Calories left over

ashbosity
ashbosity Posts: 20
in Health and Weight Loss
I am trying to eat close to my daily target and when I exercise, I am often left with several hundred calories left at the end of the day. My first instinct is, "Yay! Ice cream! Cookies!". What do you eat that's not crappy when you have a lot of calories left?
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Replies

  • CChandler81
    CChandler81 Posts: 100 Member
    There's times that I find it almost impossible to eat them all if I burn 700 or so and end up with a large deficit for the day. Stuff like bananas, apples, granola and yogurt, a protein shake, smoothie, etc. are all good options if you're wanting something sweet.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
    If it ever happened, I'd probably go for sliced apples and peanut butter.
  • jynxxxed
    jynxxxed Posts: 1,010 Member
    I think the same thing! lol I usually grab something snack-like.. usually carrots + some tzatziki sauce to dip while I watch tv or something.

    Orrrr if I'm actually hungry, I'll make eggs and throw a few veggies in.
  • ashbosity
    ashbosity Posts: 20
    Do you think it is better to have a deficit than fill the rest of the calories with junk?
  • firedragon064
    firedragon064 Posts: 1,082 Member
    Almonds!
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    I try to eat as many "leftover" calories as protein as I can stomach.
  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    Sometimes I just have the damned ice cream! I buy Edy's Slow Churned, which is low fat, low cal, and very very tasty. If I only eat half a cup to a cup of it, it feels like a treat but doesn't set me back.
  • LadyIntrepid
    LadyIntrepid Posts: 399 Member
    Hummus and whole grain crackers or carrots. Peanut butter and apple. Nuts and raisins. Guacamole! (Just watch what you're dipping in it.) Yogurt, soy milk, banana, blueberry smoothie with protein powder (ups both the calories and protein.)
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
    Do you think it is better to have a deficit than fill the rest of the calories with junk?

    I think that would depend on:

    -Your goals as far as your body comp is concerned.
    -How big of a deficit we're talking about and how much you're eating in a day.
    -What we consider junk.

    We can use ice cream as an example. It's not an inherently evil thing. It frequently has a fair bit of fat and sugar in it, but if that fits in your goals, then it's probably not an issue. Not all varieties of ice cream are equal either.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Ice cream.

    srs.
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    A lot of the calories from ice cream are just because the #1 ingredient is milk too...

    Something like 50% of the calories could be stuff you'd get just by drinking a pint of whole milk (though ice cream is almost always lower in protein).

    I'm blessed to be living in a part of the country where Blue Bell is readily available and a pint of no sugar added vanilla is fairly close to the health facts of 2% milk and is just flat out awesome.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I will have:
    goodies (cake, cookies, etc.) - if I haven't had too many carbs already for the day
    ice cream
    another meal with protein/carb veggie
    yogurt
    cheese and crackers
    veggies and hummus
    I don't do the same thing every day. Make good choices for the majority of your calories, and you can have some left for your vices. Wine also works well.....
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Do you think it is better to have a deficit than fill the rest of the calories with junk?

    Too large a deficit can stall weight loss & you may lose muscle mass in the process. No need to eat junk - look for calorie dense foods & front load calories on days when you "expect" to be burning big calories

    Healthy fats - olive oil, nut butters, nuts .... add these to your meals ... before you exercise. That way, you are "committed" to doing the exercise later on.
  • jppd47
    jppd47 Posts: 737 Member
    I don't buy into there being bad or junk food as long as your are making your macros with choices, that are also full of all the micros you need. Ill have ice-cream or a sinkers or what not. If you keep it to your calorie goal and your making your macro and getting the micros you need, I don't see an issues. unless you have some sort of underlying medical issue.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    i make a mega shake. but ice cream or cookies would be fine.
  • shivles
    shivles Posts: 468 Member
    Greek yoghurt with honey, very dark (85%) chocolate, hummous with oat cakes and olives, cheese, hot chocolate. Sometimes I just eat cake if I fancy it, stops me feeling deprived without making me gain :)
  • sheila569
    sheila569 Posts: 269 Member
    I'm hooked on hummus and special K multi grain crackers (24 for 120 ish calories). Granola bar, fruit, almonds or frozen yogurt :smile:
  • jppd47
    jppd47 Posts: 737 Member
    Greek yoghurt with honey,

    OMG, i can't believe I never thought of that!! Thank you!
  • MizSaz
    MizSaz Posts: 445 Member
    If I'm not hungry, I don't eat. I think it's unhealthy to eat just because I'm a couple hundred calories under, especially knowing that since I don't have a Fit Bit or any of those other gadgets, MFP is probably WAY over estimating what I burnt. Think about it this way- if you weren't keeping count and didn't know how many calories you had left, would you eat?
  • krawl78
    krawl78 Posts: 115 Member
    I eat three things:

    1. Low carb/low sugar Protein bar - my favorite is the Chocolate Deluxe by Pure Protein
    2. A banana - my overworked muscles need the potassium
    3. Almonds - healthy fat that soaks up a lot of calories
  • tennisbabe94
    tennisbabe94 Posts: 444 Member
    Fruit salad! It also satisfies my sweet tooth. Nuts are good too. Also some toast with almond butter and honey. Delicious!
  • StenaphieRose
    StenaphieRose Posts: 3
    When I have a deficit I immediately go looking for chocolate. I feel like I've earned it. :)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Do you think it is better to have a deficit than fill the rest of the calories with junk?
    You already have a deficit if you ate 100% of the calories. I would say eat anything that helps you meet your macro goal (Carbs/fat/protein). Eating too little can cause a host of issues, one of which is the loss of lean muscle.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    (I'm one of those crazy people who believes not all calories are created equal when it comes to how our bodies/mental state/hormones/etc are affected by food...so in my opinion, there *is* a such thing as junk food vs real food.)

    My advice:
    Rather than looking at this as a one-day problem, instead make adjustments to your habits going forward to prevent this from happening. Sure, it isn't entirely preventable all the time, but I'd guess that most of the time, the problem can be avoided with some slight adjustments. Most immediate ideas that come to mind would be to plan more fruit, or more calorie-dense foods like avocados, quality red meat, etc.

    So for just an occasional one day deficit? Use it as an opportunity to try some "quality" foods that you don't normally eat. Not only will you potentially add in some missing/deficient micronutrients, but you may discover a food you really like. And if you don't, well, no problem, because you weren't really that hungry anyhow. =P
  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    Hah! I usually eat Ice cream and cookies and Twix bars, and I just had a doughnut and OWW Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! I can eat those all day!

    Sorry no luck on the heathy stuff from me!
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I don't buy into there being bad or junk food as long as your are making your macros with choices, that are also full of all the micros you need. Ill have ice-cream or a sinkers or what not. If you keep it to your calorie goal and your making your macro and getting the micros you need, I don't see an issues. unless you have some sort of underlying medical issue.

    I absolutely agree with all of this. Given that you're consuming a nutrient rich diet with appropriate macros and kcals, adding "some" junk (for lack of a better work here) food is fine.
  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    If I'm not hungry, I don't eat. I think it's unhealthy to eat just because I'm a couple hundred calories under, especially knowing that since I don't have a Fit Bit or any of those other gadgets, MFP is probably WAY over estimating what I burnt. Think about it this way- if you weren't keeping count and didn't know how many calories you had left, would you eat?

    I have a fit bit.... WORKS GREAT. And MFP was over estimating my calories burnt when I exercise however, had no clue I was so active during the day either so I actually was under estimating that and I had a really huge deficit . Jumping on the trampoline, chasing the kids at the park, rollerblading, walks to the mail or other places. Wow it adds up!
  • Dawnnifer98
    Dawnnifer98 Posts: 2
    Think about it this way- if you weren't keeping count and didn't know how many calories you had left, would you eat?

    That's a good point, however, if I weren't keeping count and didn't know how many calories I had left, I wouldn't be under my calories lol!
  • MizSaz
    MizSaz Posts: 445 Member
    Think about it this way- if you weren't keeping count and didn't know how many calories you had left, would you eat?

    That's a good point, however, if I weren't keeping count and didn't know how many calories I had left, I wouldn't be under my calories lol!

    I understand what you're saying lol.... But why eat if you aren't hungry? Take some time to figure out what works the best for you. :)
  • smilesalot1969
    smilesalot1969 Posts: 392
    zero fat greek yoghurt with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of toasted oats YUM!!

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