Should I be eating more calories???

sandradev1

I'm not eating back my calories regardless of the zumba calories. So even if i'm not burning the 750 like the calculator told me I was, I'm still not eating them back.

You should be eating at least some of the calories burned doing it. The 1200 calories is just the minimum calories for keeping your body functioning, i.e. your heart pumping, your lungs breathing and all your other vital organs. If you are exercising you need to eat enough fuel for your body to do this on top of doing the vitally essential things it has to do.

Take a look at the link to the video that has been posted in some of the replies, it explains it both fully and correctly.

now_or_never13

I'm 5' 7", I currently weight 184. My goal weight is 150. My BMR is 1600. My TDEE is 2800

Yes you should be eating more... much more. You shouldn't be netting under your BMR daily. If 2800 is your TDEE and you are taking in say 700 (1200 minus burning 500 through exercise) you are not giving your body enough... your deficit would be over 2000 cals. You will be losing lean muscle! Not good.

I am 5' 5" and weigh 196... I eat 1550-1600 plus my exercise calories.

You should be netting your BMR as that is the amount of calories your body needs a day without you doing anything other than laying still all day.

I would suggest taking a cut off your TDEE. So if your TDEE is really 2800 you should be eating a cut based on that... so 2800 minus 20%.... you should be eating around 2200 a day.

jessicabailey529

Thanks everyone for the fantastic information.

It does take a bit to understand how it's possible that I need to be taking in more calories than I am.

Starting today I'm upping my calories to 1500 and I have zumba tonight. I'll do it that way for a bit and if that doesn't work, I'm sure I'll reply again in a week or so and tell everyone I'm upping them again.

I never thought it was that because I'm not hungry. I'm eating so much food and because they're the right foods, I'm staying full longer, etc.

Thanks everyone for a great support system through MFP~!!!

sandradev1

If you are feeling full but need to add calories, just choose higher calorie foods that are low in portion size. ie. peanut butter, avacado, handful of nuts and greek yoghurt. It is easier to get the calories into your body. These are the things that help me to get my number up daily.

You can also slightly increase your portion size on meals you currently have which you will hardly notice, but will increase your numbers on your diary.

Good luck:flowerforyou:

jessicabailey529

Thank you!!!

I'll try eating a whole avacado versus a half, eat some PB, add Fiber one into my chobani.