Just wondering?? Is it better to be consistent rather than going to extremes of low/high calories?

allarounddice

I have only been tracking my calories and carbs for about a week, but I notice that I have a low calorie day then a high calorie day. It looks like I am climbing mountains on the graph. Just looking at it, it seems to me that I would be more successful sticking to the same amount of calories rather than going really low and the next day going really high. I would like to get the impute of others on this matter. What has been your experience with this matter?

etherealanwar

All that matters is whether you are in a calorie deficit over time. If I were you I would choose a calorie goal for the week and allocate it however you feel best suits your daily needs. It's perfectly fine to have lower calorie days and some higher as long as you reach your goal.

quiksylver296

I prefer a median daily calorie goal. It's easier for me to hit consistently.

kimny72

allarounddice wrote: »

I have only been tracking my calories and carbs for about a week, but I notice that I have a low calorie day then a high calorie day. It looks like I am climbing mountains on the graph. Just looking at it, it seems to me that I would be more successful sticking to the same amount of calories rather than going really low and the next day going really high. I would like to get the impute of others on this matter. What has been your experience with this matter?

If I eat too little one day, I tend to overcompensate the next day. If you are balancing out so your calories for the week are correct, it's probably fine. The other concern would be your energy level on the low cal days.

Some people also find that if they keep boomeranging from high cal to low cal it messes with their appetite and they feel like they are always chasing the high cal days. Just some stuff to keep in mind!

jemhh

What matters is your long term downward trend in weight. If you are seeing such a trend, what you're doing is okay. If it becomes difficult to keep your calories in track after a very low calorie day, you might want to use a more moderate approach. That's something that you need to experiment with in order to see what works best for you.

quiksylver296

Clarification question - Are you talking about when you eat exercise calories back, versus when you don't eat exercise calories back?

pinuplove

Hmm, I'd need to know what qualifies as extreme. I have higher days and lower days sometimes, but I wouldn't call them extreme. 1200 - 2000 roughly. I don't like eating 1200 too often, though. I get cranky.

MelanieCN77

If I varied my calories like that I'd never really know what my weight was doing week to week.

sardelsa

As long as you are in a deficit over time, and it works for you, then sure.

If you find your intake is too inconsistent and your weight fluctuations (water, food etc) make you uncomfortable, or the high days make you want more high days, and the low days make you want to eat more the next day, then you might want to consider a different strategy.

My intake is all over usually... I have two or three low days a week, two moderate days, two or three high days (usually meals out so sodium is also high), and it averages out to my calorie goal. I use a trend weight app to sort through the fluctuations. This works for me, but I have also been doing this a long time and know what I can adhere to best.