should i eat my exercise calories?

Trust, if you don't have to feel like this, you dont' want to!!! Up those calories, hit that net, you'll be amazed how much better you feel physically AND mentally.

To me, this is one of the things that's hardest for people (including myself) to understand. I think a lot of people go into it thinking:

I'll lower my cals. I'll lose weight. I'm eating healthy stuff. I'm losing weight and eating healthy stuff. Ergo, I must be healthy.

SO NOT TRUE! Millions of thin people out there are quite unhealthy.

For many people, the visual is so important. They focus on what's going on "outside" (ie scale, measurements, etc), without really considering what's going on inside. Even though you may not FEEL it much for a while, too few cals over time will wear. your. heart. out. It will cause organ damage. And no, I'm not trying to "hype" the subject, but I think a lot of people really aren't aware of the damage than can occur over the long term.

Aside from physical, your brain requires calories (AND CARBS AND FATS) to run. Ever feel just really discombobulated? Can't think? Can't focus? Think about what and how much you've been eating. I did this for YEARS. And I even knew I was doing it and knew the effects (denial and stubborness are incredibly powerful.) If you don't give your body AND your brain enough fuel, they don't work right.

It's pretty eye-opening when you actually start doing things right. I'm losing weight. Eh...great. I'm glad, and I'm proud. But you know what - I'd keep it all and gain 100 more ...if I could still feel the way I do when I'm doing what's right for my physical AND mental health. Thankfully, they actually go together.

I eat 3 meals and 2 sometimes 3 snacks each day but still dont reach 1200 net calories. I tried to do that over the weekend and ended up with bad acid reflex. So now how do I go about losing weight? I go back to my regualr doc on Monday and Im going to see what he has to say but anyone have any suggestions for me? I only do the 30 Shred for exerice right now so its not alot of calories that I'm needing to make up. I have a really hard time making up those exercise calories

it takes a while to get your body used to eating more. It will. Up the calories slowly over a month or so, give yourself an extra 50 to 100 calories a day and hold steady there for a week, you'll get to what you need to soon enough. And you gave your body time to adjust so it didn't immediately store all the extra as fat.

I eat 3 meals and 2 sometimes 3 snacks each day but still dont reach 1200 net calories. I tried to do that over the weekend and ended up with bad acid reflex. So now how do I go about losing weight? I go back to my regualr doc on Monday and Im going to see what he has to say but anyone have any suggestions for me? I only do the 30 Shred for exerice right now so its not alot of calories that I'm needing to make up. I have a really hard time making up those exercise calories

it takes a while to get your body used to eating more. It will. Up the calories slowly over a month or so, give yourself an extra 50 to 100 calories a day and hold steady there for a week, you'll get to what you need to soon enough. And you gave your body time to adjust so it didn't immediately store all the extra as fat.

Banks! My hero! Just...well...hi :bigsmile:

Wouldn't be easier just not to exercise?

Wouldn't be easier just not to exercise?

Depends on what you mean by "easier". You will not lose weight as fast, if you don't exercise - and you most certainly won't be as healthy.

Exercise builds muscle and muscle burns more calories, ie the more muscular you are, the more calories you burn 24/7, not just while exercising. That doesn't mean a woman needs to be built like Atlas to burn cals. But you'll burn more cals than if you have very little muscle.

And clearly, the evidence shows that moderate exercise decreases risks of many health problems.

so since my cals are set to 1200, and it says my bmr is like 1600....i need to eat 1200 without exercise to make up for it then eat whatever i may burn off to make up for the loss of exercise?....AHHH! CONFUSING....so shouldnt i technically be eating 2200 a day?....does the cal counter take into consideration the bmr when suggesting what your cals be daily?

I finally figured it out too and I am glad I did! I eat my workout calories and I've already lost 1 pound and I haven't even been on this site a week!

I've also had a lot of problems "getting this" topic..im starting to understand now and its so helpful!! thanks for the info and im hoping i could convince my fiance to understand this because he always thinks that because im always "hungry" and eating (i stay within my calorie range for the most part) plus i exercise 4-5 days a week, he thinks that im not doing myself any good. He tends to not eat on a regular basis thinking he will loose weight by just snacking on pickles and peanuts etc..and never having a regular meal like me. He only allows himself to eat on the weekends and basically nothing during the week! i tell him he's crazy but i dont know what goes through his brain, plus he's now started working out with me and running at least 3 times a week which i think he would need even more calories for that fact! im starting to worry about his health and how "healthy" this could be for him! any suggestions on how i could help him change his bad habits???

Have him read this stuff! lol If necessary, print it out and give it to him.

How can I change my daily goal to be closer to my BMR? Im having headaches from eating my 1200 calories hihiihihi and Im not exactly losing weight so much.