Darn! I burned too much calories today! :D

ArSeN23

Hi everyone,

I am pretty new to MFP so this might be some kind of a rookie question, but I could not find an answer in the message boards quickly so I am starting this thread.

As I am still on vacation, I had a lot of time today, and did two bike exercies for about 1 1/2 hours each. I bought a HRM and used it for the first time today. According to it, for my first cycling I burned 1779 cals and for the second even 1900 (there were plenty of mountains on that track), plus, it is pretty warm today, so my first question: Are those calories-burnings even realistic? I only ate breakfast so far (but will eat lunch in a minute regardless to your responses :P) but anyways, with those total earnings I have 5050(!!!) calories remaining for today, this sounds kind of sick to me, as it is a whole lot.

Shortly: Is this realistic? And if so, what should I do? "eat back" calories? What happens if not? What if? Waaaah?! Any help is highly appreciated!

Camille0502

In situations like that, I just listen to my body and eat until ssatisfied. I don't think you'll find that your body is demanding 5000 calories! But it may request more than your normal due to that activity.

icculus19

to answer your question it is saying you have 5050 calories remaining is b/c MFP takes your calories for the day and then adds your calories burned. basically MFP wants you to eat your calories burned. i dont get that either if the goal is to lose weight and run a deficit. i eat my dailoy calorie alotment and what ever i burn off through cardio and weights is even better.

i agree you should listen to your body but DO NOT stuff yourself. after a long bike ride like you had i would hit a protien shale with some type of complex carb weight about 45 to an hour and then have your normal lunch, all you really want to do after that bike ride is to refuel and aid in muscle repair. i am guessing since there were mountains in volved your legs got a pretty good work out. all you really want to do is refuel/start muscle repair.

lbetancourt

it's Friday.. you can give me 1000 calories that i can use up at happy hour.

mlb929

On days I have that much in calorie burn, I never eat that much back. Just don't have it in me.

fairc3jam

Hi everyone,

I am pretty new to MFP so this might be some kind of a rookie question, but I could not find an answer in the message boards quickly so I am starting this thread.

As I am still on vacation, I had a lot of time today, and did two bike exercies for about 1 1/2 hours each. I bought a HRM and used it for the first time today. According to it, for my first cycling I burned 1779 cals and for the second even 1900 (there were plenty of mountains on that track), plus, it is pretty warm today, so my first question: Are those calories-burnings even realistic? I only ate breakfast so far (but will eat lunch in a minute regardless to your responses :P) but anyways, with those total earnings I have 5050(!!!) calories remaining for today, this sounds kind of sick to me, as it is a whole lot.

Shortly: Is this realistic? And if so, what should I do? "eat back" calories? What happens if not? What if? Waaaah?! Any help is highly appreciated!

That seems really high. May ask a medical professional if your max heart rate is healthy.

ArSeN23

to answer your question it is saying you have 5050 calories remaining is b/c MFP takes your calories for the day and then adds your calories burned. basically MFP wants you to eat your calories burned. i dont get that either if the goal is to lose weight and run a deficit. i eat my dailoy calorie alotment and what ever i burn off through cardio and weights is even better.

Well, as afar as I understood, MFP guesses your cals that are burned through daily activity, which is 2750 for me, and I only should eat 2030; for my understanding THIS is the point where the deficit is. And also was part of the question: Should I keep the deficit stable (e.g. eating back the burned cals) - or does it not matter?

But not stuffing myself sounds like a good idea, that wouldn't make any sense indeed.

Thanks to Camille0502 too!

it's Friday.. you can give me 1000 calories that i can use up at happy hour.

Lol ... I'd really like to. Only way I see for doing is that you have to cook me something really complicated at my place. :P

Camille0502

Another thought - Last time I lost 50 pounds (yes, this is my second time losing this @#)$*%$ weight) I would go on extended hikes with my husband (more than 10 miles). I would eat to satisfaction after the hike but not go overboard (so I wouldn't feel famished) and would always notice extra weight loss in those weeks (a pound or so extra). I am trying to incorporate some extra long exercise sessions into my routine this time because I felt that I got an extra boost out of the "last time" I did this.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

Hmmm... those seem unusually high to me. Assuming your equipment isn't malfunctioning, I would just eat till you're full.

Purple_Orchid_87

i would only eat until satisfied and stay away from getting more calories from sugar based things

you may find you are really hungry tomorrow though, so you may find you eat more than your basic goal tomorrow, but if it evens out over the week you will be ok

just think of the liquid im sure you have gotten out of your system through sweating - remember to replace that water and more to keep your body working

and finally, fantastic on the exercise!!!

jah0217

Here are a couple things that might help:

1. How did you set up your weight loss per week? One pound, two pounds? MFP is already creating a deficit for you, meaning total calories your body requires for daily living minus a percentage of those calories to equal your daily allotted amount.

2. I have found that eating back your calories is extremely important. I am loosing more weight eating 1600-2200 than I did when I tried to eat 1200. I am breast feeding and working out though, which is why my body is requiring so much. Your body goes into survival mode and holds onto fat when you don't continue to fuel it. 5000 calories may be a bit excessive, but eating back what you can is important.

3. Focus on some higher calorie food that isn't junk. Lean beef, nuts, olive oil, avocados. These things are all high in calorie but aren't sugar. I also like to throw in energy bars when I can, like Cliff, Luna, etc. Lots of good stuff for you and higher in calorie. It is so much easier for me to eat my calories back adding these things in, and I still don't get it all done most days!

Feel free to friend me and take a look through my food diary if you think it will help!

Stuz359

Sometimes, I just think if you have loads of fat to lose, you're already carrying a fair bit of extra energy around with you, let it take care of the problem for you.