Special event - planning for extra calories

tomofnj

So I have a party in the near future and wanted to know how you all handle the choice to over intake at an event. Do you cut cals and do extra exercise in anticipation, or do you eat/drink and then work it off? Perhaps you do both, like me.

If there's a science to it, let me know because as far as I can tell it's just straight calorie math.
Thanks

malibu927

Save a few more calories in the days leading up to the event (especially those who follow their weekly intake). A bit more exercise or a light intake that morning/afternoon. Or, some people just treat it as a cheat meal/day.

DemoraFairy

Sometimes I do what you said and eat less calories before/after, sometimes I don't bother and just eat what I want. It is just straight calorie maths as you said, but I think for one-off events just eat what you want and enjoy yourself. You'll probably find you weigh a few pounds more the next morning, but it'll just be water weight, you won't actually have put that much fat on.

_runnerbean_

I think the trick is to make sure you only overeat at the event. The old me would have eaten more the day before "i'm going to blow the diet anyway" and also eat badly the day after too - from hangover munchies etc. don't let one night turn into a week of madness. Have fun, get back on track the next morning.

tomofnj

_runnerbean_ wrote: »

don't let one night turn into a week of madness. Have fun, get back on track the next morning.

That's the old me as well ! I would have just said to hell with it, I'll start again.. maybe next month, and then find a reason to put that off. Now I just get right back to it, I feel like this time I'm more laser focused.

SezxyStef

_runnerbean_ wrote: »

I think the trick is to make sure you only overeat at the event. The old me would have eaten more the day before "i'm going to blow the diet anyway" and also eat badly the day after too - from hangover munchies etc. don't let one night turn into a week of madness. Have fun, get back on track the next morning.

Why overeat at all.

Going to an event doesn't mean you have to overeat.

When I have something like this (I do this weekend) I eat what I want, drink what I want but don't over do it.

Typically I have enough calories from the week to compensate for it as well because I have prelogged my week I know how much wiggle room I have as well.

DemoraFairy

SezxyStef wrote: »

_runnerbean_ wrote: »

I think the trick is to make sure you only overeat at the event. The old me would have eaten more the day before "i'm going to blow the diet anyway" and also eat badly the day after too - from hangover munchies etc. don't let one night turn into a week of madness. Have fun, get back on track the next morning.

Why overeat at all.

Going to an event doesn't mean you have to overeat.

When I have something like this (I do this weekend) I eat what I want, drink what I want but don't over do it.

Typically I have enough calories from the week to compensate for it as well because I have prelogged my week I know how much wiggle room I have as well.

I agree in principle, but it's not difficult to go over your calories without forcing yourself to eat. I mean, there's a particular Chinese all you can eat buffet I go to a lot, and I could easily fit my weekly deficit onto one plate, and I'm certainly not going to only have one plate at an all you can eat buffet...

SingRunTing

I usually eat lighter that day for my other meals and try to save 1000 calories for the event (I eat ~1700 a day, so 1000 is a little over half). With 1000 calories, I can usually get away with eating reasonable portions of whatever is served and dessert (I usually skip appetizers unless they are veggies because they aren't often worth the calories). I look at what's being served and prelog (usually guesstimating) before I serve myself to figure out what to eat. I did this for a variety of special events recently (birthdays, baby showers, special brunches) and didn't have a problem making it fit.

If its a really super special occasion (like a sibling's wedding or something), I would probably just write it off as a "anything goes" day.

tomofnj

So you actually count on that wiggle room then up front before you have that extra cal meal(s). Your right, I don't have to over eat, but where I'm going I know the food is going to be calorie dense, so I wont really eat 'a lot' or over eat, I just know it will be more then my normal meals calories.

I've had events in the past where I held back a few hundred cals a day for 2 or 3 days, and then afterwards I've held back a few more and increased exercise and it's seemed to work out ok in the end.

I think the secret to successfully navigating these is to 1) be sure I only attend 2 or 3 a year, and 2) try to not stray from my plan outside of them.

Liftng4Lis

It's one day. Be conscientious, log it and move on.

freeoscar

I generally eat a little light for the days heading into it, and then try my best to focus on eating the proteins - there is only so much hidden calories that can be in those, as compared to desserts and carb heavy sides which can pack ungodly amounts of calories with the added sugars and fats. But of course I usually have some of those, just make sure not to gorge on them.

I_Will_End_You

I try to go a little lighter the days before. If I do go over, I just move on and pick back up where I left off. One day over isn't going to do much (if any) damage.

jkwolly

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

It's one day. Be conscientious, log it and move on.

This

Unless I know it's going to be a crap fest with drinks and buckets of food, then I usually just eat a bit smaller each day to bank some up!

jkwolly

thomaspavlick wrote: »

So you actually count on that wiggle room then up front before you have that extra cal meal(s). Your right, I don't have to over eat, but where I'm going I know the food is going to be calorie dense, so I wont really eat 'a lot' or over eat, I just know it will be more then my normal meals calories.

I've had events in the past where I held back a few hundred cals a day for 2 or 3 days, and then afterwards I've held back a few more and increased exercise and it's seemed to work out ok in the end.

I think the secret to successfully navigating these is to 1) be sure I only attend 2 or 3 a year, and 2) try to not stray from my plan outside of them.

Exactly

All about moderation, and also enjoying yourself too!

williams969

I guess I do a little of both--I cut back (100 calories less daily) the 5-7 days leading up to the event (I TOTALLY am going to eat dessert/cake at said event, LOL). And I may do a little extra run the day of (3-5 miles). Then I've 1,000 extra calories, which, depending on the event, goes awfully fast. Dessert 200-400 calories, drinks 200-400 cals, snacky bits 200-400 cals. BOOM there's 1,000 calories I wouldn't consume on an average day.

But then again, I don't always do the above things in preparation--I sometimes just go over (being as moderate as I can--no intentional pig out), log it, move on. Like Christmas vacay--3 days of indulgence was NOT going to be mediated by any amount of exercise, LOL. Even then, 3 days of "damage" really wasn't so--I returned immediately to normal eating, and the weight/bloat shifted back to normal within a week or so (*maybe* an extra pound, but no big thing).

SezxyStef

DemoraFairy wrote: »

SezxyStef wrote: »

_runnerbean_ wrote: »

I think the trick is to make sure you only overeat at the event. The old me would have eaten more the day before "i'm going to blow the diet anyway" and also eat badly the day after too - from hangover munchies etc. don't let one night turn into a week of madness. Have fun, get back on track the next morning.

Why overeat at all.

Going to an event doesn't mean you have to overeat.

When I have something like this (I do this weekend) I eat what I want, drink what I want but don't over do it.

Typically I have enough calories from the week to compensate for it as well because I have prelogged my week I know how much wiggle room I have as well.

I agree in principle, but it's not difficult to go over your calories without forcing yourself to eat. I mean, there's a particular Chinese all you can eat buffet I go to a lot, and I could easily fit my weekly deficit onto one plate, and I'm certainly not going to only have one plate at an all you can eat buffet...

absolutely at something like that...we have a "all you can eat buffet to go" chinese place...5.99 a lb...I spend about 15$ and eat 3 meals...

Not saying of course that this Saturday I won't be over for the week...I probably will as the Quarter pounder with cheese I will end up eating at 1am after the dance will put me over...hehe

But that being said yah I will log it and move on...1 day won't derail me...

SingRunTing

I_Will_End_You wrote: »

I try to go a little lighter the days before. If I do go over, I just move on and pick back up where I left off. One day over isn't going to do much (if any) damage.

I just want to say that I agree with this.

Reading over my post makes it sound like I freak out over every little calorie and don't ever relax around food. But I've had a lot of "special events" lately and need to keep some of them in check or I would hinder my progress.

OP, it depends on how often these special events pop up. For example, I didn't worry about food on Easter knowing that one day won't hinder my progress, but in exchange I did keep myself in check for the two baby showers I had this month. One day is fine, 3+ days would start eating into my deficit too much.

Also, I rarely drink alcohol, so it helps keep calories in check there. I usually drink seltzer water, unsweetened iced tea, or diet coke when I go out. Using 0 calories on drinks helps give me more wiggle room for food.

tomofnj

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

It's one day. Be conscientious, log it and move on.

I_Will_End_You wrote: »

I try to go a little lighter the days before. If I do go over, I just move on and pick back up where I left off. One day over isn't going to do much (if any) damage.

SezxyStef wrote: »

I will log it and move on...1 day won't derail me...

Right on, words to live by.

who4fan

I have a wedding to go to weekend after next, and it's near my hometown and my favorite diner. So I know I will end up at the diner post wedding shenanigans (the food at these events is usually sub-par so I don't eat a lot at the event, but will probably have a couple drinks) and then again for breakfast to come home. I rarely go home these days, weddings and funerals about cover it. I plan on trying to go a little light next week. It won't cover it, but it'll be alright by the following week.

LivingtheLeanDream

I usually exercise more on the day of a big event, also eat light to save lots of calories for it. Overall I don't stress about it at all, its not like we do this sort of thing every week or often - enjoy everything in moderation is my motto, I will keep an eye on quantity/portion size even during these sorts of events, its become such a habit I do that automatically now

segacs

I usually just eat less of whatever's on offer so I can stay within my calorie goals. I might eat a light lunch so I can save more calories for dinner.

For particular special occasions, I might deliberately take a maintenance day just so I can enjoy myself. For example, I ate at about maintenance for the Passover seders, and I probably will for Rosh Hashanah next fall, or for my birthday.

But I try not to do this too often so I don't derail my weight loss efforts. A handful of days a year is fine, but it's too easy to start justifying everything as a 'special' occasion so it's a fine line.

tomofnj

Right, I agree that a few times a year is ok, but it can't be a habit.