Saving up versus Making up calories

KBmoments

I've read a lot about banking calories throughout the week to save up for a special occasion where you know you'll most likely eat more than usual. I agree with this theory and have practiced it before. However, I've also read in the same threads that it's better to save up/bank calories rather than splurging and THEN making up for those extra calories. Is this just because it's easier mentally or is there a physiological reason saving up would be better?

Sued0nim

I never make up

I always save

If I don't got it, I can't spend it

Borrowing from the future is easy to spiral

KBmoments

rabbitjb wrote: »

I never make up

I always save

If I don't got it, I can't spend it

Borrowing from the future is easy to spiral

Is there a particular reason you prefer to do it this way? Why do you think it's easy to spiral if you go the opposite (when in the end it should all balance out anyway).. not debating, just curious? I'm thinking because what if you have an unplanned day?

KBmoments

* I guess I'm thinking that either way, you're restricting your calories ...the only difference is timing * ?

Sued0nim

I don't trust myself

I also pay off my credit cards every month

It's too easy to be unduly hungry unexpectedly ...and what happens if I've already borrowed 500 calories from that day ..or my will power is weak? Carries over and over

But you do what suits you

KBmoments

rabbitjb wrote: »

I don't trust myself

I also pay off my credit cards every month

It's too easy to be unduly hungry unexpectedly ...and what happens if I've already borrowed 500 calories from that day ..or my will power is weak? Carries over and over

But you do what suits you

Gotcha...That makes sense! Thanks for your viewpoint.

SueInAz

KBmoments wrote: »

I've read a lot about banking calories throughout the week to save up for a special occasion where you know you'll most likely eat more than usual. I agree with this theory and have practiced it before. However, I've also read in the same threads that it's better to save up/bank calories rather than splurging and THEN making up for those extra calories. Is this just because it's easier mentally or is there a physiological reason saving up would be better?

There isn't anything physiological about it, it's practical to save before spending because you don't know what might actually happen. You can easily plan to enjoy first and then save later but what if you just don't? You could have an injury, an unplanned happy hour with a friend who really needs a shoulder, or you could see in your diary that you still "really" have 100 calories left for the day and decide "what the heck?" I think it all comes down to how disciplined you are and how you'll react to possibly failing to meet the calorie goal.

Sued0nim

Why would you have an unplanned day? Keep a couple of hundred back each day for such events and if you haven't used it by Sunday (on a Monday to Sunday week) then go wild then

I use the rolling 7 day report on the app it has the number I'm under over the last 7 days ...I use that

SezxyStef

As Rabbit said whatever suits you.

It's like using cash vs credit card...

Can you trust yourself to pay the credit card off before you are charged interest???? if not use cash....

Susieq_1994

I hate making up calories because I might get hungry, and then there's this mindset that whispers.. "It's in the past, just let it go and move on... You don't need to make it up." Whereas with banking, I can bank some more on days I'm not hungry and bank less to none on days that I'm not. I rarely do either one, but I hate it when I've had an unintended splurge and have to make it up. :-/

KBmoments

rabbitjb wrote: »

Why would you have an unplanned day? Keep a couple of hundred back each day for such events and if you haven't used it by Sunday (on a Monday to Sunday week) then go wild then

I use the rolling 7 day report on the app it has the number I'm under over the last 7 days ...I use that

Good idea... I guess my unplanned days would be a random happy hour with friends or going out dinner spur of the moment. I guess like you said a good plan would be to eat a little less throughout the week for these times that usually pop up on the weekends! I also like the cash vs credit card analogy.

VeryKatie

rabbitjb wrote: »

Why would you have an unplanned day? Keep a couple of hundred back each day for such events and if you haven't used it by Sunday (on a Monday to Sunday week) then go wild then

I use the rolling 7 day report on the app it has the number I'm under over the last 7 days ...I use that

>.< mine doesn't give the average. BAH. I don't understand why the apps for different OS aren't the same.

Sued0nim

And different from the web

That's the iOS version

I refuse to update the app because I think they destroyed that report and removed the average and total under / over at the bottom....and that's the one I find most useful

999tigger

Its whatever suits you. It feels better for me to eat calories after ive done the exercise otherwise I feel im chasing rather than being in credit. I wouldnt stress though, the important thing is that your net calories are made up be it before or after.

If im hungry I eat. If you exercise then its straightforward enough to save enough calories to deal with whatever the week throws at you, consistency helps. Agree with the cash and credit card analogy.

Also saving up a decent amount, lets me relax that little bit more because I have extra room. Its one of the reasons I prefer NEAT over TDEE as I prefer to earn my exercise calories in advance.

I have unplanned days or rather I dont overly stress about what will happen, if I change my mind and want a takeaway, then I have one, but overall Im pretty good and will preferably earn one beforehand. I exercise for my fitness tragets, but the calories are an importnat bonus. Cash in the bank has advantages.

jaga13

rabbitjb wrote: »

Why would you have an unplanned day? Keep a couple of hundred back each day for such events and if you haven't used it by Sunday (on a Monday to Sunday week) then go wild then

I use the rolling 7 day report on the app it has the number I'm under over the last 7 days ...I use that

Maybe you can explain this graph to me. I manually add my numbers above or below goal into a spreadsheet. Over the past 7 days, I get a deficit of an extra 758 calories (below my goal). But MFP's graph says net calories under weekly goal = 414. I went through my diary and double checked the numbers for each day and i keep getting 758. Am I misunderstanding something??

SezxyStef

rabbitjb wrote: »

And different from the web

That's the iOS version

I refuse to update the app because I think they destroyed that report and removed the average and total under / over at the bottom....and that's the one I find most useful

yes they did *grumbles* was my favorite most used as well now I have to keep a freakin' spreadsheet.

jaga13

KBmoments wrote: »

I've read a lot about banking calories throughout the week to save up for a special occasion where you know you'll most likely eat more than usual. I agree with this theory and have practiced it before. However, I've also read in the same threads that it's better to save up/bank calories rather than splurging and THEN making up for those extra calories. Is this just because it's easier mentally or is there a physiological reason saving up would be better?

Although in theory I agree it would be better to save first, then splurge, it's hard for me to do because I only weigh myself on Saturday morning. So every time I log in my weight, I'm really measuring Saturday morning through Friday night. Meaning my week begins anew every weekend--which is exactly the time I want to splurge! I find it very easy to make up for it during week days--I bring my food to work, cook dinner at home, and never go out during the week (I have small kids + a job outside of the home). But if I was weighing myself every day, or a different day of the week, I would prefer to save M-F and then splurge with what I have left on the weekend. Since I spend then save, I do have limits to my splurge. I know that 500 over goal means I need to earn/save an extra 100 calories a day, M-F, which is doable. More than that would be tough for me. Many weekends I don't splurge much any way.

Sued0nim

jaga13 wrote: »

rabbitjb wrote: »

Why would you have an unplanned day? Keep a couple of hundred back each day for such events and if you haven't used it by Sunday (on a Monday to Sunday week) then go wild then

I use the rolling 7 day report on the app it has the number I'm under over the last 7 days ...I use that

Maybe you can explain this graph to me. I manually add my numbers above or below goal into a spreadsheet. Over the past 7 days, I get a deficit of an extra 758 calories (below my goal). But MFP's graph says net calories under weekly goal = 414. I went through my diary and double checked the numbers for each day and i keep getting 758. Am I misunderstanding something??

I'm sorry I have no idea

I just take it at face value

TimothyFish

If you are losing weight, you are already "making up." That's essentially what a calorie deficit is. If I'm going to do anything, I prefer to save up calories, because I always have the option of not over eating for the special occasion, if my willpower fails me. When making up, there's nothing I can do to make up for a lapse in willpower.

rungirl1973

SezxyStef wrote: »

rabbitjb wrote: »

And different from the web

That's the iOS version

I refuse to update the app because I think they destroyed that report and removed the average and total under / over at the bottom....and that's the one I find most useful

yes they did *grumbles* was my favorite most used as well now I have to keep a freakin' spreadsheet.

Hm. I keep my apps updated, and mine shows the average daily and the net under weekly goal.
Thanks for the heads up! I've actually never noticed that before.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Susieq_1994

rabbitjb wrote: »

And different from the web

That's the iOS version

I refuse to update the app because I think they destroyed that report and removed the average and total under / over at the bottom....and that's the one I find most useful

Sadly, they did, at least for the Android version. Mine updated automatically and I was horrified. I can still see the weekly "under" for my gross calorie intake, but it's totally off because I exercise at least 3-4 times a week for an hour or so, earning at least an extra 500 calories. :-/ Also, the new macros/nutrients lists are ugly and make for very inefficient viewing.