Excercise Cals

EHuntRN
EHuntRN Posts: 320 Member
edited September 24 in Fitness and Exercise
So yesterday I burned over 1000 cals between my one hour training session and my hour Zumba class...there was no way possible for me to eat back all those cals...I did go over my 1410 goal but not by much...is that putting my body in starvation mode???

Replies

  • Lady_G
    Lady_G Posts: 35 Member
    I think that you have to look at the amount of calories over a period of days, not just one. As long as overall you stay under your goal, you will lose weight.

    Good luck
  • JennsLosing
    JennsLosing Posts: 1,026
    your not going to go into starvation mode by doing that for one day...
  • tamiller93
    tamiller93 Posts: 195
    I am really struggliing to get my head around the idea of eating back my exercise calories also. It just seems like I'm undoing all the work I've done in the gym. I have read all about why it is supposed to work, but it just doesn't sound logical. I am considering trying to eat back 1/2 of my exercise calories and see what happens. I have only been doing this for 5 days, so I haven't gotten far yet.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    If you did this day after day it might, but one day here or there will not be an issue.

    So if yesterday you ate 1500 and burned 1000, your body was running on 500 cals, which is not enough, and if this becomes the norm you may hurt your metabolism. Like I said above one day here or there like this and you will be fine.

    Once way to get a few easy calories would be to have a handful of nuts and a glass of juice.
  • trukkerdaddie
    trukkerdaddie Posts: 15 Member
    Great job, to me it's putting your body in a kick'*kitten* mode. Sounds like you had an awesome day, well done!
  • Hi,

    I was always confused over whether you should eat back your cals and someone posted me this link which I found really helpful!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficit

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo

    Good luck!
  • ukgirly01
    ukgirly01 Posts: 523 Member
    read this Jillian Michaels article
    http://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-specialist/how-much-how-fast.aspx
    It does not adhere to the eat your calories back regime but it does explain about those exercise calories.
  • Nharley
    Nharley Posts: 201
    I had to take a look at this closer since you brought this up. I found this site by Health Science.org I hope this article puts it in prepsective for you. MFP is a great tool, but it isn't perfect. Good burn yesterday!

    http://www.healthscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=512:are-you-in-the-starvation-mode-or-starving-for-truth&catid=102:jeff-novicks-blog&Itemid=267
  • fitniknik
    fitniknik Posts: 713 Member
    I like to vary my eating back of calories. Some days I will eat back all of them, some days I will eat back none of them. I have been having really pretty good success on keeping my body guessing on how much I am going to eat in one day. I dont feel like I would be able to eat back 1000 cals of exercise either!
  • fitniknik
    fitniknik Posts: 713 Member
    [/quote]

    http://www.healthscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=512:are-you-in-the-starvation-mode-or-starving-for-truth&catid=102:jeff-novicks-blog&Itemid=267
    [/quote]

    Not to be picky, but there's lots and lots of spelling errors in this link... How credible is the source?
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I had to take a look at this closer since you brought this up. I found this site by Health Science.org I hope this article puts it in prepsective for you. MFP is a great tool, but it isn't perfect. Good burn yesterday!

    http://www.healthscience.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=512:are-you-in-the-starvation-mode-or-starving-for-truth&catid=102:jeff-novicks-blog&Itemid=267

    Don't believe everything you read. Yes you will lose weight starving yourself, but you will lose muscle along with fat, if you lose muscle you slow your metabolism down and when you do eat you will store more as fat as your body no longer needs as much from regular daily function. Also your body will shut down non essential systems to keep essential ones going, not very healthy.
  • EHuntRN
    EHuntRN Posts: 320 Member
    If you did this day after day it might, but one day here or there will not be an issue.

    So if yesterday you ate 1500 and burned 1000, your body was running on 500 cals, which is not enough, and if this becomes the norm you may hurt your metabolism. Like I said above one day here or there like this and you will be fine.

    Once way to get a few easy calories would be to have a handful of nuts and a glass of juice.

    OK eric..you hit it right on the nose..I did burn 1000 and I ate 1500...I did have some nuts after my workout, a low-fat protein smoothie a full dinner and 2 other snacks...I just couldnt get over 1500 without feeling stuffed...Now on most days I do eat back at least half to 3/4 of my cals, so yes this was the firt time, partly because it was the first time with my trainer and I didnt want to miss my Zumba class just because I have gotten so used to going on Mondays..LOL..So I guess maybe I should have gotten the next size up smoothie for more protein/cals...Thanks alot for your response!!!
  • EHuntRN
    EHuntRN Posts: 320 Member
    read this Jillian Michaels article
    http://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-specialist/how-much-how-fast.aspx
    It does not adhere to the eat your calories back regime but it does explain about those exercise calories.

    Hi UK girly...I have read this article a few times..LOL and she does not mention eating excercise cals...she simply states it as sort of extra credit and a way to increase your weight loss faster as long as you are eating your minimum calorie requirement...
  • EHuntRN
    EHuntRN Posts: 320 Member
    Great job, to me it's putting your body in a kick'*kitten* mode. Sounds like you had an awesome day, well done!

    Thanks...I did have a hulluva day..it was the first day I burned that much...normally I burn 600-700 hundred and I can eat 300 back easily...but yesterday I could barely eat an extra 100 for some reason..I will try to eat back at least half of my excercise cals...but never trying to eat all of them back...
  • ukgirly01
    ukgirly01 Posts: 523 Member
    read this Jillian Michaels article
    http://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-specialist/how-much-how-fast.aspx
    It does not adhere to the eat your calories back regime but it does explain about those exercise calories.

    Hi UK girly...I have read this article a few times..LOL and she does not mention eating excercise cals...she simply states it as sort of extra credit and a way to increase your weight loss faster as long as you are eating your minimum calorie requirement...

    Yup thats the point: she's saying you must eat your minimum requirement and anything extra cardio is extra credit therefore not eating back the calories lost. I tend to eat some of mine but not usually all.
  • Shar6819
    Shar6819 Posts: 34 Member
    Well I try not to eat back my calories that I burn, at times I may use some of them never try to use all.
    To me it defeats the purpose of burning them.
This discussion has been closed.