I have over 500 calories left, but I'm not hungry. What to d

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jadelyndsey
jadelyndsey Posts: 150 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been snacking on stuff all day because I was aware that I would be eating healthy and therefore have more calories to expend. However, I had quite a large healthy dinner at 6pm (It.s 9.10pm now), and then a yoghurt, and I am still full. Although I could possibly eat more if I really wanted to, I feel like it would be forced... What should I do? Eat or not?

The reason I am asking is because up until yesterday all I was doing was dieting. Today I ran/walked almost 2 miles, and burned 200 cals and I dunno if it would be more beneficial to eat or just leave it, as I would like to get past my plateau!!! Thanks guys.
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  • chubberlang
    chubberlang Posts: 30
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    I would also be interested to hear replies on his topic. Some days i can burn 700 cals in gym but im reluctant to eat up to my total calorie allowance, espeially if i'm not hungry! I suppose the answer may be in the results! If you are losing weight and it wirks for you fine. The general feeling seems to be that if you have accurately calculated your calorie requirements then you should eat what you set out to take in in calories. The deficit between what you need and what you intake will remain he same. Provided you have got our sums iright! In practice i use excerise in order to eat a little more and stay wihin my goal. The idea of eating in order to hit our calorie target even if not hungry takes some getting used to. I can see the logic. The danger is that if you are not hungry but have a major deficit between intake and calories used this can have a knock on effct over a few days and you can get mega hungry!
  • rbaumch
    rbaumch Posts: 6
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    I'm curious as well, more days than not I have calories left over and I'm not hungry.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,554 Member
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    Eat a little something now and plan for a better day tomorrow.
  • jbrinda1
    jbrinda1 Posts: 153 Member
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    I am hungry all the time. Would love to have the opposite problem :)
  • pinkpandangel105
    pinkpandangel105 Posts: 38 Member
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    If I'm not really hungry I try to eat some peanut butter or baby carrots with ranch. You can get a lot of calories with out having to eat a lot. I have had a hard time eating back all my exercise calories, but has been my little trick to get the calories back. Good luck!
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
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    I don't think you should eat if you're not hungry.
  • khuckaby1
    khuckaby1 Posts: 69
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    My opinion only but I would say don't eat it if you feel stuffed. If you feel like you are going to be sick it will just make you miserable. I don't always eat my exercise calories back and it doesn't seem to affect my weight loss.
  • beccadaniixox
    beccadaniixox Posts: 542 Member
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    You should never force yourself to eat. That's just going to make you form bad habits. If you aren't hungry, than don't eat. Eating low calories a couple of days a week isn't going to hurt you. Your body knows what it needs and as long as you listen to it, you're fine. :)
  • jenniferlynn12
    jenniferlynn12 Posts: 87
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    Everyone's body is different and you have to figure out what works for you.. it took me awhile whether to eat or not eat back the exercise calories. I used another formula to figure out how many calories I should eat a day to lose for my height, weight, etc and it's around 1500... so regardless of my exercise calories, I stay within about 100 of that... and it's been working. It's a balance of making sure you eat enough to fuel your body but not over... Bottom line, don't eat below 1200--if you're above that and you're hungry, eat something healthy like some fruit or protein or something, if not, I'd say don't eat. :)
  • Agefyter
    Agefyter Posts: 107 Member
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    Ppl vary widely on this topic. Me? I eat my gym cals on wkends if I need to and never force myself during the week. Helps me keep dropping pounds.
  • momof8munchkins
    momof8munchkins Posts: 1,167 Member
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    listen to your body.. if you're not hungry, then don't eat
  • Jan3361
    Jan3361 Posts: 8
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    2 donuts should take care of that for ya. :)
  • jadelyndsey
    jadelyndsey Posts: 150 Member
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    I am hungry all the time. Would love to have the opposite problem :)

    HAHAH! Well that used to be me, 4 months ago, but I think my body is used to taking in between 1400-1600 now that when I exercise, my body still doesn't want to take in more (or maybe I don't, maybe my brain is controlling me haha) so I am almost always under now!
  • maf66
    maf66 Posts: 211 Member
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    I would take this time to eat some calorie dense food like Peanut butter on toast or some sort of tree nut and dried fruit. I think you should eat at least half of that deficit. I'm sure you're going to get varied opinions on this! I've just started eating back my calories myself...
  • SkettiGurl
    SkettiGurl Posts: 186 Member
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    Normally I always say, if you're not hungry, then don't eat. You need to listen to your body. It is also possible that your counting is out a bit, it happens. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just as long as you remember to listen to your body!
  • cassiemitchell1
    cassiemitchell1 Posts: 1
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    My physician told me the secret to weight loss is that we have to burn more calories than we take in, so it makes sense that if I eat what I just burned I will stay right where I was. Hope this helps.
  • robinogue
    robinogue Posts: 1,117 Member
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    personally if I'm not hungry I wouldn't bother with eating anything else. Later on if you feel the need to snack then you have 500 calories left to do it.
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
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    I will let others tell you if you should or shouldn't eat your calories back. There seems to be a never-ending debate on that. If you feel like you aren't hungry and want to eat them back, may I suggest eating something calorie dense. It's easy to up your calories with healthy fats. Peanut butter is 190 calories for 2 tablespoons, olive oil is 110 calories for 1 tablespoon, a half an avocado is ~200 calories, etc.

    Personally, I only eat them back when I am trying to maintain or gain. Right now I am trying to gain, so I eat far more than necessary, but I incorporate the good fats so I don't feel like I am about to explode every single day.
  • tiamaria3
    tiamaria3 Posts: 92 Member
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    I don't think you should eat if you're not hungry.


    I second this reply :smile:
  • arleylange
    arleylange Posts: 24
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    Having a low calorie day every once in a while will not kill you/slow down your metabolism/ make you a bad person. I am a HUGE advocate for intuitive eating, eat when you're hungry, stop when you're not hungry (notice how I didn't say "full"). Not hungry, don't eat!

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