Is not using my exercise calories hurting or helping?

Scott_Chaput

I work out 4-5 days a week for an intense hour each, through spin class or other group exercise that really pushes me. My heart rate chest monitor tells me I am burning about 800-1000 calories per workout.

I have thus far not been using any of the calories from the workout and have been sticking to my before exercise calories. I am never hungry, I never feel as though I am starving myself, I am satisfied and further eating would feel like overkill. I eat close to or at my goal of 1710 every day.

Am I hurting my weight loss by not using these calories or helping?

tehzephyrsong

Weight loss happens when you eat fewer calories than you burn. As long as you don't feel hungry or weak, and your faculties are normal, I think you're fine. However, if you're eating 1700 and burning 900, that means you're netting 800 calories; you won't impede your progress if you squeeze in another 400-ish calories per day, and it's probably healthier if your net is higher.

Scott_Chaput

It probably wouldn't hurt to eat some more so my net is higher it just seem to me to be counterproductive to work out so much only to use the calories I burned that I want to go to weight loss on more food I don't think I need.

I eat oatmeal and milk for breakfast, rice, beans, chicken and sweet potato for lunch and usually something with chicken, potatoes and / or rice for dinner, or pasta and meatballs or whatever. Mix in a nature valley protein bar or something... Take supplements too...

I just don't feel hungry or that I need more but I just don't want to be doing something bad to my body by having so few net calories... I don't want my body to be in starvation mode or anything.

If I do end up using any exercise calories I do it with a whey protein and milk shake.