Can I "save" exercise calories for another day?

Saiklor
Saiklor Posts: 183
in Food and Nutrition
I have heard that you're supposed to try to eat back your exercise calories but I am just not that hungry today and I have another 500+ to go! Can I "save" them for a short while, like use them tomorrow or the next day?
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Replies

  • wingednotes
    wingednotes Posts: 274 Member
    bump. I want to know the answer to that too.
  • TaintedVampyre
    TaintedVampyre Posts: 1,428 Member
    .
  • michellematteson
    michellematteson Posts: 134
    Yep, you can save it for the next day. Some people will also "bank" calories throughout the week so they can have a larger meal. If it works for you, go for it.
  • sublimeluver
    sublimeluver Posts: 2
    is it best to eat back those calories or no?
  • jezlives
    jezlives Posts: 3
    some of us are newbies when it comes to fitness and nutrition and we learn as we go. take it easy on us:)
  • Denjo060
    Denjo060 Posts: 1,008
    It depends some people do a weekly calorie count instead of a daily So I think you can
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    Yeah, u can. It all works out the same. I'm eating lower to day so I can eat Chinese 2moro. Then I'll eat lower again on Friday.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Sure, I pay more attention to the week's calories than each day. Within reason though - I don't "save" them for days or weeks later.
    What that means in practice is that if I'm a bit under one day and a bit over another day I don't let it bother me.

    The other thing that helps is to plan your meals for the day - if you know you are going to be exercising later in the day you can eat a bit more at breakfast or lunch to make sure you have plenty of energy for your workout.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    I treat my calories like a weekly pool.

    I like to be under for the week, but I might go over or under on individual days.
  • darrcn5
    darrcn5 Posts: 495 Member
    I do! A lot of times I exercise at night right before bed, and exercise tends to kill my appetite, so I am not hungry at all after running at 9 PM. The next day though, I am ravenous, so I eat more then to make up for it.
  • Curlykutie88
    Curlykutie88 Posts: 5
    Yes you can, weight loss usually is determined by the amount of calories and fat you burn for an entire week, so if you burn more one day and the next day eat a bit more than the norm it will still equal out at the end of the week. That's why our daily weight fluctuates and we may not see results until the end of the week; even the next. One lb of fat = 3,500 calories..so if you burn that all together in a week than yes you will still reach the same goal :) hope this helps
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    Can I "save" exercise calories for another day?

    I do. I average out my calories over the week (monday - sunday). On sunday I typically eat out or make something extra yummy at home that requires calorie heavy ingredients and some desert. I typically save only my workout calories though so that the rest of the days I don't feel hungry
  • Denjo060
    Denjo060 Posts: 1,008
    is it best to eat back those calories or no?






    If you are hungry eat them back if not you dont have to
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    is it best to eat back those calories or no?

    If you are using MFP to calculate your calorie allowance, then generally the answer is yes.
    If you are getting your calorie allowance number from somewhere else, then see what they say.

    www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    is it best to eat back those calories or no?

    It depends on what ur body likes. Some will tell u to eat them back, some will tell you not to. Some will get into huge arguements & discussions about it. I do not eat them. I say just do what works best for u.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    Most definitely yes.
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    yep. your body doesn't think of calories the same way as your brain.

    you can eat them tomorrow or later during the week if you want. it shouldn't effect your weight loss.
  • Asheea
    Asheea Posts: 211 Member
    Yep! I do. I save my extra calories for the weekend which are my Free days! I eat good then. :)
  • shoobz
    shoobz Posts: 119
    Seriously?
    No unfortunately you can't just save calories for another day. Everything resets at midnight, Cinderella.

    Weird, I guess I missed the memo about humans being digital clocks? What if I work nights, huh?

    You can sort of bank them, but probably not all 500... I tend to look at my weekly and if I'm keeping a nice average, keep doing what I'm doing. If I'm seeing a low average, I'll try to eat a little more one day, same with my macros - if I'm low on protein for the week, I'll try to have a big meaty meal.

    Really, it's whatever works for you. Don't listen to anyone who tells you you're being stupid. It's your body, don't feed it when it's not hungry, just do whatever feels best. If you have any more questions, I'd love to try and help.
  • nz_deevaa
    nz_deevaa Posts: 12,209 Member
    is it best to eat back those calories or no?

    It depends on who you ask. However, the way MFP works is that it has already taken your exercise cals into account when it gives you your daily allocation, so you have 'earned' those calories, and you get to eat them back. Not everyone does this though, and it's a widely debated topic.
  • RUNN3Rmom
    RUNN3Rmom Posts: 441
    Seriously?
    No unfortunately you can't just save calories for another day. Everything resets at midnight, Cinderella.

    Bwahhhh!! I would say if it is a one time thing then yeah, why not. I wouldn't do it over and over and becoming off track. But why not, enjoy them tomorrow :)
  • spongekitty
    spongekitty Posts: 24 Member
    Especially considering that varying your diet can help your body keep from stagnating, sure! Just don't save them for too long.
  • JME1989
    JME1989 Posts: 1 Member
    I don't normally eat my exercise calories back. If you're not hungry, you're not hungry, just drink water. You've probably eaten all the calories necessary for the day, and by burning some off you are putting your body in a better position. However if you have burned more calories then you have consumed in the day you have a dilemma.
  • virginiejaubin
    virginiejaubin Posts: 497 Member
    I remember with old weight watchers, we could save some extra points or exercise points for an other day of the week. I guess it's the same thing with calories on a weekly basis and if you weight in only once a week.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    is it best to eat back those calories or no?

    If you are using MFP to calculate your calorie allowance, then generally the answer is yes.
    If you are getting your calorie allowance number from somewhere else, then see what they say.

    www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com

    I love it!!!
  • Maurice1966
    Maurice1966 Posts: 419 Member
    Yes you can. You're going to fluctuate from day to day but it's the long term that is important to have your eye on. Under eating one day, over another is not going to make a big difference over the longer term.
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    Really, it comes down to weekly totals.

    I find that when I go on my long runs (6-8 miles) I'm not very hungry the rest of the day, but the next day I am absolutely ravenous. The body will balance out. As long as you're not consistently eating a huge deficit and exercising excessively, you'll be fine.
  • phatty4dayz
    phatty4dayz Posts: 125 Member
    is it best to eat back those calories or no?

    It depends on what ur body likes. Some will tell u to eat them back, some will tell you not to. Some will get into huge arguements & discussions about it. I do not eat them. I say just do what works best for u.

    ^^ This. I used to not eat mine back because I didn't understand how eating more would be helpful. Then I hit a plateau and I started eating back my exercise calories. Viola! The pound shed resumed (and has remained consistant).
  • bulbadoof
    bulbadoof Posts: 1,058 Member
    Yup! I personally like to keep a "float" of a couple hundred calories for whenever I'm extra hungry or want something high in calories.
  • dward2011
    dward2011 Posts: 416 Member
    You can see your weekly calorie (net) total using the app. Just a FYI....

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