calories with exercise

just out of curiosity...how many calories do you take in when you're exercising regularly. i'm 13 months post op and have been exercising the whole time but now that i'm at my goal i've been eating more to maintain BUT i've also increased my workouts. i just bought an elliptical machine which burns more calories than the leslie sansone videos apparently. anyway according to fitday i burn about 700 calories a day with my activities/exercise and i take in about 1000-1200 calories a day. do i need to up the calories or is that good? also...is it best to do the elliptical before or after eating. i've been doing it 2 times a day...before lunch and after. around 1:30pm and 4:30pm. do i need to be eating before i do it. i usually drink a nectar protein drink before but i didn't last night and i did the elliptical for only 15 minutes right before dinner and my blood sugar dropped to 43! i was feeling really funny on there so i had to stop after 15 minutes. any advice would be great and thanks in advance!! Steph 350/140 (5'8")

Hi, Steph, I normally exercise about an hour everyday. However I am recovering from extended TT and inner/outer thigh lift, so no exercise for me right now. I am going CRAZY from sitting and laying around! Under normal cir****tances I was at about 1200-1300 calories a day. I had to be careful not to go under or I would lose. I am were I should be and all three of my doctors (PCP, bariatric surgeon and plastic surgeon) all say lose NO more. That was with exercising daily. I would say jus****ch how your weight does for a week, if you drop a few pounds add 100 calories to your day. Also adding a few carbs will keep you from losing. I try to keep my carbs at 50 or say a day. If I drop to 40 or under I lose. But I still try to pick GOOD carbs, like veggies and sme fruits. But I admit it, I do eat 6 or 7 chips with my turkey breast and cheese some days! Hugs, Susan 305/160 (after swelling is gone we are guessing 150-155)

thanks for the info...i'll keep an eye on my weight this week and see how it goes!!

hi steph: can't give you any kind of answer re: how much exercise/intake to do but i agree that giving it a week of trial and error is a good idea. you're doing so very well. i'm thinking about an elliptical machine once i can walk again - are you glad you got your's. i was on a treadmill and i think it helped aggravate my foot situation. have a great week. dorthe

hey there dorthe!! i think i am going to do some trial and error this week. i went and got some apples and peanut butter today. i thought that might be a good pick me up for when i exercise. and yes i LOVE the elliptical. i use it 6 days a week twice a day usually. i just forget i'm doing it sometimes cuz i'll do it while i'm watching a soap opera or a tv show i like and it keeps my mind off doing exercise. it's pretty cool and it burns more calories than doing the walking videos. i needed to increase my cardio exercise anyway.... take care of you!! Steph