Afraid to eat back exercise calories..

KayyB13

This is pretty silly, I know, but I am actually afraid to eat back all of my exercise calories.. I've been eating around 1300 calories a day, and somewhere around 15-1600ish on days I workout. I workout 4-6 times a week, burning anywhere from 600-1000 calories (Usually around 800) with a HRM. So I have 2100 calories (give or take) to eat?! I'm afraid that is too much, ya know?? It's not like I can't eat it trust me haha since that is how I got to this point in the first place, just feel like I will gain what I have worked so hard to lose! Though I must admit I have been at a plateau for about a month now. I have read a lot about it and I know my body needs those calories burned for multiple reasons, but see next question.

I don't know if this makes a difference, but I am also an athlete in college (off for the summer, but still doing summer workouts). So the MAIN QUESTION: Can your body get used to working hard all the time and workouts not be as effective?? I play softball, so it's not a hardcore running sport haha, but training requires LOTS of sprints/endurance intervals, some distance, and a lot of weights. AND I've been doing it since forever.. lol. Sorry if that is a dumb question, but it's the main reason I'm afraid to eat all the calories!

Any advice would be great! Even if it's just shut up, quit being afraid, and eat the dang calories already!! Thanks all

KourtneyP83

I'm afraid too which I'm battling with because my net calories for today were pretty low. I have yet to meet my calorie goal let alone the 700 something I'm working off 5-7 days a week. I just emailed my doctor to ask him his opinion on the matter!

ChantalGG

if your point is weight loss then dont eat it all back. Just make sure you are eating the right kinds of foods to fuel your body so it can preform well then next time.

Aesop101

I don't think there's anything wrong leaving a buffer. I would suggest some days splurge a little. Your body will love you for it and you will probably lose weight faster as the body says hey, I'm being fed.

barbiex3

your body needs the nutrients most likely! i eat mine back or try to. don't be "scared" to eat them back-- that is breeding ground for an eating disorder hun...

chevy88grl

Yes, you'll be consuming 2100 calories overall, but really... your body isn't keeping that many calories since you're burning off 800 or so of them during exercise.


1300 calories a day - 800 calories burned during exercise = 500 NET calories (this is how many calories you've really consumed because you burned so many with exercise) + 800 calories eaten back after exercise = 1300 which is your original goal.

Yes, MFP will tell you had 2100 total - but that isn't your NET because you worked out and burned 800 of those off.

ladyhawk00

Yes, your body can adapt to certain activities, resulting in fewer calories burned. That's one of the reasons it's best to vary your exercise routine.

If you're concerned about eating too much, there's really no reason to be if you're using an HRM. If you're accurate in logging intake and burns (and have no underlying metabolic issues), there's no reason to be afraid!

May help to read these if you haven't seen them yet -

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/20343-how-i-have-avoided-plateauing-length-warning

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/117726-eating-exercise-cals-slowing-your-weight-loss-read-this

heatherzotigh

yes your body will adjust to any exercise you do, that's why you have to constantly switch things up... as for the eating your workout calories back, this is something I am struggling with myself--I felt the same way you do... I've recently started eating more--at least 1600-1900 (before I would never go over 1300-1400), still not quite what MFP tells me to though, but I am interested in what other ppl have to say on this...

another thing I've recently started doing is upping my fat intake--my GOOD fats, that is, I used to eat 10-20g's a day, now it's 30-50 and haven't had any adverse effects, have even lost a little--see you body needs new healthy fats or it won't breakdown the stored fat you have...