Quick question about extra calories

FionaHoggx
FionaHoggx Posts: 19 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
A question which has puzzled me...

When you work out do you have to consume extra calories? If so how do you incorporate that into your meal plan if its set for fewer calories during the day? Do you have to plan before hand the work out?

MFP has set my calories at 1200 per day as I have a desk job and do not do a whole lot of exercise (unless it's a planned workout etc).

Thanks! :)

Replies

  • refinedredbird
    refinedredbird Posts: 208 Member
    If your goal is 1200 calories then you are eating the minimum intake of calories you should be eating in a day therefore, any exercise calories burned should be eaten back. If you have remaining calories, you can always eat a post workout snack, I usually eat a protein bar or protein smoothie.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    MFP sets your calories so that you would lose weight without exercise. When you do exercise, you need to eat that extra fuel. Otherwise your deficit is too big and that is not healthy.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    MFP sets your calories so that you would lose weight without exercise. When you do exercise, you need to eat that extra fuel. Otherwise your deficit is too big and that is not healthy.


    Yup.
  • FeelingLessChubby
    FeelingLessChubby Posts: 152 Member
    Honey, don't do anything until you read this topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/952996-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy

    From being on this site for 2.5 months I found that MFP gives this number to far too many people, and there are many tools that are better for figuring this out. I've lost 16lbs so far, and all thanks to that topic.

    This is what it says in a nutshell:

    1. Go find your TDEE here: http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html
    2. Eat about 20% less than that number each day. Bigger deficit if you have more pounds to lose. Lower deficit if you have less pounds to lose.
    3. Log everything you eat accurately - measure it with a scale (they're cheap!). Research has shown that most people eat more than they think.

    Let me know if you have any questions :) I'm willing to bet money that you can actually eat more calories than 1200. Mine was 300 cals more.
  • FuchsiaBones
    FuchsiaBones Posts: 19 Member
    Honey, don't do anything until you read this topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/952996-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy

    From being on this site for 2.5 months I found that MFP gives this number to far too many people, and there are many tools that are better for figuring this out. I've lost 16lbs so far, and all thanks to that topic.

    This is what it says in a nutshell:

    1. Go find your TDEE here: http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html
    2. Eat about 20% less than that number each day. Bigger deficit if you have more pounds to lose. Lower deficit if you have less pounds to lose.
    3. Log everything you eat accurately - measure it with a scale (they're cheap!). Research has shown that most people eat more than they think.

    Let me know if you have any questions :) I'm willing to bet money that you can actually eat more calories than 1200. Mine was 300 cals more.

    Wow! I did this and got a far higher amount than I expected. Great tool to utilize!
  • FeelingLessChubby
    FeelingLessChubby Posts: 152 Member
    I'm so glad you did!!!!

    I really struggled at 1200 and getting that advice was a revelation - I really hope the original poster will read this too! :)

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