Can I eat enough? Susan G. Komen Walk

rainbowbuggy
rainbowbuggy Posts: 320
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello my friends,

I have been asked to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure to represent my company. This is my dilemma....I struggle to eat back all my exercise calories with the 3-4 miles that I am currently walking. If I don't eat them, I gain weight (never lost a pound when I "net" less then 1200 calories). I notice if I "net" atleast 1300-1400 calories with walking about 3-4 miles I will lose 1.5-2lbs a week. I have about 40lbs to go. I am nervous if I agree to do the walk it will actually hinder my weight loss. I am not hungry enough to eat MORE food but I know with all the training involved with the walk it will require me to eat more to ensure I am giving my body what it needs to function and lose weight in a healthy manner. On some days, it requires me to walk 18 miles! I would LOVE to be apart of this AMAZIING experience however, I need to ensure that I can contribute to the walk along with stay healthy for myself to acheive my goals also.

Any advice?

Replies

  • LessMe2B
    LessMe2B Posts: 316
    Eat high calorie/carb foods for energy and net calorie purposes.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Do the walk. (My Mom is fighting breast cancer right now).

    Wear a fanny pack with some healthy snacks for the walk--protein bars, dried fruit and nuts. Carry a water bottle. Planning ahead means that you'll burn a lot of calories but you'll be eating frequently and fueling your body for the journey so not operating at a loss and causing your body to store fat.

    You have the right approach to MFP (with eating back your exercise calories) so that's refreshing to read!
  • peanut613
    peanut613 Posts: 438 Member
    Okay, first I am jealous! I did the SGK Global Race for the Cure in DC earlier this month. It was a 5K walk and it was incredible. I've always wanted to do the 3 day...

    As far as your question: Eat when you're hungry. Don't try to eat more JUST to hit the target number for the day. And when you eat, make sure you are eating lean protein, veggies, and fruit. That way the calories you eat are really going to be helpful. If you net 1000 instead of 1400, it's no big deal. As long as you aren't hungry, you're eating enough. I don't think the walk would HURT your diet. But remember, it's only one weekend. There is plenty of time to rebound if you were to gain weight (though I don't think you would.)

    Good luck and have a great time! It's for one of the best causes. Ever.
  • gingerfoxxx
    gingerfoxxx Posts: 267 Member
    Yeah, i feel your pain! I am training for a half marathon, and when you run 10 miles, you are burning almost as many calories as you eat! that would be eating two days food in one day, haha. I would bring gatorade or even powerbars with you when you are walking those longer distances. Normally the golden rule is never drink your calories, but i think when you burn so many, there is an exception! And good luck on the walk! that is such an awesome thing you are doing. :)
  • Kirsty_UK
    Kirsty_UK Posts: 964 Member
    I walk a lot at weekends and initially I found it hard to eat those cals back, but with planning, I now usually can. On a walk, I pack a pre-made lunch, which is usually a couple of wraps, and I make them with an extra slice of ham, and more cheese spread than normal, as well as that, I take with me one or two protein bars, a tub of nuts, and some fruit. I munch on the nuts and dried fruit as I go.

    My husband also likes the isotonic drinks to help with salt loss.

    Enjoy it!
  • Yocum1219
    Yocum1219 Posts: 400 Member
    Slightly higher calories snacks for those days will help with that. Almonds are a great one, so are granola bars (Fiber One has a 140 cal one in addition to the 90 cal ones-I use it for breakfast rather than a snack, but can help get in extra calories). Even drinking a glass of orange juice or skim milk will add calories w/out feeling overly full. Smoothies are great too. I have one w/frozen yogurt, skim milk, & frozen fruit as a treat instead of milkshakes, but can be a nice 2-300 calories w/out being overly filling. Good luck!
  • shonasteele
    shonasteele Posts: 473
    Do it! I did the Weekend to End Breast Cancer (in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 2 years ago and it was one of the most amazing, powerful, emotional experiences of my life! I've never felt so alive, so grateful and so powerful as I did after crossing the finish line.

    This is a 60 km walk that takes place over 2 days, so we walked about 30 km (20 miles) each day. With me being 50 pounds overweight and hardly having done any training it was also one of the most gruelling, painful things I've ever done. But overcoming that and finishing it was ALL WORTH IT!

    I'm doing it again this year (July 23-24 is coming up way too fast!) and am looking forward to it with mixed emotions - I know it's amazing to finish it, but getting there is brutal! All in all though, if this is a cause that speaks to you (my mom is a survivor) I would recommend doing it regardless of the outcome on your weight loss - the other benefits are worth it!

    Good luck!
  • pittielover23
    pittielover23 Posts: 268
    High calorie but healthy foods will be your friend. Nuts, peanut butter, avacados, hummus, granola ect ect. That way you don't have to eat a ton more food, but you still hit your cal goal for the day :)
  • pittielover23
    pittielover23 Posts: 268
    OH, protein shakes too. Helps get in some extra cals and would be really good with all the exercise you will be doing.
  • rainbowbuggy
    rainbowbuggy Posts: 320
    Thank you everyone, I guess I am just nervous and trying to be a rational thinker - Not being a rational thinker got me to 255lbs!
    The nervousness comes from the fact the training for the walk is spread out over 21 weeks. That means for 21 weeks I have to train myself how to eat MORE calories and then when the training is over, re-train myself to not want that many calories. The walk itself - I am not worried about...physically I feel like I can do it IF I mentally and physically prepare for it..... Its just the nutrition aspect of it. Can I handle that part? Can I maintain a healthy weight loss during it and after it. This so much more to me then just how fast I can lose weight, I know if I ate under 1200 I would lose weight, is that a healthy loss? By no means is it to me because I cannot go the REST of my life eating under 1200 calories therefore its not a lifestyle change - follow me?

    However, being able to say that I contributed to the Susan G Komen walk would be amazing! Emotional to say the least. What an accomplishment it is and I keep telling myself, the people battling this beast had no opportunity to say...Can I opt out? Hell no they didn't. So those reasons keep me wanting to do it however, I need to good to my body as well.
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