carried over calorie intake?

PeterPan132
PeterPan132 Posts: 32
edited September 26 in Food and Nutrition
Hi

I was just wondering peoples opinions on carrying over calories intake?

I cycled for 4 1/2 hours yesterday - I always eat a good breakfast - eggs etc but can never really eat very much whilst I am cycling. I just snack on energy bars, bananas etc

And then when I get home, its tea-time i then eat a decent 'stodgy' meal as that is what I crave for. But I could never eat all my exercise calories as the amount is sooo huge

However - it is today I am hungry - and I mean really hungry. So I always tend to go over my calories the day following a really long cycle.

What is peoples opinions on this please - or after doing so much, should I give my body what it wants?

Thanks!

Replies

  • chnkydnknmomma
    chnkydnknmomma Posts: 258
    I think if you are hungry, you should eat. Of course, I'm no professional, but obviously your body is telling you something, and if you are doing a huge calorie burn the previous day, I think it would be ok. Just stick to healthy stuff and don't go overboard.
    Good luck!
  • Kirsty_UK
    Kirsty_UK Posts: 964 Member
    I asked a similar question last sunday after a 4hr hike. I got back late and there was no way I could eat enough calories back that day. The general view was, if you're hungrier the day after, eat more then.
  • catcrazy
    catcrazy Posts: 1,740 Member
    I dont think it harms to carry your calories over for a day or so. My body takes a while to catch up with changes, if I am more energetic on a Monday its Tuesday or Wednesday that I tend to feel it, muscle and hunger wise.

    That said I think you can only carry them over for so long, I don't think working out hard on a Monday to give yourself extra calories for a Friday night booze up would be justified but perfectly reasonable for what you are talking about
  • pinksherbert
    pinksherbert Posts: 38 Member
    I look at my calories on a weekly total basis - there is a weekly graph on the app which shows where you are coming in over the whole week. Just like you have days where you have burned so many calories you cannot eat enough, you will probably also have days where you cant exercise and go over your intake, so on a weekly basis, there should be smoothing effect of these. It also ties nicely with a weekly weigh in.

    HTH.

    x
  • PeterPan132
    PeterPan132 Posts: 32
    Thanks Guys - thought that would be the case. I never go massively over the calories the day following exercise, but its a shocker when you press the complete entry button and it reckons you should have gained 5 - 10lb that day!

    But yea - agree that if body needs it, body should have it!

    And Pinksherbet - thanks for the graph mention - never used that before, but I feel its definately a better way of looking at things!
  • hellen72
    hellen72 Posts: 144 Member
    When I run a marathon I borrow calories the day before as I need to stock up, I will also use some up the day after
  • Elle408
    Elle408 Posts: 500 Member
    I'm currently experimenting with going by my weekly goal as opposed to my daily goal, which in effect unintentionally zig-zags my calories!

    Reason being I too struggle eating back my calories on the day, I exercise late, an hour before bed and although I'll usually have a quick snack I can't eat 400+ cals that late! I always feel hungrier the next day too so I figure my body is just trying to make up for it! It still scares me a little when I go over in the red but I feel better knowing that my weekly target has been met!
  • zeeeb
    zeeeb Posts: 805 Member
    i think you should eat if you are hungry, it's not like you are saving mondays calories to eat on friday, it's the next day, so you are just replenishing your body from what it lost yesterday.

    a big ride like that warrants a good bit of food to restock the energy reserves.
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