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Does anyone average their calories over a week?

9Rounder
9Rounder Posts: 40 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
HI! I have a MFP calorie goal of 1,490 per day. Curious if anyone averages their calories out over the week to have some high calorie days and some lower calorie days. Some days I go over just by having gone out to eat or if I was extra hungry that day. Can I make up for it over the next day or two by eating a little less than my 1,490 to even it out for the week? Does anyone else do this? Thanks!

Replies

  • bmele0
    bmele0 Posts: 282 Member
    I try to stay in my goal for the day, but sometimes when I'm extra hungry or there is an event of some kind that leads me to go over for the day- then yes, I'll just make it up another day of the week. Think of it as looking at the bigger picture, just be careful that you aren't always stuck in the - "well I'll just eat less or exercise tomorrow," because I imagine that can be some dangerous thinking. Haha.
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    Yes.

    Your body isn't a 24 hour clock, so eating over one day and under another is normal. Weekly goals make it easier to stay on track.

    As long as you're under, you're good! :)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Yes I do weekly averages, well rolling 7 day ones

    I find the weekly nutrition report on the app the most useful for doing so
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    However I never borrow from the future because I don't have that type of control, I will only eat more if it's banked or I've earned it from exercise
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Yes, I do. I eat a bit less on days when I rest or just walk so that I can eat a bit more on lifting days.
  • sparklex
    sparklex Posts: 2
    9Rounder wrote: »
    HI! I have a MFP calorie goal of 1,490 per day. Curious if anyone averages their calories out over the week to have some high calorie days and some lower calorie days. Some days I go over just by having gone out to eat or if I was extra hungry that day. Can I make up for it over the next day or two by eating a little less than my 1,490 to even it out for the week? Does anyone else do this? Thanks!

  • sparklex
    sparklex Posts: 2
    sparklex wrote: »
    9Rounder wrote: »
    HI! I have a MFP calorie goal of 1,490 per day. Curious if anyone averages their calories out over the week to have some high calorie days and some lower calorie days. Some days I go over just by having gone out to eat or if I was extra hungry that day. Can I make up for it over the next day or two by eating a little less than my 1,490 to even it out for the week? Does anyone else do this? Thanks!

  • likehlikeo
    likehlikeo Posts: 185 Member
    I always plan to even it out over the week, but I'm always under at the end. I want to keep the calories to eat fries or something at the weekend, and then I don't want to go over and just stick with my regular diet...
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    9Rounder wrote: »
    HI! I have a MFP calorie goal of 1,490 per day. Curious if anyone averages their calories out over the week to have some high calorie days and some lower calorie days. Some days I go over just by having gone out to eat or if I was extra hungry that day. Can I make up for it over the next day or two by eating a little less than my 1,490 to even it out for the week? Does anyone else do this? Thanks!

    I do. The reason it works for me is because I'm sure of my calorie intake. I weigh all my food and measure most everything in grams, and I also use a heart rate monitor for exercise burns.

    For example, I wanted a high calorie cookie today which will put me over my calorie goal, but I was under yesterday and plan on eating a bit less tomorrow to balance it out.
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