Question about left over calories!

ScottLee_F
ScottLee_F Posts: 2
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
After scaring myself reading about the whole 'starvation mode' thing, I've been wondering about having around 600 odd calories left over at the end of the day. Is it unhealthy to eat this amount in the space of say, an hour? Because I tend to only eat until 6pm and then don't eat after this time :smile:

Replies

  • bms34b
    bms34b Posts: 401 Member
    I'm no expert, but I think it depends on a lot of stuff. If you're full and you've been eating regularly throughout the day, I don't think starvation mode is anything to worry about. From what I understand, what people call "starvation mode" is really a series of hormones that are released into your system when you get hungry. The hungrier you get, the more impossible it gets to resist high fat and sugar foods. It's (almost) chemically impossible to avoid those urges!
    So don't let yourself get too hungry.
    If you eat all of your calories with crappy food, that's longterm bad, especially if you aren't a night owl. However, IMO, if you stay up late doing stuff and want to snack and have calories left over, go for it!
    Nuts, dried fruit, and peanut butter are good ways to get in calories to keep you in your goal range without stuffing your face with Cheetos or ice cream or anything (things I would go to first.)

    Good luck to you!
  • gatecityradio
    gatecityradio Posts: 401
    Just listen to your body, if you aren't hungry then don't eat. I'm usually between 550-200 calories below my target net every day and it's because I can't force feed myself if I'm not hungry.
  • MrDude_1
    MrDude_1 Posts: 2,510 Member
    After scaring myself reading about the whole 'starvation mode' thing, I've been wondering about having around 600 odd calories left over at the end of the day. Is it unhealthy to eat this amount in the space of say, an hour? Because I tend to only eat until 6pm and then don't eat after this time :smile:

    if you didnt get it one day.. dont worry about it, just do better the next day....

    just dont maintain too low of a calorie average for several days... one day doesnt hurt you at all.



    that said, unless you have digestion issues in bed or anything of that nature, it doesnt matter if you eat right before bed.
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Doesn't matter when you eat them :] I really encourage you to do so! I had an 800 calorie lunch yesterday. Yum!
  • ScottLee_F
    ScottLee_F Posts: 2
    Ahhh right thanks guys! I just didnt have a clue what do hahaha, thanks for the feedback! :)
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    I'm no expert, but I think it depends on a lot of stuff. If you're full and you've been eating regularly throughout the day, I don't think starvation mode is anything to worry about. From what I understand, what people call "starvation mode" is really a series of hormones that are released into your system when you get hungry. The hungrier you get, the more impossible it gets to resist high fat and sugar foods. It's (almost) chemically impossible to avoid those urges!
    So don't let yourself get too hungry.
    If you eat all of your calories with crappy food, that's longterm bad, especially if you aren't a night owl. However, IMO, if you stay up late doing stuff and want to snack and have calories left over, go for it!
    Nuts, dried fruit, and peanut butter are good ways to get in calories to keep you in your goal range without stuffing your face with Cheetos or ice cream or anything (things I would go to first.)

    Good luck to you!

    No starvation mode doesn't even happen for days without eating :P You don't go into starvation mode because you get cravings xD
    I do agree with this advice though! Try to reach for healthy snacks and fill up those calories :]
  • Greg_Evans
    Greg_Evans Posts: 2
    I have been averaging over 1500 calories low because of the "bonus" calories from working out. I eat a full meal, but I just choose healthier foods with lower calories. As long as you are eating over 1200 calories, according to most research, your body won't enter starvation mode.

    And as others have said, if your not hungry and you have been eating throughout the day, no biggie. :)
  • emrys1976
    emrys1976 Posts: 213 Member
    My dietitian actually told me to have a snack before I go to bed and says that helps to prevent blood sugar and insulin problems at night that cause my appetite to skyrocket the next morning.
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    i regularly have over 1000 left and its never done me any harm... i workout hard, eat a lot and still have spares. As long as you're getting in the nutrition and the calories you're physically putting in before exercise are a decent number, you'll be fine! :)

    If you want to build muscle and improve at your sport you may want to be a little more cautious about big deficits. Have many MFPs in the same situation!
  • Roxannmaelu
    Roxannmaelu Posts: 1
    Just began yesterday. Had good workout and added it to my log. Had a really good surprise on the number of extra calories it gave me. So far I like this site and have enjoyed all your posts. Thanks.
  • worknitout
    worknitout Posts: 11
    My main question is when you do your exercise and it says you earned X amount of calories, does that mean you should be eating that many more calories on top of what you already should be eating?
  • sava624
    sava624 Posts: 19 Member
    nope...........they add that to your daily ration as earned calories and the main idea would be not to eat them but if you were hungry have the piece of fruit or that as it life long learning. For the start comment starvation mode is when your body is not getting enough calories and so stores extra fat ....years of yo yo dieting makes my body do this and you dont lose weight unless you eat. I eat until 11pm every night, always have fruit before bed and am steadily losing weight.......I would say it would be better to eat 300 of these calories by boosting breakfast and lunch or having two snacks in the day as I also know from experience that dieting can be addictive.
  • worknitout
    worknitout Posts: 11
    Thankyou I was worried about not eating enough and have a hard time getting all my calories in since I have been keeping track of my daily diet. Oviously this wasn't a problem before or I would not have a weightloss goal! :happy:
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