Over Calories Question

Nysportsred
Nysportsred Posts: 224 Member
edited November 21 in Food and Nutrition
I am sorry this is a novel, but can any give me their perspective from my current situation. I want to make sure I am doing all of this right.

I am 34 years old, 5'10, 182 pounds (have lost 51 the last 5 years- went from a 42 waist size to a present day 35). Still looking to lose some more, but I am also ok with maintaining for the time being.

My calorie goal is set at 1960. I am usually 300-400 over which I believe is me maintaining weight rather than losing (I am ok with that). On rare occasions I have gone over by as much as 800. It's rare, but it happens. I am human. I always go back to my normal calorie routine the next day. It is never multiple days in a row.

My question is if I am 850 over one day and then go back to the normal (either at my goal or the 300-400 over) does that 1 day of 850 really hurt me or is it just one day and going back to normal kinda evens it out?

I can never figure out my true maintenance calories either. I have used websites and some say 2200 others have said as many as 2750 so I never know.

I used to exercise 5x a week, then when my oldest was born 3 years ago it became 4x and since my youngest was born in December it is 2x-3x a week. I give a great deal of respect to those that have kids and maintain a normal workout schedule. I also was told by the doctor to reduce the workouts because there is arthritis in my back (hereditary) and hips (result of surgery I had on my hips 21 years ago) and they have been bothering me. This is why I usually do 2x-3x a week. This is when I really started to focus on calorie counting.

I just now started counting running around with my daughters outside (pool, tag, overall messing around that includes running, climbing, etc.) as exercise. My brain was programmed to believe if it isn't the elliptical or Zumba then it didn't count for me.

Replies

  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    Weight gain or loss happens with an overall deficit or surplus over time. It's not like it resets every day at midnight. So if you go 850 over one day, but the rest of the week or month you have a net loss, you'll lose weight over that period of time.

    There are different types of calculators out there and some include your estimated daily workout calories in your maintenance, and others like MFP don't. Either way, they are all just estimates and good starting points but you'll have to experiment some to tell what your maintenance level is exactly.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Personally, I would not count playing with the kiddos as extra calorie burn. I would just consider it as "bonus burn" to cover any inaccuracies in logging or those 800-over days. Stuff like that should be covered by your daily activity level.
    What is your activity level set at and how much do you move in a normal day, like for your work or normal daily activity?
    How much time do you spend playing with the girls?
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Great job on the 51 pounds lost <3

    Nysportsred wrote: »
    My question is if I am 850 over one day and then go back to the normal (either at my goal or the 300-400 over) does that 1 day of 850 really hurt me or is it just one day and going back to normal kinda evens it out?
    Some people eat a weekly average -- some days a little or a lot over. Some days under.
    Nysportsred wrote: »
    My question is if I am 850 over one day and then go back to the normal (either at my goal or the 300-400 over) does that 1 day of 850 really hurt me or is it just one day and going back to normal kinda evens it out?

    I can never figure out my true maintenance calories either. I have used websites and some say 2200 others have said as many as 2750 so I never know.
    It doesn't hurt you as long as it is one day and you get back to your plan.
    If you keep the same weight for three weeks in a row, you are eating at maintenance.

    Figuring out maintenance calories involves
      1. Current weight
      2. Age
      3. Height
      4. Daily Activity Level (not counting gym) but yes to playing with the kids.


    1. bloodsy
      bloodsy Posts: 34 Member
      there is no calculator online that can give you an exact number, you have to eat steadily at a certain amount of calories and then weigh yourself/measure to see if you gain/lose fat.
    2. Nysportsred
      Nysportsred Posts: 224 Member
      edited August 2017
      Thank you. In high school (junior and senior year) and start of college I was 165lbs. I was heavy as a kid and then lost a lot of it. I was good until October 2004 when I hurt my knee at hockey. I was on crutches for 6 months and ballooned up. I never counted calories so I didn't realize how many I was taking in and much my exercise was keeping it down. Finally I had some things happen that made realize I needed to lose it. I am most proud that I have kept it off. Most people I know that lost weight have gained it back since then and that was my main concern.
    This discussion has been closed.

    Categories