Exercise calories - to eat back ALL or NOT to eat back all??

nichole325

Okay, here's another question -- when do I have to eat back my calories?

I usually work out at night, and am not very hungry after. So do I eat back the calories the next day? Or should I eat them back the lunchtime before excercise. Is there a ideal time span in which I should eat them back (within 12 hours? 24 hours?)

Thanks!

That is a GREAT question I was wondering myself.

The way my day goes is I eat bfast...then lunch...then I go home and I'll sit down for 30 minutes or so then I'll do an hour of cardio/training then I will cook and eat dinner.

carin_cress

I have not read all of the replies to your question, but here is what I've learned from my own experience. I was eating my calories back, but not losing as fast as I would like (~1/2 pound per week maybe), so I decided just to eat my 1200 calories. I lost a pound the first week and then went back to my 1/2 pound per week. I found that I was very tired at the end of the day and not nearly as strong in my workouts. I believe I also lost some muscle during this time. So...for me, I eat back most of my calories. I was told by a trainer that this was acceptable since MFP already gives you a deficit in calories. I have way more energy to get through my workouts and am not falling asleep on the couch at 9:30pm. I also think that this makes me feel less like I'm on a "diet" and allows me to concentrate more on become stronger and building endurance.

I agree with you. I find if I do not eat back my calories or most of them I am not as strong in my workouts and I feel sluggish. I am not losing weight fast, maybe a 1/2 pound a week, but I notice it in inches (my clothes are loose on my body more and more each week). I have discovered that the inches are what is important, not the scale. I weigh the same that I weighed about 5 years ago but I am a whole size smaller. That is because I am exercising using cardio and as well as strength training (building muscle). This process takes longer but it is so much healthier. This is my opinion, from personal experience.

erickirb

Okay, here's another question -- when do I have to eat back my calories?

I usually work out at night, and am not very hungry after. So do I eat back the calories the next day? Or should I eat them back the lunchtime before excercise. Is there a ideal time span in which I should eat them back (within 12 hours? 24 hours?)

Thanks!

That is a GREAT question I was wondering myself.

The way my day goes is I eat bfast...then lunch...then I go home and I'll sit down for 30 minutes or so then I'll do an hour of cardio/training then I will cook and eat dinner.

If you know you are going to workout, estimate the amount you will burn and spread those out throughout the day, or add an extra snack or 2.

jude666

Your current exercise routine is VERY similar to mine. Except I drive to work.

But when I get home I do my BFBM video which for me burns 450-500 calories. And then I try to go for a walk with my dogs after dinner which burns 200-300 cals depending on how long we go for.

I have been changing up my working out and eating for about 4 months now and I find the best way for me is to not eat all of my exercise calories back. I will only eat about half. But then there are some days when I'm a little piggy and I'll go over, and that's okay too.

I've been doing this new, don't eat all your exercise calories back routine for 1 1/2 weeks so not that long but I've already lost 2.4 lbs and I haven't weighed in for the 2nd week yet.

Referring to what that girl said above with the BMI, mine is 23.7 so that falls into the 'tricky' category. Basically you might have to try out a few different things to see what is going to work for you. When this not eating back my calories stops working I'm going to be changing it up again too.

I also started out with 30DS and I loved those work outs but yeah, they were not burning enough calories, which BFBM surely does. I used to do her No More Trouble Zones DVD too, which I prefer to BFBM but I pulled my shoulder a couple months ago and I didn't heal it properly and now I'm trying to fix it and weights do not help...

On a different note, how do you like BFBM? It kicks my *kitten*. Circuit 6, OMG, those standing mountain climbers, KILL ME. LOL.

EDIT: My calorie goal is set to 1400 calories not the 1200 MFP suggests. 1200 is just too low for me.

The first time I did BFBM I thought I was going to die... but then i hadn't touched the 30DS for a while so I knew it was going to be hard. I TOTALLY agree I DETEST both of the mountain climbers! It did get easier the second time round. I wasn't able to do it last night and I was actually quite gutted. Have you tried 6 week 6 pack? or at least i think that's what its called, i'm at work so haven't got the dvd with me!! I've got that one to try next, i'll let you know how I get on! Hope your shoulder is ok now. I pulled my back while I was doing 30DS, i have never experienced pain like it. thankfully it went away but I couldn't do anything for a couple of days I was gutted!

I am overwhelmed by the responses i've got to my question.... you're all so fab on MFP! I shall continue as I am but will invest in the protein shake i think and I am going to try and eat back at least half of my exercise calories.

jude666

THANK YOU ALL SOOOOOO MUCH!! You've totally put my mind at rest.... I shall not beat myself up about eating ALL of the calories back ALL of the time. Good luck to you all with your weight loss journeys. You're all absolutely fabulous!!

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