do i really need to eat 1600 more calories today......

exploremore2011
exploremore2011 Posts: 22
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
So after 2mile walk 20mile bike ride 1.5hours at pool myfinesspal says I still need to eat 1600calories. Does anyone know if its really a big deal if I don't eat that much more? I've already had dinner, its 6pm and I'm not hungry. So is it really a big deal?

Replies

  • JennLifts
    JennLifts Posts: 1,913 Member
    Id say if the deficit was like 300 no, but seeing as it's as much as a person would eat in a day alone, I'd try to get a good bit in.
  • Nikstergirl
    Nikstergirl Posts: 1,549 Member
    Probably not, but make sure you've eaten at least some of your exercise calories back. Sounds like you had an unusually active day!!! That's great, and if it's not all the time, it won't be a problem. Normally you want to keep your "net" above 1200 or whatever your goal is, but it can be hard if you have an excessive burn. If you're not hungry, don't stress. Be proud of your accomplishment today!!!!
  • aclark6818
    aclark6818 Posts: 209 Member
    Wow that's alot of exercise--just try to net 1200 calories each day--I would not eat if I was not hungry.
    Keep up the good work
    :flowerforyou:
  • Mommawarrior
    Mommawarrior Posts: 897 Member
    You should eat some more, just make sure it is healthy stuff. The more you work out the more good fuel your body needs.
  • tolygal
    tolygal Posts: 602 Member
    Ok, maybe a silly question, but what were you doing at the pool? Were you actively swiming (for cardio) or were you just playing around. And was your walk a fast paced cardio walk or just a stroll? Depending on your answer to these, I might just count the 20 minute bike ride and consider the other two just nice activity, but not enough to eat 1600 calories for. Again, I don't know what your intensity was during those times, so it's hard to say. But, then again - I'm one of those who would never count house cleaning as an excercise, so maybe it depends... I just hate to see people overestimate their burn and eat too much.

    Edited to add - if it was strenuous house cleaning and your HR was up and you were breathing hard and sweating, then that's different. I meant every-day house cleaning. I wanted to throw that out there before someone gets upset about what I said :-)
  • jodimitchell
    jodimitchell Posts: 86 Member
    I had the same problem today. ill do better to track my burn early enough so I have time to eat it back. I hate eating cal back after 730
  • Vanessa414
    Vanessa414 Posts: 644
    Now i KNOW this is against the rules... but If i have extra workout cals.. and i'm not hungry... I don't force myself to eat them. I like to try to get at least half of them in, just by planning throughout the day that i will work out.. but if i have a big burn one day, i don't sweat it. Same if i have an unusual eating day... don't sweat it. It's all about the long run, averages, changing habits not living by a number. Numbers are good tools to help guide you, they shouldnt be law. Your body is the ultimate authority here.

    Anyway, that's my two cents. I'm not a doctor so don't hang on my words, just how i livemy life :)
  • JennLifts
    JennLifts Posts: 1,913 Member
    I had the same problem today. ill do better to track my burn early enough so I have time to eat it back. I hate eating cal back after 730


    That's the trick. plan ahead so you can balance them throughout the day.
  • Jxnsmma
    Jxnsmma Posts: 919 Member
    listen to your body. If you are hungry eat something healthy, if you are not, don't. :)
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    I've been wondering the same... really confused when people keep saying they eat more calories and lose more. I'm just not fully convinced it's all about calories. I've read Gary Taubes, Mark Sisson, and Michael Pollan... I think it's about nutrients.
  • carl1738
    carl1738 Posts: 444 Member
    Ok, maybe a silly question, but what were you doing at the pool? Were you actively swiming (for cardio) or were you just playing around. And was your walk a fast paced cardio walk or just a stroll? Depending on your answer to these, I might just count the 20 minute bike ride and consider the other two just nice activity, but not enough to eat 1600 calories for. Again, I don't know what your intensity was during those times, so it's hard to say. But, then again - I'm one of those who would never count house cleaning as an excercise, so maybe it depends...

    Edited to add - if it was strenuous house cleaning and your HR was up and you were breathing hard and sweating, then that's different. I meant every-day house cleaning. I wanted to throw that out there before someone gets upset about what I said :-)
    I believe it was a 20 mile bike ride, not 20 minutes. That would account for a large portion of those 1600 calories. As to the original question, if this was not a typical day as far as exercise goes, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If this is your daily regimen, however, I would try to eat back a good portion of those calories.
  • kalelwifey
    kalelwifey Posts: 172
    Im looking at my Calories right now..at 8pm and it says i need to eat 1400 more calories today and thats including wha ti have planned to eat in a lil bit!...i think long as this isnt everyday..you will be ok
  • exploremore2011
    exploremore2011 Posts: 22
    Well it says I burned 1434calories I use runtastic app and it says my walk was 4mph the 20mile ride ave speed was 12mph I spent 1.5hours playing and doing laps so I only counted 30min. I too never count house cleaning except for right now I'm moving and lifting lots of heavy stuff for most of the day. I added that two days ago:P I just don't want to go into starvation mode lol you guys are all a great help! Thank you ;)
  • jujubean1992
    jujubean1992 Posts: 462 Member
    drink some whole milk! good for you and lots of calories!
  • tolygal
    tolygal Posts: 602 Member
    Ok, maybe a silly question, but what were you doing at the pool? Were you actively swiming (for cardio) or were you just playing around. And was your walk a fast paced cardio walk or just a stroll? Depending on your answer to these, I might just count the 20 minute bike ride and consider the other two just nice activity, but not enough to eat 1600 calories for. Again, I don't know what your intensity was during those times, so it's hard to say. But, then again - I'm one of those who would never count house cleaning as an excercise, so maybe it depends...

    Edited to add - if it was strenuous house cleaning and your HR was up and you were breathing hard and sweating, then that's different. I meant every-day house cleaning. I wanted to throw that out there before someone gets upset about what I said :-)
    I believe it was a 20 mile bike ride, not 20 minutes. That would account for a large portion of those 1600 calories. As to the original question, if this was not a typical day as far as exercise goes, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If this is your daily regimen, however, I would try to eat back a good portion of those calories.

    Woops, didn't notice that - but my answer remains the same.

    I don't ride bike, so I don't know how long it takes to ride 20 miles. I just assumed that the 1600 meant that she plugged in all three activites. So again, depending, I would only count the true cardio time.
  • LaurenLite
    LaurenLite Posts: 87
    My rule of thumb- eat when you're hungry, don't when you're not. Often, when I start really working out or changing my exercises, I find I'm not as hungry. Don't force yourself to eat , your body knows what it needs. be sure to drink a LOT of water, though. You may not feel thirsty but any increase in exercise requires an increase in your fluid intake.
  • AngieMMc
    AngieMMc Posts: 152 Member
    The general rule is that You should try to net no less than 1200 calories per day and Planning ahead can help you with this BUT if this was just one of those days when you didn't realize how much you were going to workout, I don't think one day is going to be a big deal.

    I like what someone said in an earlier posting, it's about a life change....doing what works for you in a healthy way and not living by numbers. I don't think it's a good idea to eat when you aren't hungry so I say eat something if you are hungry in a little bit and if not, call it a day and plan better tomorrow.

    Good job on all that exercise btw!
  • ricardohartley
    ricardohartley Posts: 3
    It's not a big deal if you have eaten your minumum required calories (BMR) for the day. If the 1600 calories is in excess of your BMR that is good. If that is the case and you do not replace the calories created from your activities then your body will have to tap your body fat to replenish those calories.
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