God help me, I'm starving

PeachyPlum
PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Like, all the time. MFP has me eating 1200 calories, meanwhile all the running around I do at work has me burning up to 550 calories a day (I logged 9.5 miles yesterday on the pedometer between walking at work and jogging last night).
Should I be eating some of these exercise calories? Or will I eventually get used to the reduced calories I eat? Or what?
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Replies

  • run2bslim
    run2bslim Posts: 1
    I would encourage you to eat at least some of your exercise calories. If you read other posts about similar subjects it seems like most people eat at least half of their exercise calories. I don't know about you, but when I feel that I'm starving all of the time it's hard to stick to a plan. It's too easy to become discouraged if you feel that you are always doomed to be hungry. Good luck!!
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Of course you should. Also, I'd ask how much you are trying to lose in a week? You will have a struggle complying of your goal is too agressive and it sounds like it is a 1200 calories per day.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    So, I'm confused, your diary says your goal is 1700 but you are trying to eat 1200?? Why? This will be counter productive.
  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
    Say what!? Maybe I don't understand this whole diary thing.... Today shows me a goal of 1200 calories. If I look at yesterday's entry, here's what I see:

    Totals: 1212
    Your Daily Goal: 1743
    Remaining: 531

    But yesterday's exercise was 543 calories. So, apparently it added my day's exercise calories back to my goal... which could cause me to eat them. Yes?
  • InTheInbetween
    InTheInbetween Posts: 192 Member
    YES! Eat them!
  • freckledrats
    freckledrats Posts: 251 Member
    If you are sticking to 1200 and exercising on top of that and you're not feeling good and it makes you want to quit, you should definitely eat some exercise calories back.

    If you're worried about eating them back, start with eating half back for a week, see if you feel better.
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    Eat your exercise calories! They are fuel!
  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
    Thanks everyone!
  • Charliesuccess
    Charliesuccess Posts: 181 Member
    Yes!
  • hollyknouse
    hollyknouse Posts: 232 Member
    EAT THEM :)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Like, all the time. MFP has me eating 1200 calories, meanwhile all the running around I do at work has me burning up to 550 calories a day (I logged 9.5 miles yesterday on the pedometer between walking at work and jogging last night).
    Should I be eating some of these exercise calories? Or will I eventually get used to the reduced calories I eat? Or what?

    No, you shouldn't eat them as exercise calories, but you should be eating more.

    What you should do it change you weekly weight loss to a more appropriate number for the amount you have to lose and to change your activity level based on how much you move at work. So if you move as much as this normally I would set my activity level to light active or active (some of your 550 burned would already be accounted for in your MFP allowance).

    here is a guide for setting weekly wight loss goals:
    If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
    If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    You might want to also go in and change your program. Maybe you're listed as "sedentary" but as you say, you move around a lot. Let the program account for that.
  • FitLink
    FitLink Posts: 1,317 Member
    Like, all the time. MFP has me eating 1200 calories, meanwhile all the running around I do at work has me burning up to 550 calories a day (I logged 9.5 miles yesterday on the pedometer between walking at work and jogging last night).
    Should I be eating some of these exercise calories? Or will I eventually get used to the reduced calories I eat? Or what?

    If you feel like you're starving, eat some or all those exercise calories! Your deficit is built in. You can eat exercise calories and lose.
  • Meatsies
    Meatsies Posts: 351 Member
    OMG, someone get this girl a burrito. Sweetpea, don't let yourself feel like you're starving. EVER. I started on MFP at 1200 calories. And within a month, I had skyrocketed in terms of my anxiety levels, my b!tchiness, and all-around misery. Now I'm reading The New Rules of Lifting for Women, I'm eating 1700 calories a day, and I'm a much nicer person and am STILL SEEING RESULTS. There's a ton of back-and-forth on MFP about this, but I will NEVER do a 1200 calorie diet again. I've learned that it puts my body into starvation mode and I stall in terms of progress and I come dangerously close to committing homicide on my husband. Eat your exercise calories!
  • cfriend71
    cfriend71 Posts: 207 Member
    I would suggest adding 200-300 calories to your daily limit for the first month or so, at least. Since you're exercising, you probably need more calories. I have read some go up to 1700 per day. It's the content and quality of what you are eating that's important. Eat clean and healthy, whole foods as much as possible. Fruits and veggies, lean proteins.
  • tig_ol_bitties
    tig_ol_bitties Posts: 561 Member
    "God help me, I'm starving"

    I had no idea God was a member of MFP!
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    Try eating half back, if your still hungry eat more. 1200 is incredibly low. I can't do 1200! You could change your weight loss goal to -1.5lb or half a lb less than your set at. This will give you 250 cals extra a day and give you a better quality of life. Means you have the extra cals even on days you don't work out, and days where you do you don't have to eat all your exercise calories! X
  • SimplyShanRunning
    SimplyShanRunning Posts: 885 Member
    eat!!! Yes you need to eat back your exercise cals

    You may even consider upping your cals....
  • jenbusick
    jenbusick Posts: 528 Member
    Yes, eat your exercise calories! Especially if you're hungry!
  • cheesenbrats
    cheesenbrats Posts: 39
    I would eat some of the exercise calories. Don't let the hunger monkeys get to you. You set a goal to lose X pounds per week. Those excercise calories add to what you can eat and still be within that goal range. Look towards the long term and you will do great!!
  • SimplyShanRunning
    SimplyShanRunning Posts: 885 Member
    "God help me, I'm starving"

    I had no idea God was a member of MFP!

    Yeah when did this happen
  • lordsangel
    lordsangel Posts: 167
    Yeah, I'd eat some but i wouldn't eat them all. Thats just me. I like to see how many cals I have left over and the bigger the # the happier I am.
  • Tiggerrick
    Tiggerrick Posts: 1,078 Member
    EAT
  • mixedfeelings
    mixedfeelings Posts: 904 Member
    Because you only have 10lbs to go I would suggest setting your goal for a loss of 0.5lb a week, this should then give you more calories but you should also be eating your exercise calories as MFP doesn't take this in to account. I think it might be a bit confusing as you do set exercise targets but this doesn't change the calories just gives you an exercise target.
  • grayyoung84
    grayyoung84 Posts: 14 Member
    I would just let your appetite be your guide, sometimes I eat mine back, sometimes I don't, just as long as you're under your daily goal-you're in the clear!
  • iamfishing
    iamfishing Posts: 8
    My understanding is that maintaining the 1200 calories will give you slow but steady weight loss. The right way to do it. So if you are burning extra calories with exercise then you should be consuming more calories (and feeling less starved). Just make sure the additional calories are good calories...veggies and protein. Low on the carbs! :o)
  • Bailey543
    Bailey543 Posts: 375
    Since starting ATkins, I am never, ever hungry, I feel great, and I lose every week.

    AAAAANnnnnnnndddddd....let the bashing begin...

    Just research it :)
  • br04416
    br04416 Posts: 35 Member
    Most def eat those exercise calories. or at least half of them!
  • sammys1girly
    sammys1girly Posts: 1,045 Member
    Food is fuel! Eat your workout calories or you're gonna run out of energy and feel like crap!
  • chachita7
    chachita7 Posts: 996 Member
    YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS... doesn't mean you have eat them all... but YESSSSSSSSSSSS eat - if your body is telling you it is hungry it is because it is lacking fuel... how long do you really think you could go without fueling and coming to a HALT...

    MFP has me at a 1200 calorie in take... I average about 300 -500 on slower days on workouts... that only gives me a net of about 900 - 700 calories (net= body actually keeps, at least that is my definition) on an average I eat a 1500+ calories a day.

    So fine not everyone is the same but if you are feeling hungry, EAT... just stay within your total daily calorie amount.

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