Do you eat exercise calories pre-workout?

gashinshotan
gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I find this helps for long runs and that if I wait till after my runs to eat, I actually don't have enough of an appetite to eat all of em (a 9 mile run for me burns like 1400k). I'm thinking it could be a strategy to force yourself to workout too hehehe - eat over your calories before you exercise so you HAVE to exercise or you'll gain weight.

Replies

  • my2boiz
    my2boiz Posts: 89
    I do it too, but I'm typically very hungry after I work out so I have to save some calories. :)
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    i do on my cardio days, since i work out at night and while it would be easy to stuff my face with 600 calories, id rather eat a bit more during the day and just have my protein shake after workout. lifting days i dont really log much of a burn, so its just enough for my shake
  • cindy4mica
    cindy4mica Posts: 777 Member
    But how do you know in advance how many calories you'll burn?
  • squishycow7
    squishycow7 Posts: 820 Member
    well.. sometimes I'm exercising because I ate too much, honestly.

    I guess that's kind of the same concept.


    but in terms of eating beforehand to get the energy, it depends on if I'm already feeling sluggish/lazy at the beginning of the workout, or if I feel like I'm energetic enough anyway. just depends on the day.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    But how do you know in advance how many calories you'll burn?
    i burn pretty much the same every time give or take 10 calories... 650 on cardio nights, up to 135 on lifting nights.
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    Absolutely. Before an endurance event, I will start eating extra 2-3 days before. As an example, riding a century (let's say on Saturday), I'll burn around 4500 calories, so I'll eat about 500 extra on Wed, 1000 extra on Thurs and Friday. Any leftovers I will eat on Sunday (rest and recovery day).
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    But how do you know in advance how many calories you'll burn?

    When you are familiar with your workouts you will have a good estimate. I know my 45-minute spin class burns 515-585. I know cycling at 16 mph will burn about 600/hour. Paddleboarding in the lagoon is about 250/hour, and in the ocean about 500.

    No need to be exact.

    edit: also I will eat them earlier in the day if I'm working out at night.

    blessings.
  • Elen_Sia
    Elen_Sia Posts: 638 Member
    I eat exercise calories pre-workout because during the work week, I go to the gym in the evenings. Having a big dinner after is simply out of the question. I use an average number for calories burned. This is easy for me because I have a set duration and speed for cardio 2-3 weeks at a time. On strength training days, the # of calories eaten doesn't vary much -- although my food macros are modified so I will have more protein in my diet.
  • Jezebel_Barbie
    Jezebel_Barbie Posts: 198 Member
    No, because I don't trust myself to get off my *kitten* and do the exercise!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories