? about calorie intake

[dr.mel_PT]

I'm supposed to be eating around 2000 cals based on my activity level, height, and the amt of weight I want to lose. I usually take 1-2 days off from working out per week. Should I reduce that 2000 cal amt for the days I don't workout, or continue eating the way I do on days I do exercise??

 

[Katerchen]

No, keep the calories the same. Your body will actually raise the metabolism if you do not expend that many calories as usual on some days; so you basically will burn the same calories. However, if you reduce the calories, the body thinks there is a starvation season and will slow down the metabolism.

 

[dr.mel_PT]

Thanks! What about the active rest week during STS? I plan on working out but not at the same level I would during a typical STS week.

 

[Katerchen]

I would keep the calories the same. Workouts do not really burn that many calories compared to the whole day. Heartrate monitors, body bugg and similar devices almost always overestimate the total calories burned.

You will fare better if you keep the calories at an honest 2000.

 

[Govtgirl]

Interesting, but I did the exact opposite, and that's what worked for me. If there was a day that I didn't work out, and had been inactive during the day, I ate a little less.

It just made sense to me that if I was burning less calories, I should eat less. I lost 10 pounds that way, and am at my goal. To me calories are kind of like a bank account: don't use what you haven't earned.

Don't mean to confuse the issue, but that's what made sense and worked!

 

[kariev]

I just eat the same amount of cals each day whether i work out or not for the simple reason i don't want to think about it that much and make eating stressful. i've never had a problem doing this and didn't gain weight by eating the same amount of cals on my nonworkout days as i do on my workout days. the only time the amount of cals change is when i have my cheat meal and who knows how many cals that ends up being.

 

[Katerchen]

Interesting, but I did the exact opposite, and that's what worked for me. If there was a day that I didn't work out, and had been inactive during the day, I ate a little less.

It just made sense to me that if I was burning less calories, I should eat less. I lost 10 pounds that way, and am at my goal. To me calories are kind of like a bank account: don't use what you haven't earned.

Don't mean to confuse the issue, but that's what made sense and worked!

But did you lose just fat or fat and muscle tissue?