when you exercise, do you eat more to compensate?
 

Went to the gym this morning, walked on the treadmill for 35 minutes. It said I burned 267 calories. I think that's a bit high, but I burned something. Which leads me to the question.....If you work out, do you try to eat extra calories to maintain a certain level? I would think that, if I ate 1200 calories, but burned 200 of it away exercising, that the 1000 left would be a very low calorie level for the day.

What do you all think?

Most people do, that's why it is being reported so often that exercise doesn't really help for weight loss.

IMHO do it for health, not weight loss. Also, too much cardio can slow your metabolism (it does in some people). So weight lifting or intervals are probably better.

okay, so what's a good caloric level if you're doing some form of exercise? Keeping in mind that I'm a 48 year old woman weighing 229 pounds.

I don't really understand the question. Atkins doesn't involve calorie counting. Exercising will probably stimulate your appetite.

Just eat to your daily carb level. Eat breakfast before going so you won't get hungry and you'll have energy to burn... :thup:

To be honest, I don't really notice a change in my appetite from exercise. In fact, I feel calm, peaceful and content for the hour following a workout -- but not hungrier.

Based on my current volume of LC food, I eat at a 1000 calorie per day deficit (give or take a few), I eat until I'm satisfied and generally don't feel hungry between meals. A good walk or weight training makes the deficit even greater -- as I tend to eat the same volume of food everyday.

This may be more true for those in carb burning mode. I'm a fat burner - and if I do feel more hungry after a workout, then my brain didn't get the memo. I'm still far from my goal weight. Perhaps this will change when I don't have that much fat left on me to burn.

I definitely feel hungrier after cardio exercise. Weight lifting, not so much.