Am I eating too little?

BodyUnderConstruction

I'm eating 1200 a day but I'm doing p90x and when I finish my day I usually have a good 500-600 calories left in my day. Should I up my eating calories?

schnarfo

yes because at 1200 mfp has already created a deficit for you to lose weight weekly. If you dont eat your exercise calories you are widening that deficit and risk your metabolism slowing down and you wont see the results you want from your exercise regime (the body starts to burn muscle when it needs fuel)

mamagooskie

Yes you should be eating your exercize calories.....at least 50-75% of them. Especially with a doing a program like P90X.

Xaspar

Yes, Eat back those calories ... when you are already so close to your goal weight, it is even more important to keep your deficit within the range for a half pound to one pound per week weight loss. To assure you are burning fat and not muscle from your own metabolism.
You don't want to sabotage your progress, you want to ROCK it! SO eat back those calories ... but make sure that this is done with QUALITY, not just quantity! You are what you eat still holds true ... So eat clean and healthy and enjoy the occasional treat without going overboard!
Congratulations on your success so far! And here's to continued fitness for you (and for your trip!)
:drinker:

Xaspar

Yes, Eat back those calories ... when you are already so close to your goal weight, it is even more important to keep your deficit within the range for a half pound to one pound per week weight loss. To assure you are burning fat and not muscle from your own metabolism.
You don't want to sabotage your progress, you want to ROCK it! SO eat back those calories ... but make sure that this is done with QUALITY, not just quantity! You are what you eat still holds true ... So eat clean and healthy and enjoy the occasional treat without going overboard!
Congratulations on your success so far! And here's to continued fitness for you (and for your trip!)
:drinker:

♥♥YoungMrs♥♥

Id say eat at least half of them back..otherwise you might run out of energy!

eeeekie

Really should be NETTING 1200 calories at your weight and especially with that kind of workout. If you can't eat all of them try eating into them...at least 1/3 or 1/2. You have to give your body fuel so you can continue to do those workouts and not feel tired or worse...get hurt.

kirstinlee

Do you have the nutrition guide with your P90x, or do you only have the DVDs?
If you have the nutrition guide, read it. It will have you determine how many calories you need for basic functions (breathing, pumping blood, blinking, ect.) then add in how many calories you use for a moderate lifestyle (not sitting at a desk all day, but not working as a bike messenger) and add 600 to account for the program itself. Then, it will put you in one of three tiers, and will tell you how many servings of each food group to eat each day for each phase. Follow this. Many, many, many of those who have had significant success with P90x have followed this to the smallest detail, and not only have they not run out of fuel or gone into "starvation mode," they actually find that they have more energy and will to work out.
Overall, P90x or not, listen to your body. It will tell you if you're not giving it enough fuel. Even if you've eaten up to your limit in calories or portions, eat a piece of fruit, protein, or whole grains if you don't feel full enough. Losing weight isn't worth it if you feel like crap (and put your body at major risk) when you don't eat a little more when you know you should!
Good luck, fellow x-er! :happy: