How can I eat back so many calories?

kali31337
kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So far today I have eaten 607 calories and have exercised 554 of them which only nets me 53 calories for the day. I'm supposed to at least eat 1200...besides going to mcdonalds and ruining my hard work, how do I eat all of these back so late in the day? should i even try? I will probably have a healthy snack later but...that's a lot. My diary is open for anybody with some suggestions!
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Replies

  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,321 Member
    Nuts, peanut butter, avocado, or other calorie dense foods. For that matter, eating at McDonald's won't destroy all you hard work if you keep it within your calories.
  • rcalvert1
    rcalvert1 Posts: 117 Member
    On days you know you are going to burn lots of calories you should be eating more often thru out the day. Celery with peanut butter, almonds, protein bars ... that way you wont have to cram them in at the end of the day, which we all know isnt good for you.
  • jnicole90
    jnicole90 Posts: 31 Member
    I've had this same problem. Eat (healthy) foods that are high in calories. For example, peanut/almond butter, cook foods in olive oil, avocados, nuts, beans, if you eat oatmeal use low fat milk instead of water.. finding ways to add calories can be tough but there are ways to sneak them in.
  • kali31337
    kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
    Yeah i guess I should have eaten more before I went to the gym but I thought the cereal was enough...gotta plan better I suppose
  • 3LittleMonkeyMom
    3LittleMonkeyMom Posts: 259
    First, I would beef up my breakfast in the AM. Cheerios and a 90 calorie brownie might be quick, but it really won't stick with you.
    How about a scrambled egg on a toasted english muffin instead?
    OR Peanut butter on toast?

    Something to give you more protein and up your calories a little.

    I agree with the other posters, nuts, peanut butter, avocado and really plan around your workouts so you don't have a huge deficit to try to make up at night. :)

    Good luck to you! YOu can co this!
  • calitravelingal
    calitravelingal Posts: 53
    So as you have already been told and know, just plan a little more for the days you burn lots of calories. As for today, if it was me in the same boat.... Sonic, small carmel sunday with nuts (550 cal!) I'd treat myself today but plan better for tomorrow!
  • BigRich822
    BigRich822 Posts: 681
    Dont eat them Back Leave em I do!
  • kali31337
    kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
    First, I would beef up my breakfast in the AM. Cheerios and a 90 calorie brownie might be quick, but it really won't stick with you.
    How about a scrambled egg on a toasted english muffin instead?
    OR Peanut butter on toast?

    Something to give you more protein and up your calories a little.

    I agree with the other posters, nuts, peanut butter, avocado and really plan around your workouts so you don't have a huge deficit to try to make up at night. :)

    Good luck to you! YOu can co this!


    Thank you!!!!
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    increase fats. are you lactose intolerant? if not you can use whole milk for your cereal and shakes. peanut butter, olive oil. that sort of thing. or you can just go to mcdonald's. but personally i would rather go for BK.
  • kali31337
    kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
    Dont eat them Back Leave em I do!

    Really? Have you seen results from this? Everything i have been reading seems to contradict that. Great to hear another opinion!
  • Mceastes
    Mceastes Posts: 303 Member
    I would call it a treat day and splurge on something you love!
  • kksmyre
    kksmyre Posts: 4
    So that I am clear, when your daily calorie goal is 1200, despite how much you burn, you should still NET 1200 calories? I was under the impression that you don't want to eat more than 1200 cal, and whatever you burn takes away from that, and it was okay. If your net doesn't have to be 1200calories, then what is a healthy net?
  • WestCoastPhoenix
    WestCoastPhoenix Posts: 802 Member
    On days you know you are going to burn lots of calories you should be eating more often thru out the day. Celery with peanut butter, almonds, protein bars ... that way you wont have to cram them in at the end of the day, which we all know isnt good for you.

    Why isn't it good for you to eat the bulk of your calories at the end of the day? Do tell.
  • McBully4
    McBully4 Posts: 1,270 Member
    Dont eat them Back Leave em I do!

    Really? Have you seen results from this? Everything i have been reading seems to contradict that. Great to hear another opinion!

    I eat back every single calorie.
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    So far today I have eaten 607 calories and have exercised 554 of them which only nets me 53 calories for the day. I'm supposed to at least eat 1200...besides going to mcdonalds and ruining my hard work, how do I eat all of these back so late in the day? should i even try? I will probably have a healthy snack later but...that's a lot. My diary is open for anybody with some suggestions!

    I have roughly the same exercise routine and calorie limit. I end up eating all but roughly 100-200 calories back. Look at my diary.
  • WestCoastPhoenix
    WestCoastPhoenix Posts: 802 Member
    Dont eat them Back Leave em I do!

    Really? Have you seen results from this? Everything i have been reading seems to contradict that. Great to hear another opinion!

    Netting 53 calories in a day is an incredibly dumb idea.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    Just eat. It doesn't matter when you eat unless you have a medical condition that dicates otherwise. You're not eating nearly enough anyways. :)
  • kali31337
    kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
    I would call it a treat day and splurge on something you love!

    Guess it might be an M&M ice cream day instead of that 80 calorie bar I have in the freezer...now just to find my shoes haha
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    I am with those who suggested having a treat to at least eat back some of them.
    You have such a large number spare, you might as well enjoy it and plan better in future, getting in enough healthy calories earlier in the day.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    So that I am clear, when your daily calorie goal is 1200, despite how much you burn, you should still NET 1200 calories? I was under the impression that you don't want to eat more than 1200 cal, and whatever you burn takes away from that, and it was okay. If your net doesn't have to be 1200calories, then what is a healthy net?

    no no no. you don't want to NET below 1200 (although most normal people will require nets of at least 1400, 1500, or more). 1200 is a bare minimum, not a maximum.
  • suzyqz1029
    suzyqz1029 Posts: 5
    On days like that I go for pizza (my favorite indulgence) or ice cream (my second favorite). I also don't worry about eating every calorie back... if I have a few extra today then tomorrow if I eat a few extra it evens out (as long as the weekly calorie bar graph ends on 1200 you know you're ok). I wouldn't take that to the extreme though. It's like the "weekly points" concept of WW. Of course the better option would have been to plan ahead, but no sense fretting over the past (and yes, this morning is already the past). Just keep it in mind for the future.
  • Rosa1213
    Rosa1213 Posts: 456 Member
    If you don't feel that hungry, eat something small and calorie-dense, like others have suggested.
    But even if you don't eat ALL of them back, just eat SOMETHING. One day of poor calculation and a low net won't ruin your progress :)

    Just don't do it every day! :flowerforyou:
  • Spanaval
    Spanaval Posts: 1,200 Member
    It's okay to leave some calories on the table (not the entire 1200, more like a few hundred) from time to time, if you're unable to eat it all back in one day. It will give you wiggle room for days where you don't work out as hard.
  • LeggyKettleBabe
    LeggyKettleBabe Posts: 300 Member
    Do not over eat to eat back your calories. Eat til you are full. End Story.
  • catattack13
    catattack13 Posts: 117
    "So far today I have eaten 607 calories [...]"
    there's your problem. eat some food. it's really.... not so complicated.
  • WestCoastPhoenix
    WestCoastPhoenix Posts: 802 Member
    Do not over eat to eat back your calories. Eat til you are full. End Story.

    Read the details. Eating 600 and burning 500+ is not a healthy way to live. End of story.
  • danielled731
    danielled731 Posts: 26 Member
    So far today I have eaten 607 calories and have exercised 554 of them which only nets me 53 calories for the day. I'm supposed to at least eat 1200...besides going to mcdonalds and ruining my hard work, how do I eat all of these back so late in the day? should i even try? I will probably have a healthy snack later but...that's a lot. My diary is open for anybody with some suggestions!


    You aren't eating nearly enough.
  • ShaunaLaNee
    ShaunaLaNee Posts: 188 Member
    Dont eat them Back Leave em I do!

    Really? Have you seen results from this? Everything i have been reading seems to contradict that. Great to hear another opinion!

    I do not eat them back, I have never lost doing it that way. I have had trainers and doctors both tell me "WHAT?" when I say that I need to eat them back. I know I'll be bashed for saying it but...oh well:)
  • WestCoastPhoenix
    WestCoastPhoenix Posts: 802 Member
    Dont eat them Back Leave em I do!

    Really? Have you seen results from this? Everything i have been reading seems to contradict that. Great to hear another opinion!

    I do not eat them back, I have never lost doing it that way. I have had trainers and doctors both tell me "WHAT?" when I say that I need to eat them back. I know I'll be bashed for saying it but...oh well:)

    Probably because you give the trainers and doctors no frame of reference for your question. Eating them back is an MFP thing...if you don't explain how the system works before asking this question...you'll probably get a "what?". If you gain...guess what...it is because you're eating more than you are actually logging or you are over estimating your burns...simple as that.
  • Hezzietiger1
    Hezzietiger1 Posts: 1,256 Member
    Cook a nice balanced dinner with chicken, rice, lots of veggies, olive oil, herbs and spices. don't worry about eating all your calories back. They are probably over estimated anyway. But eat. You can easily get in 500 more tonight.

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