Net calories too low?

Dewymorning

Yesterday I had nothing I needed to do and ended up going hard out at the gym.

So my food calories yesterday were 1882 and my exercise calories were 933, which meant my net calories were only 949.

I have been struggling today. The whole day I have felt like eating, and am struggling to keep under my 1600 calories (just calculated my exercise calories after a walk, and I am currently 230 calories under but super craving food despite just eating a large dinner.)

Did I let my net calories get too low yesterday?

I really enjoyed my workout and plan to do something like that again when I have 2 hours to spare at the gym (usually I am doing my best to squeeze 30 minutes in).

Any tips on eating on days you burn a lot of calories?

Should I let myself go over 1600 net calories today?

psuLemon

Its one day so dont stress it but if you are hungry eat some extra protein. Its not uncommon to be really hungry post workout as your metabolism increases to repair your body.

honkytonks85

Firstly, are you sure your exercise calories were 933? I have no doubt you worked hard, but 933 calories is a lot of calories and often the calculators we use overestimate the number of calories we're burning in a session. A heart rate monitor is probably as close to accurate as you'll get.

Having low-ish net calories one day isn't really going to do any harm. There's also absolutely nothing wrong with eating a little more the next day. For example, you could eat 1200 one day and 2000 the next and even out at 1600 calories overall a day. Your body doesn't reset overnight.

Dewymorning

90 minutes working out at gym, plus 30 minutes walking between home and the gym.

I do rely on the machines and a website (for the walking part) to estimate my calories burned, however I can also confirm my heartrate was high for the majority of the time. I have no idea how to work out how many calories you are burning from heart rate.

honkytonks85

Is there any reason you're spending so much time at the gym? There are many studies that talk about the downside of over training - eg http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/thing-too-much-exercise-171700220.html

You really only need to spend 45-60 minutes at the gym. Are you doing weights or just cardio?

Dewymorning

Is there any reason you're spending so much time at the gym? There are many studies that talk about the downside of over training - eg http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/thing-too-much-exercise-171700220.html

You really only need to spend 45-60 minutes at the gym. Are you doing weights or just cardio?

It was a one-off.

Most days I don't have time to spend more than 30-45 minutes at the gym.

Ready2Rock206

If its a random thing don't worry about it. Like someone else mentioned up your protein a bit today and you should be good.