500+ calories left for the day...is this bad??

xtina11179

I am alotted 1220 cals per day. I did a 40-min power walk on my lunch and gained 288. After putting in all of my calories for the day I still have 526 left over. I wanted to do an exercise video, but obviously that will burn more calories. Is it okay for me to have so many left for the day?? Should I eat more tonight??

I'm having a hard time understanding if I should eat my exercise calories or not. Some people say yes, some say no. Which is it??

xtina11179

I am alotted 1220 cals per day. I did a 40-min power walk on my lunch and gained 288. After putting in all of my calories for the day I still have 526 left over. I wanted to do an exercise video, but obviously that will burn more calories. Is it okay for me to have so many left for the day?? Should I eat more tonight??

I'm having a hard time understanding if I should eat my exercise calories or not. Some people say yes, some say no. Which is it??

MattySparky

You are supposed to eat them, but I doubt everyone really does. The reason is because even without the excercise you are at a caloric defecit if you are following MFP's guidelines designed for you. Technically you dont even need to excercise to lose weight on this program but it's healthy and you will probably tone up and lose weight faster if you do excercise.

dewassel

I rarely get my exercise calories but I do try. Don't go below your 1220! I could not lose weight until I ate the minimum.

astarte09

You are supposed to..I am always scared to. I would say eat something else..I usually have about that many left over. I went a whole week without eating even my 1200, and the scale didnt move..the week that I ate something else to come close to 1200 I lost 2lbs..It coulve just been my body tho..

crystal_sapphire

make sure you at least eat that 1200+ allotted calories. i would try to eat some of the exercise calories back, but you don't necessarily have to eat them all back

xtina11179

So I should probably eat again tonight then? Geez, if I do exercise, I'll practically be able to eat a Big Mac!! LOL I'm just not sure what to eat. Even if I made myself a HUGE salad I'd still only get a couple hundred more calories. I don't want to go eat just any old crap.

crystal_sapphire

So I should probably eat again tonight then? Geez, if I do exercise, I'll practically be able to eat a Big Mac!! LOL I'm just not sure what to eat. Even if I made myself a HUGE salad I'd still only get a couple hundred more calories. I don't want to go eat just any old crap.

yeah i would do that. eat a big salad or some fruit.

astarte09

Thats always my problem..good food doesnt have that many cals.. maybe have a meat with it for dinner?

cheri822

Everyone on here says to eat them. My mom says to not eat them, she's lost over 60lbs and is still going. My grandma and grandpa also say to NOT eat them, and they've lost over 100lbs together. So I don't know. I havent the last week but if i'm ever really hungry and want to eat something I'll eat my exercise calories.

Hannah_Banana

So I should probably eat again tonight then? Geez, if I do exercise, I'll practically be able to eat a Big Mac!! LOL I'm just not sure what to eat. Even if I made myself a HUGE salad I'd still only get a couple hundred more calories. I don't want to go eat just any old crap.

So... don't eat a salad. Or eat a salad and something else. Make chicken breasts/thighs or a main course. Have a potato or make a pasta salad. If you are a vegitarian, eat beans or put nuts in your salad. Getting your daily calories in shouldn't be a struggle.

MattySparky

dont be afraid of calories, I found that when I started I was trying to eat everything low cal and whatnot etc etc... and Im still very concious of my eating but dont be afraid to eat a normal meal once in a while especially if you're having trouble taking in cals. Try a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with a slice of light swiss and lettuce... that alone is very healthy but will give you over 250 calories. I think we get in this habit of thinking that anything in the 100's is bad, but it's not.... watch the fats and carbs but dont worry so much about the cals if you're having so much trouble (keep within your limit though lol).

xtina11179

I've already had dinner! LOL! I had a Gorton's Garlic and Butter Tilapia Filet (80 cals), a twice baked potato (200 cals) and Green Giant Just For One Broccoli and Carrots with Italian Seasoning (60 cals). I have pretty much stayed under my calories for the last 3 weeks and I have lost 10 lbs. Maybe I will do a salad with a couple slices of smoked ham.

I'm usually not THIS MUCH below my calories though.

MattySparky

are you sure only 200 cals for a twice baked??? that seems really low.

xtina11179

It's only a little guy. That's what the package says. It is by Lamb Weston. And I don't even eat the shell.

duffyzmom

I don't always eat my exercise calories but if I had over 300 left I would treat myself to a glass of Red Wine or a square of dark chocolate the ghiradella ones are only 54 calories. Heart Disease is a big problem in my family so these are two of my treats.

xtina11179

I don't always eat my exercise calories but if I had over 300 left I would treat myself to a glass of Red Wine or a square of dark chocolate the ghiradella ones are only 54 calories. Heart Disease is a big problem in my family so these are two of my treats.

If only I had some wine...that sounds great!! LOL! I am not a chocolate person (I know, being a woman that sounds crazy!) but I do like peanut butter and I do have some Reese's 100-Calorie packs that are sounding pretty good!!

allaboutme

you should eat your exercise calories, that subject has had many many many posts about why you should and what will happen if you continue to go below your recommended daily calories and don't eat back your exercise calories. i will post the link for you. :happy: You lose initially, but you metabolism will slow so that it will only burn what you are giving it and nothing else, so your weight loss will come to a halt. In any event, to get at least your minimum calories so your body can function properly daily, add some more healthy snacks throughout the day. A quarter cup of almonds is about 200 calories, a slice of whole wheat bread and peanut butter 160 calories add half a banana to that for another 40 or so calories. Add a baked potatoe to your sandwhich you are having for lunch, there are lots and lots of ways, it doesn't have to be salads all day and every day. You want a good balance, protien carbs and fat. A little of everything. Nothing is taboo, just learn what the calorie content is.

Read some of these

xtina11179

All this talk is making me hungry!!! Ha ha ha!!!

lynniejones

Eat nuts, peanut butter, avacado, anything still good for you but high in calories. I'm super excited to have some food left over. I am going to mix a bananna, half an avacado, chopped walnuts and honey. It is my favorite "oh my gosh I didn't eat enough today" treat. I'm a weirdo though

fiddlechic

since no one can agree I say don't eat them one week and see what happens, then eat them and see what happens. everyone is different:) personally I eat them, I'm starving if I don't and I feel long term success depends on me not feeling starved everyday.

mrsyac2

I dont eat my exercise calories. I just base it as its a bigger calorie deficit since it takes 3500 calories to drop a pound if I cut 500 out of my diet in 7 days thats a pound so whatever I burn daily in my workout will just make my weightloss more

But most people on here will tell you to eat them.

My thing is do as you wish if your hungry after a workout have a snack if your not than don't.

proudmama0118

Try a big glass of chocolate milk. Thats how I use mine up, plus I am getting in my calcium that way too. I do try and eat my exercise calories, but some days it just isn't feasible. If you have lots left occasionally it shouldn't hurt anything. Just try not to make a habit out of it... that is when you risk starvation mode.

Good luck!

phetzgetfit

I've been shocked at how much better I feel now that I'm exercising regularly and adding lots more food to my diet in order to eat all my calories burned up. Before, i would be on a calorie-restricted diet and start exercising and it would work for a while, maybe i'd take off a pound or two, but i would feel tired and weak and shaky most of the time and, eventually, i'd reach for the sugar to "fix me" and it would start all over again. NOW, I sometimes get to add 700 or more calories to my day depending on whether or not I do bikhram yoga in day and I eat them all in the way of healthy filling foods and the weight is falling off. (cautionary note though...the first week of this it appeared that i suddenly gained 3 lbs but they went away just as suddenly . since then my body must have relaxed and said it's okay to lose weight, cause I am finally doing that consistently. best wishes to you.

kendallalissa

I didn't have time to read all of the posts, so if this is a repeat suggestion I'm sorry. I was just curious if you had a Heart Rate Monitor?? Are you sure you burned that many calories from speed walking alone? I burn only 20 or so more than you did in a high intensity 45-minute step/strength training class according to my HRM. The exercise database online is never accurate. Just a thought.


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