Should I go ahead and up my calories?

JAllen32

When I started mfp, I was a bank teller. We had no chairs, I was on my feet all day running in circles, but I wasn't really working out much. MFP had me at 1500. Then in October I got a new job, desk job. I changed my settings and it put me at 1200. But I'm training for a half marathon now, and I've been training. So I'm trying to figure out when I should up my calories. I don't want to do it too soon, and start gaining weight, but I also don't want to wait if its going to be unhealthy for me. Should I up them now, to maybe 1500? I'm getting in 3-4 runs per week, today was my longest, I did 90 mins, 6 miles. My app said I burned 718 cals. So, now that you know the details, what do ya'll think? I'm still learning so any advice is helpful, thanks!

SmashleeWpg

I just did a half marathon in June. Anytime I train for something like that (half, triathlon, anything that requires lengthy and committed training that increases over time), I up my calories. I usually wait until I get up into my longer runs (7, 8, 9 + miles), but it's personal preference. I'll go up to about 1700. Basically, the way I see it is you don't really want to dip below 1400 calories net if you're exerting yourself or being physically active on a regular basis, especially if you're strength training as a form of cross training. If you follow Jilian Michaels, Oxygen Magazine (they'll tell you at least 1500, even if you're trying to lose weight), Jackie Warner and other fitness experts, most of them say that adult women who are phsyically active and training shouldn't be going below 1400, even when trying to lose weight (because your daily exercise creates a deficit). At the end of the day you have to do what you're comfortable with, but I'd say as long as you're making smart choices a la lean protein, complex carbs, fruits and veggies, you would be fine to up a couple hundred while you're training. The most important thing is to fuel your body when you're asking so much of it! Good luck on your half, it's a great experience

chevy88grl

I think if it were me - I would definitely up my calories. I don't think 1200 calories will be enough if you are training for a half marathon. Go back to the calories you were consuming when you were on your feet at work (or possibly even more since training is far more exertion than work would be - even if you are on your feet all day). Try 1500 and see how it goes - if you're hungry, eat. Make sure you're eating your exercise calories. Your body is going to need the fuel.

JAllen32

Thank you! My husband has been telling me he thought I should up them, but I just wasn't sure. I thought I could get some great advice here, so thanks so much for telling me your experience. I think I will go ahead and up them to 1500 then and see how it goes for a week or so, then maybe up them again. I always thought you were supposed to stay at your goal, and then the NOT EAT your exercise calories. I would dip into them occasionally, but I thought they were supposed to be open. So I should be eating back most of my burned calories? Is that right?

JAllen32

I think if it were me - I would definitely up my calories. I don't think 1200 calories will be enough if you are training for a half marathon. Go back to the calories you were consuming when you were on your feet at work (or possibly even more since training is far more exertion than work would be - even if you are on your feet all day). Try 1500 and see how it goes - if you're hungry, eat. Make sure you're eating your exercise calories. Your body is going to need the fuel.

Ok, great! Thanks so much ladies!

SmashleeWpg

You will find that people are generally of two camps regarding the eating versus not eating. Your best bet (in MY opinion) is to eat intuitively. If you're hungry eat them all back, some back, whatever works. But what I try to do is eat enough to net around 1400 calories