How come I get this strong urge to overeat when I don't exercise for the day?

1. 78

   xmagsposted 9 years ago

   How come I get this strong urge to overeat when I don't exercise for the day?
   
   PAGING ALL HEALTH BUFFS!
   
   I recently committed myself to losing weight and I noticed that when I do exercise, I hardly even reach my calorie goals (always under the goal). But when I don't, I tend to overeat and go way above my daily calorie goal, sometimes even reaching 400-600 + calories. My friend told me it's normally the other way around and that you overeat when you exercise but it doesn't work that way in my case. Please explain. Thanks!

   replyreport
2. 92

   mikejhcaposted 9 years ago

   I came to the conclusion that a lack of exercise causes me to overeat. If I don't exercise I am more likely to eat junk food. Exercising reduces boredom and stress. It also causes your body to release endorphins. If you don't exercise you are more likely to overeat and it will probably be comfort food.
   
   It is not overeating if you need the food. Overweight people keep telling me I eat too much because I eat a lot. If I was actually overeating I would not be skinny. Exercising causes me to eat more but it does not cause me to overeat. It reduces my junk food cravings. Sometimes I burn over 1,400 calories during a workout.

   replyreport
   1. 78

      xmagsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      so it's the boredom that makes me do it? But I get really hungry when I don't exercise and tend to eat bigger portions. In my case, I have restricted myself to 1200 calories per day and when I don't exercise, I tend to go over this limit.

      replyreport
   2. 91

      Victoria Anneposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well 1,200 calories is not enough to being with...

      replyreport
   3. 78

      xmagsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Victoria Anne, that was my daily calorie goal according to myfitnesspal.

      replyreport
   4. 92

      mikejhcaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      If you are eating more food on your rest days it is because your body is recovering. Food is energy. Sometimes you need to eat more to make up for the previous day. The main problem is that you are restricting yourself to 1,200 calories per day.

      replyreport
   5. 78

      xmagsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      So going as low as 1,200 calories is wrong after all. Thanks for your help mikejhca!

      replyreport
3. 91

   Victoria Anneposted 9 years ago

   Is it happening the day after you exercise, or even two days? It could be your body trying to recover and restore itself from a hard workout. If you are restricting your calories too much (to 1,200 a day for example) you aren't properly nourishing yourself and your urge to "overeat" (400-600 is not a lot..) is probably a sign you are deficient in something.

   replyreport
   1. 78

      xmagsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It only happens when I don't exercise. For example I exercise today, I don't get that hungry. But if tomorrow I don't exercise, I'm always hungry. This is why I am thinking of just exercising more regularly.

      replyreport