Pushing yourself harder, just so you can eat.

brittanyjeanxo

I would like opinions. I see people a lot asking questions here that if they do such and such an exercise, how many calories will it burn, and will it be enough to eat [insert food here.] I personally don't see the point of pushing yourself during a workout, just to be able to have a food that otherwise you wouldn't eat. I'm not against cheating. I had an entire cheat day today, actually! But to me, it just seems silly to say, I'm going to go for a 20 minute walk, and then I will have burnt enough calories to have an entire bag of chocolates (yes, I am exaggerating.) Fact of the matter is, whether you have the calories to do so or not, it's probably an unhealthy idea to exercise specifically with the thought of eating more in mind. Does anyone agree? Disagree? I'd like to know why you disagree, if so, please. I'm really interested in hearing what others think about this one
Since apparently this is being too read into, I am not trying to knock others for doing so. Heck, if you make a vaild point you might even change my mind about. I just don't find it to be a very healthy habit. Just because you disagree does not mean I am knocking anyone for it. Thank you. :]

bry_all01

I don't workout to eat, because I hit macros, not calories. I only log workouts so I can see what I am doing, not to gain more calories to eat. I am on a set number of carbs, protein and fat intake, so it doesn't matter how many calories I burn. And, I don't have cheat days, because as long as I hit my macros, I allow myself anything I want.

Sadly, this ends next week for two months...... <sigh>

frugalmomsrock

I figure... if I'm craving whatever naughty thing I'm craving... it's better to exercise hard to balance it out than to end up over my calories because I didn't. *shrug* If it doesn't work for you-fine, but why knock others for it?

MelC2564

Well right now I feel like I haven't eaten all day, and I had a sub for lunch one hour ago... I was literally JUST thinking, if I go to gym again tonight after work (I went this morning) I can have something to eat in the next hour or so to tide me over before dinner, without going over my cals.

I may be irrational because I'm hungry, but seriously, I think I might die if I cant eat anything for another five or so hours.

prettyfitchick

I totally disagree with the idea of that. Ppl who do that are not in it for the long haul as soon as they stop counting cals they are going to put the weight back on. I join MFP to help with a lifestyle change and yes I still eat carbs and chips but now i eat only a serving and I also eat wholegrains and veggies on daily basis

fatboypup

I did the spinathon at the ymca and burnt 2567 calories so I could have a slice of pizza guilt free .......

Jennifernellwebb

That is not why I exercise, personally. I try to stay under my 1200 calorie a day goal and the benefit that I look at with the exercising and food is when I go over those 1200 with the "healthy" foods I choose to eat in a day. I just can't see sweating my butt off on my treadmill and then sticking something unhealthy in my mouth before OR after. To me, that would be more of a maintaining issue than actually trying to shed pounds. I am here to lose my extra unwanted weight, not exercise and then feed my face. That is just me though. I did have a dark chocolate candy bar yesterday..... I am not a complete healthy eater and I won't claim to be, but I won't exercise JUST TO have a candy bar or anything else.

Mitchlou84

Hmm I definitely don't do what you're saying there and just eat chocolate to the value of my exercise calories. So I know what you mean.

I do exercise a lot though and am much happier on a day where I have say eaten 1800, burned 1000 than just eating 1200 and not exercising. Limiting my food too much makes me miserable.

I am lightly active outside of exercise and have set my loss to 1lb a week so I get 1700. I tend not to eat my exercise calories, except if I'm hungry or got a big night out planned! However it is nice if one day I'm netting like 800 and my bf offers me a fancy glass of winhe or some chocolate and you can accept guilt free.

I wouldn't be still dieting if I couldn't have the occasional treat!

zukekitty

I'm a foodie. I love good food. Not all good food is low calorie food. Roquefort cheese for example. I LOVE blue cheese! If I had to give up the foods I like I would never be able to lose and/or maintain my weight. So, I exercise enough to allow myself the foods I like. And eat those high calorie foods in moderation. I also watch my carbs and fat levels and do my best to keep those in check.

But, why should I have to justify why I eat what I eat and why I exercise a certain amount? Each person is different. There is nothing positive in criticizing others about who they are and why they do what they do.

kumarprabhat

I would like opinions. I see people a lot asking questions here that if they do such and such an exercise, how many calories will it burn, and will it be enough to eat [insert food here.] I personally don't see the point of pushing yourself during a workout, just to be able to have a food that otherwise you wouldn't eat. I'm not against cheating. I had an entire cheat day today, actually! But to me, it just seems silly to say, I'm going to go for a 20 minute walk, and then I will have burnt enough calories to have an entire bag of chocolates (yes, I am exaggerating.) Fact of the matter is, whether you have the calories to do so or not, it's probably an unhealthy idea to exercise specifically with the thought of eating more in mind. Does anyone agree? Disagree? I'd like to know why you disagree, if so, please. I'm really interested in hearing what others think about this one

I do not see what's the issue here. Till one burns more so that he or she could eat what and how much he likes - and assuming that its healthy and remains within the net calorie needs - I see no reason why one can't do that.

brittanyjeanxo

I don't workout to eat, because I hit macros, not calories. I only log workouts so I can see what I am doing, not to gain more calories to eat. I am on a set number of carbs, protein and fat intake, so it doesn't matter how many calories I burn. And, I don't have cheat days, because as long as I hit my macros, I allow myself anything I want.

Sadly, this ends next week for two months...... <sigh>

Why? Is that because of the competition or something else, if you don't mind me asking?

skinnyjeanzbound

I don't exercise solely for the purpose of earning more calories--I do it for all of the positive benifits. However, I do admit that if I know I will be going out to eat or for drinks I make sure to burn some extra calories that day. I guess I don't see the problem with that--it's about a lifestyle change--I know I will still have occassions where I am going to eat more than 1200 calories in a day, so I need to be more active in order to accomodate those calories if I want to continue to lose weight.

It sounds like what you are talking about is if someone exercises just to be able to pig out, which I never do--even when I have the calories to spare, I still practice portion control and try to make the healthiest choices given the situation.

hstallings13

somdays I do that, some I don't. I figure if I have a really bad craving I'd rather work for it than try to push it back and possibly end up making worse choices or binging cause I'm still learning balance. And somedays, espically TOM, that extra 20-30 min work out is worth the chochlate or pizza I'm craving. I'm in for the long haul, but I also don't want to give up everything I love to eat cause then I"ll never stick with it. I don't do cheat days, If I want something I find a way to either fit it in or earn it

MelC2564

Not everyone is working out to eat extra BAD food though, I am happy to work out extra to eat a banana or muesli bar or yogurt or something!

brittanyjeanxo

I'm a foodie. I love good food. Not all good food is low calorie food. Roquefort cheese for example. I LOVE blue cheese! If I had to give up the foods I like I would never be able to lose and/or maintain my weight. So, I exercise enough to allow myself the foods I like. And eat those high calorie foods in moderation. I also watch my carbs and fat levels and do my best to keep those in check.

But, why should I have to justify why I eat what I eat and why I exercise a certain amount? Each person is different. There is nothing positive in criticizing others about who they are and why they do what they do.

You had a very valid point there. But then you said I'm criticizing others. I'm not. I personally said I find it a bit silly, but I didn't say any one person was silly.

brittanyjeanxo

Not everyone is working out to eat extra BAD food though, I am happy to work out extra to eat a banana or muesli bar or yogurt or something!

Oh I know! That's not what this post was specific to, it was specific to the bad foods Apparently though I'm "criticizing" people and being negative. Whatever. People will read into just about anything to start drama on the forums :laugh:

killagb

Usually on my exercise days I have more calories than I know what to do with, although I manage to usually still get within 1-200 of goal, if not closer. So definitely no doing it for the extra food for me really...I eat after to fuel my muscle recovery.

shesblossoming

I do like to work out hard if I know I'm going to a restaurant, and it's unavoidable. Or lets says I'm giving myself a cheat day, and I'd like to go over a little. It also keeps me accountable. I don't do it very often, but I think for some people it's kind of a relief to know that exercising more means they get to eat more. I know on days where I'm starving I feel that way!

bry_all01

I don't workout to eat, because I hit macros, not calories. I only log workouts so I can see what I am doing, not to gain more calories to eat. I am on a set number of carbs, protein and fat intake, so it doesn't matter how many calories I burn. And, I don't have cheat days, because as long as I hit my macros, I allow myself anything I want.

Sadly, this ends next week for two months...... <sigh>

Why? Is that because of the competition or something else, if you don't mind me asking?

I don't mind at all. Yep, for my competition. Those newfound abs of mine were a lot of hard work and dedication. Whoever said "abs are made in the kitchen" wasn't joking. Most of my dedication came from adjusting my nutrition and watching what I eat. I recently upped my carbs and protein and decreased my fat intake so my strength training should start showing more defined muscles. Next week I cut out alcohol until after the show.

brittanyjeanxo

I do like to work out hard if I know I'm going to a restaurant, and it's unavoidable. Or lets says I'm giving myself a cheat day, and I'd like to go over a little. It also keeps me accountable. I don't do it very often, but I think for some people it's kind of a relief to know that exercising more means they get to eat more. I know on days where I'm starving I feel that way!

Very solid point there. I suppose I do the same if I know I'm going out to eat/want to go out to eat. I guess I should clarify that there isn't anything wrong with doing so every now and again, but there seem to be a lot of people that do it almost every day, almost as if it's their sole reason for working out. To me, it seems like a bad habit, but to others it doesn't. I just wanted to find out why some people do it Thanks for the response!

brittanyjeanxo

I don't workout to eat, because I hit macros, not calories. I only log workouts so I can see what I am doing, not to gain more calories to eat. I am on a set number of carbs, protein and fat intake, so it doesn't matter how many calories I burn. And, I don't have cheat days, because as long as I hit my macros, I allow myself anything I want.

Sadly, this ends next week for two months...... <sigh>

Why? Is that because of the competition or something else, if you don't mind me asking?

I don't mind at all. Yep, for my competition. Those newfound abs of mine were a lot of hard work and dedication. Whoever said "abs are made in the kitchen" wasn't joking. Most of my dedication came from adjusting my nutrition and watching what I eat. I recently upped my carbs and protein and decreased my fat intake so my strength training should start showing more defined muscles. Next week I cut out alcohol until after the show.

Well, you're certainly a hot momma now, so it looks like you're already well on your way! That sucks you have to cut out alcohol, though. But, it's only temporary

zorbaru

i figure it like this.

in my previous days i would have eaten crap.

now, if i want to eat crap for a meal, i will burn it off.

my net result is better than it used to be.

futurefitgirl88

haha I don't do that. I push myself harder just cause I love to!!! I don't deny myself things I love to eat... I eat within my 1500 calories and do not eat my exercise calories unless I'm hungry (which I rarely am!!) .....

Yes I refuse that pizza!!

jgaggini

I eat what I want everyday, I don't count calories, but If I know that I will be eating something that is on the higher end of what I would normally eat I do work a little harder. I am up to a little over 51 pounds lost and I have tried counting calories and cutting out bad foods but to be honest I think If I want to have pizza for supper I should have it. When I start limiting myself to what I can and can't eat I just set myself up for failure. But I had tried several different methods before I found the one that works best for me. I walk atleast 6 days a week at least 4 miles a day (usually 6) and have done so since mid January. I feel that I probably could have lost more weight by dieting but I can't cut foods out it just makes me want them more.

helenoftroy1

I think because this is a lifestyle change and not a diet, situations are going to crop up in life, where you go out and you want to have what you want and I think it's healthy to think well if I exercise for so long I can eat this guilt free. Before I made this lifestyle change I just ate what I wanted just because I fancied it so I'm having it. Now I do watch my calories but I'm not not going to go out and hide myself away because I don't want to jeopardize my work so I exercise extra. I think this is a much better way of dealing with life... for me!

sugarbone

I have an issue with exercising to eat because even if I feel like it, I usually hit my macros throughout the day and after exercise I have calories to spend... but no macros. I'll stay in my calorie limit but SOMETHING is going to go over (unless it's protein, don't mind going over that. but who goes for a run so they can cheat on some eggs or chicken? lol)

HappyLuna

My parents do Ironman (if you unsure what it is, look it up. They are incrediable ) and they enjoy it, but love being able to eat that cake and have that glass if wine, without it mattering really because they burn so many calories most days! They fuel themselves properly and enjoy their treats too. Sounds like a good life to me. A very healthy one.

TluvK

I do this on some level. It's the reason I work out 7 days a week, but eating is not the reason I work out in general. I work out because I love how it makes me feel and look. But I also work out because I LOVE to eat good food. I've never been overweight, so I guess it's working for me.

Hellbent_Heidi

I used to do that, but it was counter-productive and I was just maintaining instead of losing. Now that I've cut a lot of bad things out of my diet, my body doesn't have the cravings it used to, and its just not worth it to blow all the hard work on say...a brownie or something.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I work hard, but not so that I can eat something I wouldn't eat anyway, I just like to earn my glass(es) of wine. Also, working hard in the gym gives me the confidence to have those little splurges now and again, because once again I'd be having them anyway. I usually eat what I need, sometimes I eat what I want.

olivedrab

I love beer, cheese, and all sorts of other foods that often get described as "forbidden" or "bad." I cook, bake, and experiment with foods on a pretty consistent basis, and would find it very limiting to dole out calories (since my personality just doesn't tend that way).

On the other hand, I love how it feels to run or bike or hike as long or hard as I can. Getting outside for an hour or more every day keeps me sane, too.

So for me it all adds up to keeping my food and exercise in balance. If I want to eat more, I'll exercise more and enjoy both! However, that doesn't mean that I'm ONLY exercising to eat, just that food and exercise are two sides of a healthy, enjoyable relationship for me.