing.
Like today, I did an hour on the elliptical trainer, burned 700 calories, which now puts me under my calorie goal for the day by 700 calories. Do I necessarily have to eat that many more? Or can doing this sometimes just give me a little wiggle room if I happen to go over my calorie goal for the day tomorrow or the next day? So confused.

Replies

  • fitbot
    fitbot Posts: 406
    personally i dont think you should eat your exercise calories.
  • RainyDayProphet
    RainyDayProphet Posts: 113
    It's a good idea.

    You don't have to eat all of them, but personally I'd recommend at least eating 400-500 out of the 700 in your example.

    It will help you keep up energy and help keep your body out of starvation mode. It will also help your body tone your muscle (rather than just losing weight without toning the muscle)
  • CarolHudson11
    CarolHudson11 Posts: 372
    There are differing opinions on this, but I almost always eat all of mine. I try to keep my calories at the recommended 1,200 per day for me - I don't think it's healthy for me to go much lower than that. Your body needs fuel to burn fat and build lean muscle mass. JMO.
  • alyssa83202
    alyssa83202 Posts: 334
    I don't really know either. It says that I should loose 1.5 lbs a week by sticking to 1200 calories, but I'd like to loose at least 2 lbs a week so I usually have extra calories leftover at the end of the day. Usually I can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then exercise and I'm back under 1200. I'm not sure if it's good or bad, but I don't think it can hurt too much.

    When I go grocery shopping for healthier foods, I might try eating back my exercise calories, but with what I have in my fridge and pantry right now, I would go over my fat grams for the day, and I don't want to do that!
  • peggybrant
    peggybrant Posts: 144 Member
    I don't eat the excess calories. Maybe the weight will come off quicker, however, probably not healthier.... :cry:
  • HerbieSue
    HerbieSue Posts: 288
    I do a Jillian Michaels DVD a couple of times a week and don't log it. Just a bonus for me and I don't worry about eating back the calories I burned! I have lost my last ten pounds and lots of inches doing it this way. I guess if you did it every day, it might be different.
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