Raising your calories VS Consuming your Exercise Calories

georgiag111

I am what I would classify 'active' I try and exercise everyday so at least 6 days a week. My question is if I raised my calories say to 1300-1400 instead of worrying about exercise calories would there be any benefit that way, It just gets to much calculating if I ate my exercise calories and then I worry about going over my 1200 etc. So if I set my calories to 1300-1400 every day and left it at that if I dont consume ALL my calories then it would go towards my "rest" day PLEASE tell me I make sense on what I am asking

AND if this would work would you all do 1300 or 1400 ? My Diary is open so you can see my activity, Thank you all in advance

sarah307

you are pretty close to your goal it looks like.. for me, when I was that close to my goal, i raised my calories to 1300 - 1400 and I usually eat back my exercise calories.. so all I go by are my NET calories. so i would make my net 1300-1400.. I also have my activity level on 'light' even though I am very active.. so i dont know how that would factor in comparing?? The only reason I put light activity level is because mine varies a lot depending on if i have class, or am working, or doing clinics.. so.. I don't know your daily routine, but if you feel that is the right activity level, then YES bump up your calories. I think you should probably increase your calories anyways!!!

kathleennf

I think: whatever works for you! But if you want to do that you should probably add the normal number of exercise calories you do, approximately. For me, most days it's about 300- roughly 200 for going to the gym and roughly 100 for walking the dog.

kathleennf

Hey- and congratulations on your BEAUTIFUL family!!

AlexJourneyHall

I know this might not help much, but I think you should try just testing what works for you. I'd say maybe you could go with the in between and just eat back some of your exercise calories and see how that works for a bit. However, overall, you'll just have to use trial and error and see what helps you the most.

georgiag111

Thank you everyone!

And thank you Kathleen !

Gojira74

Your intake should always be over 1200 including making up for working out. If you don't eat 1200 a day after counting in exercise, you will start to cannibalize your own muscle tissue.

georgiag111

Your intake should always be over 1200 including making up for working out. If you don't eat 1200 a day after counting in exercise, you will start to cannibalize your own muscle tissue.

I think I will raise my calories to 1400 and try it for a couple weeks - and not worry about exercising calories its just hard to worry about those extra calories that way if I am eating to much on my off days it should equal out? - I try and plan all my meals in advance have to with 6 kids lol Thank you for all the tips

cauttero

I don't think you should eat more to make up for the calories you've burned during exercise. If you're close to you goal, you can up your total calories to a higher level, but don't use exercise as an excuse to eat more. I think it's a slippery slope. JMHO.