Under cals, should u still work out?

itstimetoeat

I'm severely under my daily calories today and need to work out after work too. Should I still work out if my calories are too low? Not having much of an appetite right now. Any advice?

AussieTrainer

sometimes I have no appetite so I force myself to have a small snack of something that I really enjoy-- then my appetite usually comes back.

If you are not going to be able to hit your target then I wouldn't work out, no. But if you think you would enjoy a nice bowl of ice cream after that work out...yes. haha.

itstimetoeat

I'm forcing myself to have an apple right now but will still be low on cals. I'm just not wanting to eat.

innerbetty

Funny I was just about to make a thread about this.

I'm under my 1200 cal goal as well and haven't done any work outs yet. I'm supposed to start the 30 day shred today (well tonight really) and I know that if I eat just to fill up calories it'll start a binge (bad news!!!) If I don't continue with my workout plan I'll never stick to it and be in the exact same place next year.
I know this post isn't exactly helping >.<

You could maybe try drinking some of your calories. Milk, or something? Maybe a smoothie of some sort?

itstimetoeat

Oh it's okay if it isn't that related. We can still comment and suggest what we feel. I'm still forcing myself to eat this apple and barely half way through. I've decided that I will still workout but going to not work out too much. I need to lose 30 lbs by summer, my ultimate goal.

Not sure if I can accomplish that since I've been plateauing for SO LONG now.

seena511

it's totally ok as long as it's not happening regularly, i would say 2x a month max you should make sure that you are always netting 1200. but one day isn't going to do irreparable damage, and it's important to get your routine set.

Mokey41

If you need more calories why would you choose a low calorie food as the thing to eat? Eat some peanut butter, full fat yogurt, piece of cheese, lean meat, nuts, eggs, etc. Under eating is a choice, if you have room for an apple you have room for something that would get your calories up.

nguk123

If you are 'severely' under calories, why not put down the apple and have some chocolate, or some cake, or some icecream....

itstimetoeat

I'm at work. Not a lot of options here. I don't want my extra calories to be bad calories. I want my food options to be healthy at least.

itstimetoeat

I don't eat sweets. Hardly ever. I try sometimes and I can't get more than a bite in. I'm a savory food fan but no appetite at the moment.

ihateroses

I'm sorry but...forcing yourself to eat an apple? :huh:

If you are severely under your calorie goal there's no point of going to the gym because you won't get much accomplished there anyway being so low on fuel.

itstimetoeat

If you are 'severely' under calories, why not put down the apple and have some chocolate, or some cake, or some icecream....

I don't eat sweets. Hardly ever. I try sometimes and I can't get more than a bite in. I'm a savory food fan but no appetite at the moment.

ndj1979

if you are not hungry then don't eat ..unless you have not eaten in like 24 hours...I would work out and I am pretty sure about 20 minutes after you are going to be starving and then eat a high protein/higher cal meal to fill it in for the day...I train fasted a lot and always seem to have more energy when I do...

ndj1979

I'm sorry but...forcing yourself to eat an apple? :huh:

If you are severely under your calorie goal there's no point of going to the gym because you won't get much accomplished there anyway being so low on fuel.

I am curious as to what the science is behind this? I train on about 20% of my cals for the day and typically workout for1.5 hrs...

itstimetoeat

I'm making myself eat cereal now. that should help.

mockchoc

If you need more calories why would you choose a low calorie food as the thing to eat? Eat some peanut butter, full fat yogurt, piece of cheese, lean meat, nuts, eggs, etc. Under eating is a choice, if you have room for an apple you have room for something that would get your calories up.

There is nothing unhealthy in the above that you can't eat to up your calories when you can get hold of them of course.

itstimetoeat

if you are not hungry then don't eat ..unless you have not eaten in like 24 hours...I would work out and I am pretty sure about 20 minutes after you are going to be starving and then eat a high protein/higher cal meal to fill it in for the day...I train fasted a lot and always seem to have more energy when I do...

I plan to do at least a 30 mins workout. Weight training with some cardio in between to ramp up my heart rate.

julielittlefish

Eat a little protein with the apple (peanut butter, some cheese, handful of nuts...) and that should help you keep your energy up enough to get through a decent workout.

itstimetoeat

Eat a little protein with the apple (peanut butter, some cheese, handful of nuts...) and that should help you keep your energy up enough to get through a decent workout.

My office has premium roasted nuts, high in cals. I can make myself eat those too!

itstimetoeat

I know...I know I need to eat more to have a decent work out. Cereal is out of the question since our office milk expired. I am trying to eat a good amount of nuts to fill up on protein. Extra fancy mixed nuts from Costco are very high in calories. That should be sufficient for the energy I need to work out tonight.

Bobby__Clerici

I know...I know I need to eat more to have a decent work out. Cereal is out of the question since our office milk expired. I am trying to eat a good amount of nuts to fill up on protein. Extra fancy mixed nuts from Costco are very high in calories. That should be sufficient for the energy I need to work out tonight.

Good...sometimes we eat when we do not want to eat, and other times we want to eat but can't.
:grumble:

tsh0ck

I'm at work. Not a lot of options here. I don't want my extra calories to be bad calories. I want my food options to be healthy at least.

fwiw, the only unhealthy food is one eaten in excess.

MoreBean13

I would suggest balancing your calories out over a week....that way you can splurge on a weekend dinner out or whatever. Exercise if you want to and you don't feel woozy or lightheaded, etc. Don't do it too often- try to keep your weekly calories on target. Too big of a deficit long term is more detrimental than helpful.

Crankstr

i would be interested in seeing your food diary...hard to make comments without.


also i never have had the problem where I had to force myself to eat...ever.

desiv2

Nuts are good, or you can take another posters suggestion and drink the calories. I would still workout, and you might find yourself pretty hungry afterwards or in the middle of the night. That's what happens to me anyway!

lcnick_38

If you feel like working out then do it. There are lots of days that I eat way under my calories but there are plenty that I eat way more because I am hungry. I always seem to maintain my weight within a few pounds so I just listen to my body.

MB_Positif

I would suggest balancing your calories out over a week....that way you can splurge on a weekend dinner out or whatever. Exercise if you want to and you don't feel woozy or lightheaded, etc. Don't do it too often- try to keep your weekly calories on target. Too big of a deficit long term is more detrimental than helpful.

This. One day here and there won't kill you. Your appetite will likely be higher tomorrow since you are low today and are working out. The apple and nuts are a great snack.

Unknown

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itstimetoeat

I would suggest balancing your calories out over a week....that way you can splurge on a weekend dinner out or whatever. Exercise if you want to and you don't feel woozy or lightheaded, etc. Don't do it too often- try to keep your weekly calories on target. Too big of a deficit long term is more detrimental than helpful.

Oh I've done that before. 1 cheat day a week but I want a more aggressive diet/work out plan so I've cut out the cheat days. I've increased my daily cals to 1400 since I work out frequently. before, I was at 1200 for the longest time but the body doesn't like that anymore. Just that...I've been so plateaud. Trying to make my eating as healthy and balanced as possible.

itstimetoeat

Nuts are good, or you can take another posters suggestion and drink the calories. I would still workout, and you might find yourself pretty hungry afterwards or in the middle of the night. That's what happens to me anyway!

Thanks but I can't drink the cals. I have low tolerance for sugar by choice. I just repel sweet things.

itstimetoeat

HEY EVERYONE!!!

So not that anyone really wants to know know but I've made my food diary public for those who are interested. It's been very inconsistent for the last couple of months due to my plateau since beginning of Nov. I lost weight consistently then I just went crazy because my body stopped responding to my efforts.

You will see me eat crazy on days randomly. I have been maintaining the same weight since my last weigh in. =(

I guess maintaining is good but really, why is the body requiring me to work so much harder when I feel like I work so hard already. I call my body the ALIEN BODY!