Eating exercise calories

CrystalT
CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
Is it okay to eat your exercise calories the next day? I usually am only able to exercise at night and I don’t finish until 7:30 or so. I usually burn between 800-1000 calories those days. I know I’ve seen it suggested that you don’t eat your exercise calories until after you burn them, but I really hate trying to eat that many calories that soon before I go to bed so I try to spread the calories out through the day. My trouble is that every so often (like yesterday) something happens and I’m not able to exercise like I had planned. At that point, I’ve blown my whole day because I already ate some of the exercise calories. I was thinking that maybe I should eat some of those calories at night, but the rest I could try to eat the next day. What do you think? Is that okay?

Replies

  • 1harleygal
    1harleygal Posts: 226 Member
    :grumble: Nope sorry you can't eat your excercise calories the next day, you are supposed to eat them the same day you obtain them. I personally don't eat much of my excercise calories but I do plan the day ahead for my excercise calories because I know I will have them. That is the best way to eat any excercise calories you want to use! :wink:
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    This is a tough question. Eating late at night means you store calaries as fat and not eating enough isn't good either. Mayber try eating half of your projected exercise calaries during the day and have a small protein shake after your exercise. That way if you don't exercise you will only be over your daily calaries by a few.
  • Renae_Nae
    Renae_Nae Posts: 935 Member
    Actually...I think that's a good option. I say try it for a week and see what happens!

    Also, do some research into the zig-zag method! Some people are anti 'saving' or 'moving calories' but I can't believe how much of a difference it has made for others! I've lost almost 2 pound since Friday by doing that!
  • jeterbeater
    jeterbeater Posts: 22
    Of course you can. Sometimes I even save mine up and use them on the weekend if I know I will be going out to dinner.
  • lose100
    lose100 Posts: 54
    Let me just say from personal experience, that three years ago I lost 52 pounds regardless of the time of day I ate. I sometimes ate less than an hour before bed . So I personally don't buy the whole not eating several hours before bed thing. My rule of thumb is eat less than I burn. May not work for everyone, but I find it's okay for me. I tried WW once, and while on it, I know if you didn't eat your points for the day, you could use them later in the week. Same kind of concept. Hope you find something that works for you. Good luck!
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
    Actually...I think that's a good option. I say try it for a week and see what happens!

    Also, do some research into the zig-zag method! Some people are anti 'saving' or 'moving calories' but I can't believe how much of a difference it has made for others! I've lost almost 2 pound since Friday by doing that!

    I'll check that out, thanks!
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
    Let me just say from personal experience, that three years ago I lost 52 pounds regardless of the time of day I ate. I sometimes ate less than an hour before bed . So I personally don't buy the whole not eating several hours before bed thing. My rule of thumb is eat less than I burn. May not work for everyone, but I find it's okay for me. I tried WW once, and while on it, I know if you didn't eat your points for the day, you could use them later in the week. Same kind of concept. Hope you find something that works for you. Good luck!

    It isn't that I think its bad to eat right before bed. I often have a Skinny Cow ice cream bar within an hour of going to bed. I just don't sleep well with too much food on my stomach.
  • havingitall
    havingitall Posts: 3,728 Member
    Why not eat them earlier in the day if you know you are going to exercise? You can make a rough estimate as to how much you will be working out and eat accordingly.
  • prayerfulmom
    prayerfulmom Posts: 409
    We are all unique and must see what is right for our own bodies. I've used the zig zag method and it works well for me. I hit a plateau and the dietician had me start eating my last meal earlier in the day; started losing again. So there you go; see how we are all unique. We have to experiment and become our own expert. :smile:
  • CrystalT
    CrystalT Posts: 862 Member
    Why not eat them earlier in the day if you know you are going to exercise? You can make a rough estimate as to how much you will be working out and eat accordingly.

    Actually, that is my problem. Yesterday, I had already eaten my excerise calories, but something came up and I couldn't go do the exercise. It blew my whole day, which really ticked my off last night. Man, was I mad. :explode:
  • April0815
    April0815 Posts: 780 Member
    What is zig zagging calories?
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    It's eating less than goal today and more tomorrow (or on some planned schedule) in order to average out to the correct calories. The idea is to trick the metabolism and keep it from becoming so used to a certain fixed influx of nutrients. The body doesn't like losing weight, it doesn't do it happily, so it will adapt to your current calories intake and lose less fat after a while. That is why people suggest cheat days or load days. Eat high one day, keep your body guessing.
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