Extra calories saved up?

Lildarlinz

Okay! So please don’t bite me head off over only eating 800 calories.
So basically 3 days this week I’ve only eaten 800 calories (been at work I’ve not been hungry.I work for the nhs...I have hyperhidrosis so when I get too hot I don’t feel like eating)
So my calories MFP has calculated for me is 1500
But I’ve ive only eaten 800 calories one day (1500-800=700)
So my question is...if I have 700 calories I haven’t eaten Sort of left...can you eat these at the end of the week as a treat pizza?
Would I still lose my 1lb a week? Xx
And does anyone else do this? Or do they not have the treat haha

SuzySunshine99

Sure, lots of people intentionally save up calories during the week so they can have a treat on the weekend.
Just bear in mind that you might see some water gain from a larger or higher-sodium meal, but that's temporary.
Enjoy your pizza!

Lildarlinz

Thank you Suzy xx
It’s so hot at work and obviously now we have to wear the masks all day I just don’t feel like eating! It’s terrible xx
Thank you xx stay safe xx

SuzySunshine99 wrote: »

Sure, lots of people intentionally save up calories during the week so they can have a treat on the weekend.
Just bear in mind that you might see some water gain from a larger or higher-sodium meal, but that's temporary.
Enjoy your pizza!

Strudders67

If you use the app on your phone, at the bottom of the Diary page is a Nutrition button - click that and select 'Week View' (if it doesn't default to that) and you'll see your average for the week. It's a very useful tool but, unfortunately, it's not on the web version.

I always try to ensure that my weekly Net Average is pretty much on track and I'm definitely not the only person that does this on a regular basis.

Given that next week is likely to get even hotter, maybe consider getting some high calorie snacks that would help boost your numbers with minimal effort. A cereal bar or some nuts, either whenever you get a break or when you finish work, would help. The larger stores of Tesco's do big bags of almonds (750g) which seem expensive as an outlay (they're about £8) but, for the amount I normally have at a time, my snack works out at about 20p. Just a small handful (20g) would give you 177 cals, although if you're under-eating by 700 cals, that's not going to help much.

Unless you want to treat yourself to weekly pizza or a few drinks, which actually sounds like a good idea to me, maybe look at higher calorie foods to have on a regular basis. Peanut butter on wholemeal toast is one idea or make a frittata and freeze it in portion sizes so that you have a breakfast that you can grab and go. In the meantime, definitely enjoy your pizza.

AnnPT77

I routinely calorie bank now that I'm in maintenance (eat maybe 150-250 calories under maintenance some days, to eat more on others). Also, some people eat 500 (ish) calories 2 days a week, and maintenance calories the 5 other days (5:2 fasting), so strategies like that can work.

What I'd caution is to keep it in the realm of reasonable, on average. One week like you describe isn't a problem, probably, for most people. But consider the context, the overall picture. What's "reasonable" is personal.

A calorie deficit - any calorie deficit - is a physical stress. The bigger the deficit (the faster the loss rate), the higher the physical stress.

Some people, when dieting, add other forms of physical stress, like major shifts in what they're eating (which can temporarily be a physical stressor even if the new foods are more nutritious), or adding new and challenging exercise. Those are additional physical stresses on top of what may be in a person's routine daily life, such as a physically demanding job or family care responsibilities, poor sleep, health conditions, etc.

On top of that, physical stress conspires with psychological stress, in some ways. For many, there are psychological stressors in the weight-loss picture, too: Figuring out new ways of eating, maybe partner/family conflicts, social anxiety about the gym or just about exercise competence, habits of guilt or self-blame from eating so-called "bad foods" or eating past calorie goal, and more. Those are also on top of psychological stresses in a person's routine life, such as job conflict, coronavirus worries, home-schooling kids, financial problems, etc.

Some people are more resilient to stress than others. No one is infinitely resilient.

With high stress levels (from any/all sources), higher water weight fluctuations or water retention are possible (from stress hormones). Health consequences are possible. Also, problems with long-term calorie-goal compliance become more likely, because any one person has a limited store of resilience (as played out through "motivation" or "willpower" or whatever we want to call it).

So, yes: Eat that pizza, and enjoy it. But also think about the overall pattern of your life and eating, and think about whether you're managing all-source stress well. If it were every week, an extreme calorie deficit for 3 days, and a normal deficit for (say) 3, and then a big-eating day . . . well, it might be fine, but it might not be a good overall stress-management strategy, for long-term health, happiness and goal accomplishment. You know yourself best.

It's good to understand ourselves in ways like this, and be realistic, IMO.

Best wishes!

PAV8888

The math works.

But you're also stretching the valleys and the peaks by a bit

A 1-200 a day saved and a 1200 Cal splurge once a week? Sure sounds like a great plan!

But frequent large deficits followed by the inevitable large compensating overages can very soon start looking like a restrict-binge cycle--not a great plan!

Be proactive and be great!!!!

Lildarlinz

Thank you pav xx
I will try my best to have something more when I get home to up the calorie intake a bit...
As you know we have to wear masks for the whole 12 hour shifts now and they are making me feel quite sick.Its very hard to want to feel like eating when you feel sick and hot

But I will try my best xx thank you for your lovely advice stay safe

PAV8888 wrote: »

The math works.

But you're also stretching the valleys and the peaks by a bit

A 1-200 a day saved and a 1200 Cal splurge once a week? Sure sounds like a great plan!

But frequent large deficits followed by the inevitable large compensating overages can very soon start looking like a restrict-binge cycle--not a great plan!

Be proactive and be great!!!!

KimiAR

Maybe try to hit 1200 on those days you don’t feel like eating and “bank” the rest? It might help you to feel your best while you’re helping others. Your body need the nutrition. Even possibly use protein shakes as it may be easier to drink something- especially if you’re to hot.

SeanD2407

If I want to save up I wont go below 1400-1500 (mfp only lets u do 1500 for guys anyway) i assume 1300 for girls?

popularkidrightnow

I would say do as makes you feel comfortable they recommend higher calorie intake than 800 but more over if you have the comfort and energy you can take it as low as the amount you’re consuming. You can eat the remaining calories needed for recommended intake every weekend thats still fine

lorrpb

I'm not biting your head off, but if you are eating only half of the minimum recommended I encourage you to look at how to consume more calories, and NUTRITIOUS calories on a daily basis. Additional healthy fat and protein should help. While it's ok to bank a few calories (100-200 a few days) for a treat, if you're eating only half your calories I would not use it all on pizza. I LOVE pizza but its also important to balance out your nutrition for HEALTH reasons.

Lildarlinz

Thank you Lorr xx

I didn’t have my pizza in the end xx I didn’t fancy it in the end so I had a fry up instead yesterday but I brought low calorie/low fat bacon and sausages and it was lovely 😛😛 and I’ve stayed the same weight so all good
I will try to eat more though whilst at work xx

lorrpb wrote: »

I'm not biting your head off, but if you are eating only half of the minimum recommended I encourage you to look at how to consume more calories, and NUTRITIOUS calories on a daily basis. Additional healthy fat and protein should help. While it's ok to bank a few calories (100-200 a few days) for a treat, if you're eating only half your calories I would not use it all on pizza. I LOVE pizza but its also important to balance out your nutrition for HEALTH reasons.

Hanibanani2020

I purposefully banked calories all week so I could have lots of mum’s pudding tonight. I think most of us do it. Just make sure you count correctly so you don’t go over too much. Have fun

SeanD2407

I ate about a half slab too many ribs and a slice of key lime pie for father's day yesterday. This is why folks it's not the worst idea to save up some calories if you know you got a big event coming up lmfao.