finding it hard to bump up cals

[rez]

hi girls! i would like to know i its necessary for me to keep my cals up at 1600 if I dont train everyday? i find that my cals are considerably less on non training days.
ta

[Emma-Leigh]

Originally posted by rez
hi girls! i would like to know i its necessary for me to keep my cals up at 1600 if I dont train everyday? i find that my cals are considerably less on non training days.
ta

Yes it is - Why?

Muscle recovery - Muscle is not made in the immediate post-workout period... (despite what people believe). Rather it is a slow and continuous process that occurs constantly in responce to increased stimulation and adequate nutrition.

On your workout days most of your nutrients go into energy supply and restoration of amino-acid pools...

On your days off, they go into repair and growth.

On top of this, glycogen stores can take up to 48 hours to fully replenish after a big workout.

If you do not give yourself adequate nutrition throughout - you will slowly decrease your strength, drain your muscles and for-go any of the benifits of your training.

1600 cals is too low for you as it is. Drop any lower and you will be at a major calorie deficiency - setting you up for a slowed metabolic rate, poor muscle recovery, low leptin, endocrine disturbances, cravings/binge eating and MANY other negatives. It is silly to even think about it.

You should be working your calories up to 1800 to 2000 cals/day - NOT thinking of ways you can eat less than you already do.

[rez]

im really not trying to eat less, its just that i work in an office at the front desk and i cant have my tuna or bowl of oats in front of me..so its kinda hard. im still eating every 3 hrs, they just have to be discrete smaller foods