We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

How many calories after exercise?

Hi, I've been swimming for the last 7 weeks & so far lost 16 pounds. The only issue I have is that I go in the evening & afterwards I am literally starving! How many calories should I save for after a workout?

Replies

  • WAS287GOAL170
    WAS287GOAL170 Posts: 44 Member
    Congrats on the 16 pound loss! I think swimming in general can make you hungry. Make sure you are DRINKING WATER while you swim., Dehydration is huge for swimmers. And that if you are swimming for a while make sure you have eaten enough protein to fuel your swim. So you are swimming after dinner? I would just eat back 1/2 of the calories you burn during your swim. I usually burn 400-500 according to my HRM, So about a 250 calorie "snack" Something with protein for sure to refuel your body and LOTS OF WATER!!!! Good Luck! :smile:
  • kboy1983
    kboy1983 Posts: 2
    Thanks for the info!! I normally go swimming at around 8:30pm for an hour. By that time I have had my dinner & have used all my daily calories. So do you suggest I either wait till afterwards to have my dinner or save 250 calories for a post swim snack? Thanks
  • WAS287GOAL170
    WAS287GOAL170 Posts: 44 Member
    Neither, You get extra calories for working out. Dont wait that late to have dinner, you need food to fuel your workout. I would eat dinner at your normal time then have around 250 cal snack when your done kicking your fins. :) CALORIES IN - WORKOUT CALORIES BURNED= NET CALORIES. So i get 1430 cals per day, if I go swimming i burn 400-500 of those 1430 so I am "netting" 930-1030 calories. So in order to meet my goal of 1430, You can eat back your exercise calories but only 1/2 since there is no pure way to tell EXACTLY how many calories you burn during a work out but you can get a reasonable estimate with a HRM.