Calories and working out question

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-03-2004
Calories and working out question
11
Wed, 02-18-2009 - 8:29am

I am tracking my calories on The Daily Plate.  In order to sustain my current weight I need to eat about 2000 calories.  In order to lose 2 pounds a week I need to eat about 1200 calories.


My question is, what do I do with my exercise calories?  I burn off around 150 - 200 a day (elliptical, yoga, kickboxing class).  Do I eat 1400 calories (since I burn off 200 and that would equal 1200) or do I eat 1200 and just not consider the exercising at all?


Thanks for any input.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2006
Mon, 02-23-2009 - 3:47pm

I'm not a big fan of calorie counting at all, and its totally counter intuitive to South Beach. I lost 70lbs without ever really counting a calorie (I occasionally counted for informational purposes on this board, but never counted in the sense of "limiting" my food based on calories). South Beach is about QUALITY - not focusing on QUANTITY like some other plans. That's why I chose it, that's why it worked for me. If I was hungry, I could eat in order to maintain my blood sugar. That is KEY on South Beach - so if you realize you hit 1200 or 1400 or whatever number, but you feel your blood sugar dropping, do NOT deprive yourself of food. Its #1 priority to keep that blood sugar level no matter how many calories you have eaten. South Beach can't do its magic if you let yourself get hungry because you've "cut yourself off" after hitting some number,

While I don't count calories, I do know that I eat more the harder I workout. My body needs that fuel, especially protein, because I do heavy weight training. Also, I'm working on running right now and I know I need more carbs the day I do my long runs. My body tells me it needs more - I've learned to listen to my hunger and my needs, and yes, working out demands more nutrition, so I eat more. Its not a bad thing - helps you recover, build muscle and have the energy for your next workout. When I don't work out as much, I naturally am not as hungry and don't eat quite as much, therefore fewer calories.

So everyone has different experiences, there is not just one right answer. I had great success with adjusting my eating based on my workouts, both to increase my fitness level as well as for weight loss, and for maintenance.

















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