working out at eve and then eating back calories

LernRach
LernRach Posts: 286 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm currently on 1200 (drs orders) and I burn 600-700 a workout. However, I go to the gym in the eve and I don't want to eat back my calories prior to burning them, so I end up not eating them back...

What do you do? I can't be the only one....
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Replies

  • abadvat
    abadvat Posts: 1,241 Member
    If i understand the below correctly you are eating 500/600 calories a day?
    Reaslistically you should eat back during the day between before and after (you need to fuel your work out to perform and recover).
    What's your rational behind it?
  • tryclyn
    tryclyn Posts: 2,414 Member
    Eat them the next day. If daily is too difficult, work with a weekly goal.
  • LernRach
    LernRach Posts: 286 Member
    If i understand the below correctly you are eating 500/600 calories a day?
    Reaslistically you should eat back during the day between before and after (you need to fuel your work out to perform and recover).
    What's your rational behind it?

    There is no rationale - as in, my Dr has advised me to eat 1200, medical issues, medication etc.

    I exercise most evenings, as that is only time in my day when I can fit it in. I don't want to eat it back before as I am nervous that if I don't get to the gym that evening because plans change, I will have over eaten. however, at 9:30 in the evening I don't really want to eat a 400ish calorie snack.....
  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    So eat a bigger breakfast the next day - think about netting 1200 cals in a 24hr period. That period could be 9am to 9am it doens't have to be midnight to midnight.
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    If i understand the below correctly you are eating 500/600 calories a day?
    Reaslistically you should eat back during the day between before and after (you need to fuel your work out to perform and recover).
    What's your rational behind it?

    There is no rationale - as in, my Dr has advised me to eat 1200, medical issues, medication etc.

    I exercise most evenings, as that is only time in my day when I can fit it in. I don't want to eat it back before as I am nervous that if I don't get to the gym that evening because plans change, I will have over eaten. however, at 9:30 in the evening I don't really want to eat a 400ish calorie snack.....

    Your body is smart - but it can't tell time. Why not look at your weekly numbers? Eat some of the calories the next day. Just keep your weekly numbers where they need to be.
  • martyqueen52
    martyqueen52 Posts: 1,120 Member
    Why not ask your doctor, instead of asking randoms on MFP forums?
  • Amitysk
    Amitysk Posts: 705 Member
    Maybe look at your calorie goal as a weekly total? Then you can adjust for things like this as your week goes on.
  • LernRach
    LernRach Posts: 286 Member
    Why not ask your doctor, instead of asking randoms on MFP forums?

    You are 100% correct... except the dr that put me on this diet is away for another 2 weeks... also, a lot of people on here know a lot more then a regular GP. Either way, I cannot/dont want to exist on net 600 calories and was merely asking for advice as to how to eat back.

    Thank you to those people giving advice, I will eat back the next day, within reason and hopefully that will help
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    why can't you eat after you workout again????

    I work out in the evenings- many nights I leave work- go to the gym- then I go to my dance studio and dance- I don't get home till 10+ at night- I eat then.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Do the TDEE method. Average your exercise calories throughout the week and just eat 100-200 more calories a day. (or 350 if you really burn 600 calories 4x a week).
  • donnabullen
    donnabullen Posts: 47 Member
    I to burn off around 600 calories in the gym most days but don't always eat them back, i eat well throughout the day but knowing the extra calories are there if I want them so if I get peckish I eat a healthy snack.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    If I know I'm going to work out in the evening, I factor that into my food choices earlier in the day. Sometimes not perfectly--sometimes I'll be on the fence about how far I'm really going to run and then if I do get the longer workout in I'm not hungry especially (running in the evening kills my appetite), and if so I won't worry too much about it and give myself more latitude the next day if I'm hungry.

    But if it's a regular pattern, start working the calories in.
  • LernRach
    LernRach Posts: 286 Member
    why can't you eat after you workout again????

    I don't eat because I don't feel hungry and I go to bed not that long after, so don't have time to get appetite back.

    @Franci27 - I wear an HRM and as originally stated, when I do eat back, its only half just in case....
  • AlliSteff
    AlliSteff Posts: 211 Member
    I think TDEE may serve you well. I was having issues 'eating back' with nighttime workouts, so switching to TDEE made me comfortable eating a larger lunch and seeing my eating as a weekly number, vs trying to eat everything back in one day.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    why can't you eat after you workout again????

    I don't eat because I don't feel hungry and I go to bed not that long after, so don't have time to get appetite back.

    @Franci27 - I wear an HRM and as originally stated, when I do eat back, its only half just in case....

    eat anyway- drink a glass of milk- high calories and easy to go down. And unless it gives you issues with your sleeping habits- then there is no reason you cannot eat.

    its' not that serious- I eat my dinner in bed sometimes- set the bowl down and go to bed.

    But try the TDEE method if you aren't willing to eat at night.
  • tamazinglee
    tamazinglee Posts: 186 Member
    My doctor has me on a 1500 calorie diet. I specifically asked her about how to manage my calories if I burn 500 to 600 working out and she said that she does not believe in that method. She advised me not to eat back calories that I've burned.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    My doctor has me on a 1500 calorie diet. I specifically asked her about how to manage my calories if I burn 500 to 600 working out and she said that she does not believe in that method. She advised me not to eat back calories that I've burned.

    so you're netting around 1000?

    time for a new doctor.
  • murphy612
    murphy612 Posts: 734 Member
    How do you feel? Are you overly tired, lethargic, weak? Do you need to eat more?

    I ask because I was also on a doctor ordered 1200 diet and did not eat back my exercise calories unless I wasn't feeling well. Then I'd just average my calories out for the week. I ate perfectly healthy on 1200 but if I ever felt week or extra hungry after a good work out I'd eat more.
  • MisterZ33
    MisterZ33 Posts: 567 Member
    how about a smoothie of some sort after working out?

    i know you dont feel hungry, but drinking something might be trick the mind?
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    If you know you're going to do a workout, and you know approximately how many calories you're going to burn, why not eat them back throughout the day?
  • liekewheeless
    liekewheeless Posts: 416 Member
    Eat a snack (energy bar/ apple/ boiled eggs what ever you want) on the way to the gym for fuel. Then eat another when you are done. It doesn't have to add up to your total burn.

    Chances that you are off on the actual amount burned are pretty high. (Sorry not trying to be negative)
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    I like the ideas already provided of eating those calories the next day or shift your "day" from noon to noon.

    Another idea is to drink calorie dense liquids if you do not want to eat. After long runs it takes me a good while to get my appetite back but if I don't eat something I crash. Sports drinks (powerade), and milk are my favorites but there are lots of options.
  • nomad1000
    nomad1000 Posts: 206 Member
    I would just think of using the 24 hour period like a PP suggested. So your reset time isn't midnight, it is 9 am.

    And I don't like to eat after I do an evening workout either. While it may work for some people, for me going to bed on a full stomach = not getting a good night sleep.
  • tamazinglee
    tamazinglee Posts: 186 Member
    My doctor has me on a 1500 calorie diet. I specifically asked her about how to manage my calories if I burn 500 to 600 working out and she said that she does not believe in that method. She advised me not to eat back calories that I've burned.

    so you're netting around 1000?

    time for a new doctor.

    I net about 1200 calories which is where I need to be.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    My doctor has me on a 1500 calorie diet. I specifically asked her about how to manage my calories if I burn 500 to 600 working out and she said that she does not believe in that method. She advised me not to eat back calories that I've burned.

    so you're netting around 1000?

    time for a new doctor.

    I net about 1200 calories which is where I need to be.

    1500-500 or 600 = 900 or 1000?
    are you averaging workout days and rest days?
  • kessler4130
    kessler4130 Posts: 150 Member
    Your body will need macro nutrients to recover, and it is best not to wait until the next day. From my perspective, a decent amount of protein and simple carbs that will spike your insulin to quickly transport the nutrients is preferred shortly after my workout. Oh and get a new Doctor.
  • martinel2099
    martinel2099 Posts: 899 Member
    I'm currently on 1200 (drs orders) and I burn 600-700 a workout. However, I go to the gym in the eve and I don't want to eat back my calories prior to burning them, so I end up not eating them back...

    What do you do? I can't be the only one....

    With all do respect to your doctor, I doubt he intended you to maintain a 1,200 diet while busting your butt at the gym. 1,200 while not going to the gym maybe. Maybe consider a 2nd opinion from a nutritionist.

    Nutrient timing doesn't matter, you don't have to consume all of your calories prior to going to the gym. Eat when you are hungry. You can eat all of your calories prior to working out, after, right before bed, for breakfast, or no breakfast, etc etc.
  • tamazinglee
    tamazinglee Posts: 186 Member
    My doctor has me on a 1500 calorie diet. I specifically asked her about how to manage my calories if I burn 500 to 600 working out and she said that she does not believe in that method. She advised me not to eat back calories that I've burned.

    so you're netting around 1000?

    time for a new doctor.


    I net about 1200 calories which is where I need to be.

    1500-500 or 600 = 900 or 1000?
    are you averaging workout days and rest days?


    I asked my doctor what to do if I burned 500 to 600 calories working out HOWEVER, I never burn that many. When I asked the question, I was just throwing numbers out since I really had no idea how much I'd actually burn once I got started on my worout plan.

    The important thing is to create a deficit - either by eating less calories, burning more calories or a combination of both.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    My doctor has me on a 1500 calorie diet. I specifically asked her about how to manage my calories if I burn 500 to 600 working out and she said that she does not believe in that method. She advised me not to eat back calories that I've burned.

    so you're netting around 1000?

    time for a new doctor.


    I net about 1200 calories which is where I need to be.

    1500-500 or 600 = 900 or 1000?
    are you averaging workout days and rest days?


    I asked my doctor what to do if I burned 500 to 600 calories working out HOWEVER, I never burn that many. When I asked the question, I was just throwing numbers out since I really had no idea how much I'd actually burn once I got started on my worout plan.

    The important thing is to create a deficit - either by eating less calories, burning more calories or a combination of both.

    while a deficit is important, when health is your priority getting enough is just as important as not getting too much
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    Pre fuel, three hours before, so your workout is really efficient and you don't dip into lean body mass for energy.

    I burn 400/600 cals an hour depending, so I make sure I fill the tank.

    If I've weight trained I get some protein after with my carbs.

    It's best to replete as soon as after exercise so the body can recover and repair quickly ready for the next day.

    Be kind to your body, you only get one.

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