I STILL have 800 calories to eat again today!! How?????

twonkieone

Ok - yesterday I did not want to "eat back" my exercise calories so I saved adding my exercise till after dinner (so that I ate my required calories first). Well - I still had calories left before I went to the gym and now I am supposed to eat 800 calories of food (and I just ate cottage cheese and a banana when I got home). Am I doing something wrong in that I have an insane amount of calories to eat a day? I'm 38 and in really good shape - I do spin class 4x's week (sometimes 2 in a row), zumba, cardio sculpt.... and I eat pretty clean. For some reason after my last baby I did not lose any of the weight (he's now 3) - so I'm sitting at almost 170 very compact pounds (ie..not much jiggles even if it's not tiny). I think I need help or I'm gonna gain weight!!!

twonkieone

Think I have my profile open if you wanna go see what I've done - 100% honest posting so tell me if you see errors!

Monarchgirl

Not sure what to tell you because I am new at this myself, but when I looked at the diary, I feft that your meals were small - or rather than something was missing - carbs? As a biologist, I have seen how the body needs and uses fats, proteins and carbohydrates, in balance, to fuel the body. There doesn't seem to be enough calories in your meals, and this comment is coming from a person who was getting warnings from MFP to eat more in my first week. Perhaps with all of your activity, your body is holding on to what it has for dear life, because you are undereating? A word of caution about the artificial creamer - please look carefully at the ingredients and consider the kinds of health fats your body really needs. Best of luck. I wish you every success.

knightreader

based on today's food entry, if you didn't exercise you would only have about 200 calories left for the day. that is usually where i try to end up. i have read the arguments on eating back your exercise calories, but for me, that would be impossible some days. i can't eat just to eat calories. i might add an extra nutritious snack, like a fruit or vegetable, but there is no way i am eating 2000 calories, then eating another 400 to 500 on top of that. i just can't do it.

while i am certainly no expert, and just shooting from the hip, i wouldn't worry too much about it. listen to your body. if you are hungry, eat, if not, don't. perhaps look at the bigger picture. are you way under the calories all week, or do you manage to get close to the goal on some days? if it is like me, i think it averages out to eating about 1/4 to 1/2 of my exercise calories back for the week. i seem to be ok with that, altho i am sure there are plenty of people who disagree with me.

i'm curious to see what everyone's advice is, as i often have what i consider a lot of calories left over, but am not hungry at the end of the day.

Nikiki

Try eating more during the day, add oatmeal for breakfast, increase your meat consumption add nuts, oils, avocados ect... Stop choosing the lightest options of things especially with you heavy workouts, your body needs more calories to feed your muscles.

jay0975

It's not telling you TO eat the 800 leftover calories, it's saying the with your exercise that you'd be ABLE to eat 800 more calories and still be under you daily calorie goal. And don't worry about "eating back" your exercise calories, your body needs a certain amount of calories per day to run properly, otherwise it'll go into ketosis and store fat. Make sure that your gross intake is above you daily minimum. With exercise your net will go way down.

suziecue66

It's not telling you TO eat the 800 leftover calories, it's saying the with your exercise that you'd be ABLE to eat 800 more calories and still be under you daily calorie goal. And don't worry about "eating back" your exercise calories, your body needs a certain amount of calories per day to run properly, otherwise it'll go into ketosis and store fat. Make sure that your gross intake is above you daily minimum. With exercise your net will go way down.

Go into ketosis and store fat??
When you go into ketosis your body uses fat for energy instead of blood sugar. All the available blood sugar is spared for the brain and other cells/tissues that run on it. Eventually the brain can switch to run on ketones.

suziecue66

Ok - yesterday I did not want to "eat back" my exercise calories so I saved adding my exercise till after dinner (so that I ate my required calories first). Well - I still had calories left before I went to the gym and now I am supposed to eat 800 calories of food (and I just ate cottage cheese and a banana when I got home). Am I doing something wrong in that I have an insane amount of calories to eat a day? I'm 38 and in really good shape - I do spin class 4x's week (sometimes 2 in a row), zumba, cardio sculpt.... and I eat pretty clean. For some reason after my last baby I did not lose any of the weight (he's now 3) - so I'm sitting at almost 170 very compact pounds (ie..not much jiggles even if it's not tiny). I think I need help or I'm gonna gain weight!!!

Watch you don't over-exercise. I personally dont think there is ever a need to do 2 in a row.

tvanhooser

It's not telling you TO eat the 800 leftover calories, it's saying the with your exercise that you'd be ABLE to eat 800 more calories and still be under you daily calorie goal. And don't worry about "eating back" your exercise calories, your body needs a certain amount of calories per day to run properly, otherwise it'll go into ketosis and store fat. Make sure that your gross intake is above you daily minimum. With exercise your net will go way down.

Yep...this is the gist of what I was going to say so I won't repeat it. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should or that you have to!

DrBorkBork

I've got a 700 cal bomb of deliciousness for you
greek yogurt + peanut butter + chocolate protein powder + coconut oil. It's called sludge.

Beleg

I eat my Calorie count for the day I hardly every go over and exercise sometimes takes me way under.

kuger4119

There is a BMR calculator on this site. There are numerous threads on this site about BMR and such that talk about how many calories to eat. 987 calories is too low in my opinion but I don't recommend trying to eat back all 800 calories. In general, you should just eat until you feel full (or you reach your calorie deficit for the day). It's ok to have a green number in the calories if you feel full. Make sure to eat enough though.

Athijade

One day of that high of a deficit won't make an issue, but it's not something you should aim for. Because your NET for today is way too low.

musicalboats

It seems like the "extra calories" is just from exercising so much. If you are very concerned you should ask a trainer at your gym or your doctor, and they would have a better idea if you are eating correctly for your habits.

meshashesha2012

all you'd need to do is add another 200 calories or so to each meal. that's not a lot. that's stuff like 2 whole eggs, or an avocado, almonds, 2 scoops of protein powder. etc

saraann4

Are you hungry? If so, eat. If not. don't. Listen to your body.

happygolucky5536

Actually I want to echo some other things people are saying and share my personal experience:

Awhile back I was not losing weight even though I was exercising and on a really low calorie diet. I got the advice about increasing my calories. When I upped my calories I dropped 5 lbs almost immediately. Also, incorporate more healthy fats: avocados, nuts, olive oil. They are amazing for your skin tone and texture. And your body is probably in starvation mode.

(: Good luck

Femtec74

When this happens to me, I eat a higher calorie snack (like almonds) at night and then try to make some of the calories up in the morning. I know the MFP diary resets at midnight, but your body isn't that precise. It's ok to be over a little tomorrow, just keep track of the calories. I certainly don't advise stuffing yourself to try to get all 800 calories in tonight!

twonkieone

don't do 2 in a row often - i have exercise induced asthma - so sometimes takes the first 30 minutes just to get breathing under control!
so - as long as i'm eating the given calories for the day - plus a bit more on days that i heavy exercise then i should be ok? it literally has been about a year of me building up my exercise but not losing any weight along the way. appreciate everyone's honest opinions/advice

EDesq

SIMPLE FIX...DO NOT eat what you Can Not eat!!! Get REAL and use COMMON SENSE!

twonkieone

damn that bomb sounds REALLY good!!!!
never considered that i was in starvation mode - gonna add in nuts, avacado, oils tomorrow and see how that goes. i'm usually just not hungry - or, with 5 kids, too busy to realize i forgot to eat something!

Coming4U

I think this is to lose weight not pile on a high calorie snack to eat up calories

UpEarly

Your meals are tiny! I would suggest eating larger meals throughout the day. I hope this doesn't sound snarky, but 180 calories isn't dinner... it's a snack - especially with the amount of time you spend exercising!

I'm not sure about your current height/weight, but it looks like you don't have much to lose. I'm a couple years older than you, I weigh 137, I'm 5'9" and have 20% body fat. I eat 2300-2700 calories a day. When I was actively trying to lose weight, I was eating about 1900-2100 calories a day.

I think you might do better eating more throughout the day and more calories overall.

rjt1000

damn that bomb sounds REALLY good!!!!
never considered that i was in starvation mode - gonna add in nuts, avacado, oils tomorrow and see how that goes. i'm usually just not hungry - or, with 5 kids, too busy to realize i forgot to eat something!

you're not in starvation mode. And always remember, people who are starving still lose weight....

itsjustdawn

Your meals are tiny! I would suggest eating larger meals throughout the day. I don't want to sound snarky, but 180 calories isn't dinner... it's a snack - especially with the amount of time you spend exercising!

AMEN!

darias_mommy

damn that bomb sounds REALLY good!!!!
never considered that i was in starvation mode - gonna add in nuts, avacado, oils tomorrow and see how that goes. i'm usually just not hungry - or, with 5 kids, too busy to realize i forgot to eat something!

I'm a mom of 2 kids and believe me- I can forget to eat. I also have the same problem of not hitting my calories and it is really starting to concern me. i just did a REPORT of my nutrition for the last 30 days and saw that most of them I only retained about 600-700 calories because of my excersize deficit. i am confused as all hell- I mean- if I eat closr to my goal but workout then I deserve a deficit, right? Isn't that how you loseeight, BUT when I saw it on the chart it was a very bleak reality.

SOMEONE who is qualified as a nutritionist or doctor or something please explian this. There is no way that I am in starvation mode and neither is the girl who started this thread. We both have fat stores. Starvation- really?? HELP!

Kat120285

I'd have to say listen to your body. I stopped counting calories and started listening, meaning when I'm actually hungry then I eat and when I'm not I don't feel the need to shovel in food because a website or clock or person tells me I need to be eating. I'm more aware of portions now that I don't count calories and I also eat much slower. I've been a fast eater since I was a baby and would eat so fast sometimes I would eat so much that I would just feel so uncomfortable and eat far too much. I make it an effort now to eat slower and now I really enjoy my food and stop when I'm full. For me I feel that my body knows best when it wants food and when it doesn't. Everyone is different and different things work for different people so test things out and do what works for you

stephirocks2012

You do not have to eat another 800 calories. Just stay with the deficit and drop the weight!

meshashesha2012

i also forgot to mention that your appetite is not necessarily a good guide to go by in terms of when and what you need to eat. appetite is controlled by hormones and if those hormones are off then your appetite will be as well.

there was a point when my appetite was telling me i needed 7-8K worth of calories a day but i gained weight because that's not what my BODY needed. there are also times when because of my workouts (I do few HIIT sessions a week and HIIT affects the hormone that control appetite) i dont have an appetite. this doesnt mean that my body doesnt need those calories, it means that something is off with the hormones that control appetite.

so eat your food. dont pay attention to your appetite because it can lie to you

Nikiki

Try eating more during the day, add oatmeal for breakfast, increase your meat consumption add nuts, oils, avocados ect... Stop choosing the lightest options of things especially with you heavy workouts, your body needs more calories to feed your muscles.

DawnEH612

As someone that is steadily stilll losing weight, I highly recommend ALWAYS eating back the calories you exercise. You should never deprive your body of the nutrients it needs for basic biological functions. After all, I assume you're on MFP, to take care of your body, not to just loose weight... Atleast I hope so.
Figure out your BMR with the calculator on my fitness pal and never go under that. I always enter my exercise I'm planning to do, in advance, before I eat anything that day so I know how to plan my day. If you haven't adjusted your macro nutrients I would suggest you change them to near a 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein and 30% fat ratio... Or close to that. I'm a vegetarian so it's real hard for me to do that exact split, but I aim for 50/25/25. Eat more snacks throughout your day. Choose calorie dense foods if necessary such as a 1/4 cup of nuts or nut butter, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, protein drinks, Greek yogurts, or things like Kind Bars, and other protein type bars and smoothies.
I am 43 went from original heaviere weight of 204 to my current weight of 141. I am 5'6.5". I spin twice/week, take boot camp, Pilates, run, hike, and most importantly lift heavy weights. I eat roughly 1700-2000 calories a day before I deduct my exercise calories.. After that it's about 1430, which is about 100 calories higher than my calculated BMR and I am still loosing!
Good luck!