doing too much or not enough?? What could it be....

Aprillsmith

I very rarely eat all my calories because the number just seems astronomical. I do work out about two hours a day six days a week and almost every day I have over 1000 cal left in my bank. With a base of 1500 I just cannot see how I could fit in another 1000 calories in a healthy way. I struggle with diet as it is and try to assure I do not go over the allotted nutrient amounts. I usually do a one hour med-high impact zumba class, a fifty min strengthening and toning class using light weights and barbells, and at least 20 min on the elliptical trainer 6 days a week. I work the night shift so I work out in the mornings some days and in the afternoon other days. I recently noticed that I am experiencing knee joint pain and am questioning whether I am over working myself or am not getting enough nutrients in to compensate for the calories/nutrients burned while working out? I am 5'6 and currently 235 lbs. I should also mention that I do take a one a day womens supplement daily and most days drink a smoothie king pineapple pleasure skinny smoothie with diet down after my workout (there is one right inside the gym). My total goal is to lose 110 lbs in a year. Any tips or pointers on what I may be doing or not doing please? Also about the knee pain, I didn't start experiencing it until I started working out.

staps065

The knee / joint pain may be due to the high-impact exercise. You may may want to cut back on that a bit and do some more elliptical or something less stressful on your joints. If you're burning 1000 calories every day and not able to eat most of them back, it may be a little too much... You should eat back most of your exercise calories although I have some days I'm way under, you don't want to do that too often or your body will hold onto the fat and preserve it for later/drastic times use.

Eat some healthy foods; lean protein, healthy/complex carbs, low fat or fat/free dairy to make up the calorie deficit... Just MHO.. :happy:

Aprillsmith

Thanks! I usually do the elliptical on days that there is no zumba class and I do it minimum an hour.at about a level 7. And being that I have about 105-110 lbs to lose I want my skin to be nice and tight and muscles toned and defined. I usually am about 1100 cal under everyday because I rarely ate the entire 1550 I was allotted not to mention more for exercise. And oftentimes I'm not hungry. But I dont want to damage my muscles or joints sure to lack of poor diet. I have to get back to cooking because the eating out thing I see is detrimental to my overall goal. I have to remember its more than just about calories but also in what form you are getting those calories that count!

scotrunner

Hello, I'm no expert but you are doing a lot of exercise on not very many calories. I would eat more calorie dense healthy foods to get you to your calorie goal. Things like nuts and seeds are easy to eat and full of goodness? I don't think it's a good idea to eat so little, it has been proved on MFP time and time again. Depending on how you work out your calories burned, i.e do you wear a heart rate monitor or use MFP or the machines? Anything other than a HRM will probably overestimate calories burned but you could aim to eat half your exercise calories maybe? Good luck!

Jess5825

I usually have 500-800 exercise calories to eat and recently changed my weight loss goal to 1.5 lb per week, since according to my BMF I should be eating more. I sometimes have trouble eating all my calories too. I have been eating nuts which is not to many for a lot of calories, but also just recently got a jar of Peanut Butter (got the reduced fat because even though I know it is healthy fat, it just seems so high) and if my calories are short at the end of the day 2 TBSP of that off a spoon (I've been using an actual measuring spoon to be accurate) is delicious and bumps up my calories. I'm hoping that doing this will help me lose better.

Helloitsdan

Hello, I'm no expert but you are doing a lot of exercise on not very many calories. I would eat more calorie dense healthy foods to get you to your calorie goal. Things like nuts and seeds are easy to eat and full of goodness? I don't think it's a good idea to eat so little, it has been proved on MFP time and time again. Depending on how you work out your calories burned, i.e do you wear a heart rate monitor or use MFP or the machines? Anything other than a HRM will probably overestimate calories burned but you could aim to eat half your exercise calories maybe? Good luck!

^^^^^^This
Can we see your diary?

BobbyClerici

Eat all of what they recommend - all of it, then before weighing in, wait a few weeks.
Start an exercise program of cardio and resistance.
Let your body get used to exercise and the new food intake.

Then weigh in weekly, and if you gain, drop calories 200 a day, then wait a week. You will find that sweet spot of weight maintenance, and that's when the fun begins.

This is the point where you take control.

You can do this!

Aprillsmith

Thanks guys! I always looked at nuts and thought GOSH THATS A LOT OF CALORIES AND FAT! I'm in the process of learning the difference in good fats and bad fats. I eat plenty so I'm by no way starving, I just dont eat enough to compensate for the exercise. I figure that the actual calories burned are overestimated. Thinking about buying a body bug to measure my calories in the new year. Thanks for all your tips.