Eating more when working out?

lauraannnelson1
lauraannnelson1 Posts: 49
in Health and Weight Loss
So today I ate a bit too much pasta, er way too much. I am on a poor person's diet and was starved but I decided to put some extra miles in and power walked 5 miles. (using leslie sansone's videos with the weights) and did about 40 minutes of yoga. So I burned quite a bit. Now, MFP is telling me I should eat more but that seems silly. I ate 1,322 today (I am 5"6 and 168lbs) And burned 650. Do I genuinely need to eat a bit more or am I fine?

Either way I will probably have some steamed veggies later as I will probably get hungry but I can't imagine eating another 560 calories.

Replies

  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    The way MFP is designed, you are meant to eat those exercise calories back. Your calorie deficit is already built into that total, you don't need to create a larger one.

    Have some ice cream or peanut butter. Any caloric dense food will help you reach your goal quickly. It's all about moderation.
  • amwood89
    amwood89 Posts: 165 Member
    There's a lot of opinion about eating calories back or not. Me personally, I eat the same number of calories regardless whether I work out or not (unless I do a ridiculous burn & then I eat some back). Saying that though, I'm not eating a stupidly low number a day either. I eat around 1700-1800 a day which is my TDEE - 20%
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    If you're using MFP correctly, then you should eat the exercise cals back. As Ninkyou pointed out, your daily goal already has you at a deficit - this means you could eat all your calories every day, do zero exercise, and you'll lose weight. Burning off more cals through exercise leaves you with a much larger deficit, too large, and can cause you some problems over time.
  • lauraannnelson1
    lauraannnelson1 Posts: 49
    Okay! No problem for me, I am actually getting hungry after that burn (i wasn't earlier) I just wanted to make sure. It seems I am eating SO MUCH but I guess that is what happens when you start burning a lot of calories. :) Thanks guys.
  • DoingitWell
    DoingitWell Posts: 560 Member
    I ate a footlong sub for breakfast yesterday and had the best lifting day ever!! I was so shocked, I was literally the incredible hulkette, all thanks to extra bacon on my sub. So yes eat more if your body is telling you.
  • lauraannnelson1
    lauraannnelson1 Posts: 49
    I ate a footlong sub for breakfast yesterday and had the best lifting day ever!! I was so shocked, I was literally the incredible hulkette, all thanks to extra bacon on my sub. So yes eat more if your body is telling you.

    I guess that should be pretty obvious eh? Like, I can tell when I am legit hungry. I am going to go ahead and knock out 2 more miles (7 total today!) And then have some of the 15 bean soup with quinoa that has been cooking all day.

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