Calories left at the end of the day?

trackercasey76
trackercasey76 Posts: 781 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Last Night I was left with over 1000 calories left at bed time so I ate a couple PB&Js even though I was not hungry. What is right thing to do in this situation? Eat when I'm not hungry or Go to bed with 1000+ calorie deficit?

Replies

  • rhonniema
    rhonniema Posts: 522 Member
    If you're not hungry why force yourself to eat?
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    You could set the diary the day before leaving 1 meal completely open to chance.

    Thats what I do.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    well, no. i don't think you should eat if you aren't hungry.

    however, the next day, you might be really really hungry! so it's okay to go over your calories that day, because you under ate the day before.

    your body works more on a week-to-week way rather then day to day.
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    why did you have so many left over? I am guessing they were excersise cals because thats like...ALOT.... to just have left over. I would say you dont have to eat them if you are not hungry. thats just logical.
  • DonniesGirl69
    DonniesGirl69 Posts: 644 Member
    I never eat unless I'm hungry......
  • kpwatson
    kpwatson Posts: 60 Member
    IDK. i struggle with this too. I have never had a deficit of more than 400. I will usually eat a small snack and not worry about a couple of hundred. As long as I eat between 1200 and 1500 total, I do not worry about the deficit from exercise at the end of the day so much. I know there will be that inevitable family event or date night that i overdo it or can't exercise that will even it out. When my weight loss goes on hold i will increase my calories for a few days and then return to my schedule.
  • Gettingskinny12
    Gettingskinny12 Posts: 2
    Why not eat a piece of cheese so you do not wake up starving.
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    I'll usually do a protein shake to use up some of the extras.
  • ShaSimone
    ShaSimone Posts: 270 Member
    I agree with the previous poster that you don't have to eat all the calories in one day. I have found that on a hard workout at the end of the day it's hard to eat all those calories back that evening. The next day I am ravenous, like my stomach is a bottomless pit. I have to watch going over the next day but I will try to eat more if I can stand it.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    well, no. i don't think you should eat if you aren't hungry.

    however, the next day, you might be really really hungry! so it's okay to go over your calories that day, because you under ate the day before.

    your body works more on a week-to-week way rather then day to day.

    Source? I always heard the body works on a 24-hour clock.
  • Sharyn913
    Sharyn913 Posts: 777 Member
    I never eat unless I'm hungry......

    Me too.

    If I have that many left over I just go to bed. I usually DON'T, but if I did, I wouldn't force myself to eat.
  • ethompso0105
    ethompso0105 Posts: 418 Member
    If this is only an occasional deficit, then it's not a problem. If you're under by that much on a regular basis, you may want to reevaluate what you eat during the day to pump up your caloric intake.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    My secret is to pre-log my workouts and spread the 'extra' calories around during the day. I also eat every 2-3 hours and eat as clean as possible. With 1,000 left over (after logging every bite and every workout) you are not fueling your body with what it needs. Fuel that engine! With great planning you should not get to the end of the day with 1,000 left.
  • FriendsR4EverTreasures
    FriendsR4EverTreasures Posts: 179 Member
    don't eat if you are not hungry! Balance out your "check book", when I have crazy days like that I look at my weekly goal and then balance it that way. For example, last week was a huge calorie burn week for me, I had 4900+ calories on Saturday and still had 2 more workouts to clock, so I divided the 4900 by 2 and then used that as my daily calorie goal to finish the week. Don't get so caught up in your daily, it's the weekly deficit that ultimately determines your weightloss. BTW, I met my goal and have been doing this for over a year. There is no one size fits all, do what works for you :)
  • Lainerbee
    Lainerbee Posts: 7
    Im having the same issue. I like the idea of doing a protine shake or power greens....Im going to try that so that Im not so hungry the next day over do it. I over did it yesterday :( now I have to get back on track smh
  • neptuneiscrashingdown
    neptuneiscrashingdown Posts: 7
    After dinner I usually try not to eat unless I do become hungry. If I'm craving dessert and the craving won't go away I eat grapes, strawberries or any fruit to calm myself.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    I'll leave 100 or 200 exercise calories left uneaten (Im set to lose 1/2 pound per week) But I don't like to leave a whole ton uneaten. Fortunately I love to eat peanut butter right out of the jar :-)
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    Eating while I'm not hungry is one of the reasons I'm overweight.
  • Candy_monster
    Candy_monster Posts: 59
    I'd eat them all, just for the sheer fun of it :D

    I mean why not? unless you're wanting to lose weight at a faster rate than predicted by your current MFP settings, you've got nothing to lose (or gain..lol) :happy:
    Oh unless you're eating back exercise calories, I dont believe in those :wink:
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    For me, it would depend on how much I had already eaten. If the calorie surplus is from exercise, I don't worry as much about consuming all of them. But if I had just not eaten a lot that day, I think it is a bit more important to get a minimum amount in.
  • skinnyfithealthyme
    skinnyfithealthyme Posts: 213
    No...people need to break the habit of eating because they can. Eat when you are hungry, stop just before you get full.
    Since you were underneath a healthy calorie level however I would've opted for some cottage cheese or perhaps ONE slice of bread with peanut butter. But there's no need to force yourself to eat 400+ calories whatsoever.
  • trackercasey76
    trackercasey76 Posts: 781 Member
    I am regularly under my calories but rarely 1000+. I might have to try the protein shake idea. 500 of the cals were exercise calories so I was not too worried about them but I don't want to sabotage myself by not eating enough
  • coliema
    coliema Posts: 7,646 Member
    I don't eat unless I am hungry, especially with exercise calories.
  • scas01
    scas01 Posts: 1 Member
    If this is only an occasional deficit, then it's not a problem. If you're under by that much on a regular basis, you may want to reevaluate what you eat during the day to pump up your caloric intake.

    I agree with you, the point is to track what you eat and do and find problem areas - if you have any - and fix them. I'm usually under when I start a new routine then after a few days I see about how how much I am under and re-adjust my eating habits during the day. I try to not eat much at all after 6pm since your metabolism slows down when you are sleeping that's why I re-adjust what I eat during the day.
  • chrisb75
    chrisb75 Posts: 395 Member
    I eat so that I am NOT hungry. Once you are hungry your chances of overeating are MUCH higher. Plan out your day, measure your portions, and stick to your plan. If you have calories left over, especially more than 200 I would eat them!
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Last Night I was left with over 1000 calories left at bed time so I ate a couple PB&Js even though I was not hungry. What is right thing to do in this situation? Eat when I'm not hungry or Go to bed with 1000+ calorie deficit?

    Your body doesn't need them before midnight. Besides, if that was because of a big workout, it may actually need more the next day, at least before the next workout.

    So be willing to be in the green say 500 calories, and tomorrow be in the red 500 calories as you balance it out.

    Or, if you are sure the workout is going to happen, eat that slightly bigger lunch and snack for at least half what you expect to do, eat the rest later.

    Ditto's on the advice to NOT wait until you are hungry. You know the body needs extra nourishment for whatever you put it through, feed it what it needs, don't wait until it's screaming for it.

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