Do you eat your exercise calories pregnant mamas?

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So I'm just getting back to my healthy eating and exercise the last few days and I'm wondering if you ladies eat the extra calories you earn due to exercise. Like today I earned 411 calories because I did 40 minutes of strength training and a 40 minute walk pushing my son in the stroller and walking the dog in 88 degree temps! I feel like over 2200 calories is too much. What do you ladies think?

Replies

  • jaylas_mom21
    jaylas_mom21 Posts: 311 Member
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    I haven't exercised much lately but if I do I at least try to eat them back b/c if not I feel like I won't be consuming enough for the pregnancy. Also when I exercise I get a lot more hungry anyway so it's pretty easy for me to eat them back.
  • AsellusReborn
    AsellusReborn Posts: 1,112 Member
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    I try to! I think burning more calories means your body needs to eat more.
  • nchacin02
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    I burned over 400 calories today. I ate 1950 calories and my doc said I need a minimum of 1800 a day...so I feel like that's ok. And I'm not hungry...but I hope I'm eating enough. I'm supposed to eat an additional 300 something calories today and don't feel like I can eat that much more even if I wanted to! I asked my doctor for a nutritionist consultation so I'm definitely going to ask them about it!
  • ybodwen
    ybodwen Posts: 342 Member
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    I also try to but if it doesn't happen I don't sweat it!
  • laurab1217
    laurab1217 Posts: 123 Member
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    If you burned those 400 calories though, it's like you're really only consuming 1550....I usually eat most of mine back. If there are days when I feel too full to eat them back, there are other days during the week when I go over a little. So it all balances out....even 1800 seems very low to me....but then again it all depends on your metabolism/height/weight. I'm sure the consultation with the nutritionist will help you out a lot!
  • nchacin02
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    You're right! I've definitely gotta talk to the nutritionist. But I don't know how soon I'll get in. In the meantime, I will eat so I'm not ever hungry and if I need to eat my exercise calories I will. If not, it will even out on some days when I go over! :-)
  • Erinthebodo
    Erinthebodo Posts: 215 Member
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    I do for the most part, but sometimes when I am not hungry I don't... other days I go over calories if I am hungry and I think it all works itself out :) Just eat when you are hungry. You also have to remember that wearing a HR monitor is the best way to know how many calories you actually burned. When you use the pre-programmed ones in here they could be off.... again, do what your body tells you!
  • rosy003
    rosy003 Posts: 251 Member
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    I do, but I agree that even if you don't eat them all back, it will even out. I ate over my calories a LOT in weeks 20+, but now in the 30s I'm usually under b/c I'm getting full easier. Just listen to your body and you will be fine.
  • kcasey155
    kcasey155 Posts: 968 Member
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    Sometimes. I eat when I'm hungry and don't when I'm not. I think it's far more important to have three healthy meals a day, perhaps with healthy snacks. I think nutritional content is more important than number of calories, so if I've eaten well I don't worry so much about whether I've met today's calorie quota or not. Meals will need to be smaller as baby takes up more room, but eating a well balanced small meal is more important still than eating a higher calorie meal. I also take prenatal vitamins to be sure (cover all bases!), but generally if I feel healthy and full of energy I don't worry about eating all the calories.
  • Rubyayn
    Rubyayn Posts: 433 Member
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    I do not eat them back because they are alreadfy factored into my calorie goal. I eat at TDEE + 200 calories for the second trimester. This puts me at 2200 per day no matter my workout schedule. If I had a burn well over 400 I would eat more because it would probably put me into a higher activity level.

    I have no problem eating these calories though and often wish I had more. I eat a lot of avacado and coconut oil and other calorie dense, but heathy foods. :)
  • Taraanne76
    Taraanne76 Posts: 111 Member
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    I have my calorie goal set at the lowest because I love adding in exercise calories and seeing the number go up. I usually eat half of them back at least. Then in my mind I have "banked" some cals for the weekend if I need. (Old WW theory lol) When I had my exercise cals factored in on my daily goal I usually went over. So, to answer, yes I do!
  • nchacin02
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    Erin, I LOVE my HR monitor! I know I burned the 411 because of it! :-) Its awesome! I did end up having a snack before bed because I felt a tiny tinge of hunger so I wasn't gonna go to bed like that! :-)
  • kellykneppergrundy
    kellykneppergrundy Posts: 234 Member
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    What other reason is there to excercise? :)