Eating back exercise calories late at night

MicMar66

Hi,
So I love to ride my stationary bike but can only do so when the kids have gone to bed for the night. I sometimes ride an hour or more. The problem is when the website totals my calories burned through exercise (for the day) I may have anywhere between a100-900 calorie deficit. I go to bed within a half hour after finishing biking and am not really sure I should be eating then.

Somedays I know I will be biking and will eat more before I bike so the deficit will not be so large. Does anyone have any thoughts on eating this late at night? Is it better to have the deficit or try to eat back those calories and then go to bed? Sometimes MFP tells me I am consuming too few calories, other days it doesn't.

I don't always know in advance if I will be able to bike that night so consuming calories in advance may not be an option.

Thanks for any and all advice.

irisannRN

Bump - I do the same as well. Exercise right after my kids go to bed and am wondering if I should eat that late? (9 pm)

elysetoplin

i'm not positive, but i think if you're doing the stationary bike every night and burning that many calories, you could probably eat back the exercise calories the next day.

morganadk2_deleted

I exercise at night , but log the exercise in the morning and have larger meals on those days to make sure i eat back the extra calories!

fitnessjch

Catch up the next day. Look into the thread for zig-zagging calories.

Best not to eat late at night, especially if you're not hungry!

Otherwise, add 50 or so extra calories to each meal on a day you know you are going to exercise

Goal_Seeker_1988

I always eat bout 10:30pm when I get home from work which is usually my left over calories from workin out and I haven't gained any weight. Just eat right @ night!

EHuntRN

This is when planning is essesntial...if you know or think you are going to ride your bike..increase your cals during the day...and if you do increase your cals before the bkie, then you wont have to worry about eating back cals late at night....find high calorie, low fat snacks to eat like Greek yogurt, cheese, peanut butter, nuts....and if you dont wanna ride the bike but you have taken in the cals...well theres your incentive!!!

RCKT82

I found a good slow absorbing protein is the best for late night intake. Protein is a lean calorie source and will help your muscle recover during the night. plus a slow absorbing protein will help keep your metabolism going during your sleep.

I use Matrix 5.0 Cookies&Cream Protein by Syntrax. It's honestly the best tasting protein I've ever had. The nutrients are awesome. Plus it has both Whey (fast absobing) and Casein (slow absorbing) Protein in the mix. So it'll be excellent for your late post-workout calorie intakes.

DonnaLFitz

Eating late at night will undo your workout. Better to have a good breakfast the next morning. As you deplete your muscle stores and then sleep on it, your body will burn fat in the night to replenish your muscles.

Unless you eat.

Then it will take the food you eat and put it back into the muscles -- for almost zero effect.

AllyS7

If I plan to exercise at night, I set a goal of a certain number of calories to burn. (ex. 500) Then, during the day I plan to eat close to that many calories. This forces me to exercise to that calorie goal, I eat my exercise calories back and I don't have to force feed myself late at night.

MicMar66

Thanks everyone! Great ideas and suggestions!

stefraab

I do the same thing - I eat something like a banana or nuts. Something not really filling since I"m not hungry that late, but something relatively high in calories.