Do you require fewer calories as you get fitter?

[Globalti]

Does being fit reduce your calorific requirement as the body becomes more efficient?

I ask because it seems to become more and more difficult to control the waistline as I become fitter. That said, I suppose it may also be because as you age and testosterone levels diminish you have more of a tendency to put on fat.

 

[black'n'yellow]

exercise increases your need to replace calories - but the trick is not to over-do it, while replacing with the right kind of food. Riding a bike is no substitute for a good, controlled diet, unfortunately...

 

[Manonabike]

In theory the more muscle you have the more calories you burn while exercising. Muscle tissue uses calories and fat doesn't.

I wonder if you hit the wall with your exercise routine. If you do the same routine for a while your body will get used to it and will not burn as much calories. Best thing to do is to change things.... I used to do sessions very fast but shorter or slower but much longer.

If you burn say 250 kcal in one hour of cycling when you are 15 stones (to say something) then you will burn less calories in one hour of cycling when you are 12 stones for example.

 

[black'n'yellow]

your effort level also influences the amount of calories burnt - not just the duration. It's wrong to simply say that someone lighter would burn less calories for the same duration.

 

[PK99]

Does being fit reduce your calorific requirement as the body becomes more efficient?

I ask because it seems to become more and more difficult to control the waistline as I become fitter. That said, I suppose it may also be because as you age and testosterone levels diminish you have more of a tendency to put on fat.

there is certainly a tendency to over eat when fit- especially if you avoid eating straight after exercise.
Hard outing + no recovery snack = carbohydrate cravings later

My routine after a tough ride is a glass of milk with mashed banana as soon as I get in and a tuna or peanut butter sandwich after my shower

 

[HLaB]

I'm no dietician but now I'm fitter I think I can go longer/faster on the same calories, it just makes the cake taste sweeter The body still needs calories and probably the same if not more to sustain a higher level, iirc Mark Beumont required an enormous amount of calories for his round the world. Somewhere, there'll be the correct balance of intake/output for you and what you want to achieve but I can't really can't comment there.

 

[screenman]

Theory has it that you need less calories the lighter you are, it seemed to keep my weight loss going.

 

[amaferanga]

If you burn say 250 kcal in one hour of cycling when you are 15 stones (to say something) then you will burn less calories in one hour of cycling when you are 12 stones for example.

This is wrong. It comes down to power output. The fitter you get, the higher your power should get, so provided you are cycling at the same RPE then the higher the calorie burn.

Maybe you're getting confused with BMR - fatter you are the higher your BMR (by about 250kCal in your 12 stone/15 stone example).

 

[Globalti]

My question concerns calorie use while sedentary while being very fit. I based it on the idea that daily life (stairs, walking, etc) uses less calories if you are fit.

I certainly find two-week business trips to Africa much less tiring now that I'm fitter.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Power burns calories - not 'fitness'. You should not need to replace any calories after walking up the stairs, if that's what you mean - your regular meal intake should take care of that.

 

[machew]

However an 18st man will use more calories walking up the same set of stairs then a 16st man

 

[amaferanga]

However an 18st man will use more calories walking up the same set of stairs then a 16st man

Not necessarily though if the 16 stone man does it quicker

Same with cycling - Pro cyclist burn way more calories per hour when racing than some 18 stoner riding at 10mph.

 

[ColinJ]

However an 18st man will use more calories walking up the same set of stairs then a 16st man

But Globalti said 'fitter' not 'thinner'. He isn't fat and I remember him saying that he never has been.

 

[Manonabike]

This is wrong. It comes down to power output. The fitter you get, the higher your power should get, so provided you are cycling at the same RPE then the higher the calorie burn.

Maybe you're getting confused with BMR - fatter you are the higher your BMR (by about 250kCal in your 12 stone/15 stone example).

Assuming the same speeds, same terrain then that is correct. Sorry I didn't make it more clear.... I wasn't counting on some people being so.....

 

[fossyant]

You've all missed it.

It's AGE. Fitter or not, as you age you tend to put weight on easier. Just harder to keep it off. Anyone over 30 look out.