Just wondering I am a bit confused. I am on 1000-1200 cal per day and exercise 500-600cal per day. Am I meant to eat extra say 1500-1700cal per day to compensate for the exercise and then my day to day living runs on the remaining 1000-1200 cal or do I only eat 1000-1200 cal and then burn 500-600 and then run off for the rest of the day with 500-600cal. I hope this does not sound confusing.

I would ask your doctor. I don't understand enough of that either.

You look wonderful.

Some people eat their burned calories and some don't. Not sure if there's a right or wrong way to do it, I don't eat mine back. You can talk with your doc and figure out what's best for you.

Speaking for myself, I always exercise to burn calories....

If I were to eat to make up for what I just burned off, what would be the point?

The body stores fat as a energy source for those possible days of famine...I aim to burn that excess....

I work out every morning at 5-6am, on a empty stomach (other than my morning coffee) ...then I have a low cal, high Protein shake as a recovery after my workout...

I ran 6 miles this morning, and will aim for the same tomorrow morning...

it's calories in versus calories burned......at least that's my take...other people may feel differently.

I learned the hard way that I need to eat more when working out. I did 2 body fat tests 90 days apart and while I dropped overall weight my lean mass (muscle, skin, bones, etc.) dropped but my fat mass when up! And my body fat precent went up. I wasn't getting enough calories so my body was losing muscle and storing fat. So be careful! Especially if you want to gain muscle!

I learned the hard way that I need to eat more when working out. I did 2 body fat tests 90 days apart and while I dropped overall weight my lean mass (muscle, skin, bones, etc.) dropped but my fat mass when up! And my body fat precent went up. I wasn't getting enough calories so my body was losing muscle and storing fat. So be careful! Especially if you want to gain muscle!

More calories or Protein to maintain/improve muscle mass....??

I take in mire protien because your body degrades protein during excercise so its good to take in protien right after. It helps decrease the breakdown of protein. Also if you take in too few calories your body will start to breakdown muscle to fuel itself. Of course when we start with our band our #1 goal is to lose weight. I still want to lose weight but my goals have changed a little that I'm a year in and much more active.

I suck at typing all this from my phone sorry! Hope that makes since!

My feeling is calories in calories out. If you eat what you burn, then you are defeating the benefit of burning. While I was losing, I ate 600-800 a day and burned 500 a day. Lost 165 pounds in 14 months. You have to find a good balance that works for your body. Everyone is different. Everyone eats a different amount of calories and exercises a different number of days each week. You have to experiment and find what you are willing to do and stick with it.

Losing weight and losing fat are two different things. You can lose weight when on a big calorie deficit but the fact is you will lose fat and muscle, and may end up 'skinny fat'. If you want to retain muscle and not lose it (as you would if you were trying to strength train) you can't be on a large calorie deficit. You need eat well to build muscle.

My BFP is lower now at a BMI of 24 than when my BMI was 21. That's because I lost muscle and fat when I was on a large calorie deficit. I also did a lot of cardio as opposed to strength training. Now I'm strength training, doing minimal cardio and my BFP is going down but not my weight. Because my body composition is changing instead.

I take in maybe 600-700 calories a day. I was banded in June and have lost 45 lbs. I want to start back exercising because I don't want saggy skin, but I am afraid with such a small calorie intake I won't get the same benefit of a workout as I did before I was banded. I know I am probably losing muscle right now which I don't want but I'm not sure how to prevent it. Please help! = )

<a href='http://www.lapbandtalk.com'><img src='http://www.lapbandtalk.com/tickers/355733-al-gilmer/bodyweight.png?ts=1382451398' /></a>

I exercise at least five days a week for an hour. I do cardio and strength training. I am pushing to have the lap and surgery in December. I love exercising. I am concerned about sagging skin after surgery. Has anyone had this problem? So far I have lost 32 lbs on my own. I am hoping to lose another 77 with the lap and because I definitely plan to keep working out. Any advice in how to avoid sagging skin? My current weight is 230. Last year in December I weighed 262. I am trying. Food does not control me

Hi,

Exercise is great to get into shape. I don't think you are taking in enough calories at all. Have you talked to your doctor and or dietitian about these low numbers? I had one dietitian who said you can't lose weight properly with low calories. Good luck.

What low numbers? I have not had the lap and yet. Just found out today I have to wait until march to have surgery because I have to go through a six month period with my primary physician. So I will keep pushing on.