Long Days - More calories?

Nicole_gets_a_grip

How long is an average day for you? On days when you are up for significantly longer due to work or family do you increase your calorie intake? If so by how much?

Thanks

Nicole

shauno250

don't increase your calorie count Nicole, in my opinion that won't solve anything, from past experience i find if its hunger problems you have then space your meals out even more with each having less calories to allow for more meals in that day

janeite1990

I don't know about calories, but do drink more water!

April_KT

Dont increase calories! just choose wiser

redheaddee

All days are 24 hours.

pkw58

I don't know about calories, but do drink more water!

Smart!

SymphonynSonata

All days are 24 hours.

All days are 24 hours, but sometimes you're up for 20 of those instead of 12 :P

When I have all-nighter kinda days and I get hungry, I just eat. I try not to sweat it too bad, and if I go way overboard I'll make up for it on the shorter following day.

lebbyloses

I have more caffeine.

Actually, getting enough sleep is better for weight loss, so definitely don't eat more on days you don't.

kathrinnbauer

I totally know the problem. I need more food if I am awake more hours and more hours awake usually means less hours asleep which adds to the hunger for me (I read that it is due to changes in Ghrelin and cortisol production..). However, unless you are not considerably more active you will not burn much more calories, so I always try to fill up with fiber instead of eating more. But when I forget to plan ahead and I am hungry I eat - one day doesn't destroy the diet. I just make sure that it won't happen again in the next one or two weeks, I try to eat clean when I eat more than planed and I still try to stay under my TDEE or to work it of or try to compensate it be eating slightly less the next day.

VeroniqueBoilard

If it's not a common thing, I would definitely eat more, especially if you are not just sitting around all day and set MFP to sedentary. Maybe only 200 or 300 calories more of good food. Like almonds, hummus and vegetables, a tuna salad or something like that. You MIGHT (not even sure) slow your weight loss for this week, but if you have MFP set to 1 pound a week, you have a 500 calories deficit every day. So if you eat 200 or 300 calories, you are not even "over" your "maximum".

Remember: lifestyle change are more important than weight loss or "getting through" and somewhat congratulating yourself for starving. You set yourself up for failure. Eat a decent snack or small meal that will get you through the long day.

As long as you are not using it as an excuse to eat junk food or sweets... you know what is good for you. No need to feel tired and depress just because our society prefer slim and starved to healthy and happy.

sammniamii

My days are long, a good "short day" is 18 hours. A long day is 21-22 hours. I think this is part of my problem (overeatting) because I'm up way too much. And no, I can't sleep more - doesn't help and can't do sleeping pills either as I need to be up by 5am.

But if I'm up at 11-12 and I'm hungry, I eat. Cause otherwise I tend to wake up starving or can't sleep.

SLLRunner

How long is an average day for you? On days when you are up for significantly longer due to work or family do you increase your calorie intake? If so by how much?

Thanks

Nicole

Up at 5am or before and down to sleep by 9 or 9:30.

No I don't increase my calories for longer days. I don't see any reason to.

Mellyajc

I try not to increase, but if I can't restore energy through sleep, yes, I get more hungry. I usually try to exercise more to allow for more food. Otherwise I try to compensate - eat something filling but not as much as I *want* to eat, so at least I can get to sleep and am not feeling hunger pangs all night. That would NOT be a good start to the next day.

Question is, for your health sake..is there any way you can flex your schedule so you aren't having to do this often? Can cleaning the bathroom, or working on X project, wait until tomorrow? Can you ask family members for help? See what your resources are to try to find a more sustainable routine!

SLLRunner

Trying to edit and double posted.

Mellyajc

You could also try looking into the 'appetite suppressant' foods. Google them but I believe they include almonds, apples, and avocados. I'm trying the apples as my snack foods.

Nicole_gets_a_grip

don't increase your calorie count Nicole, in my opinion that won't solve anything, from past experience i find if its hunger problems you have then space your meals out even more with each having less calories to allow for more meals in that day

If I knew in advance I was going to have a longer day then I would definitely would plan to do that (well I would need to because I wouldn't be able to get home to cook!) But I s'pose I mean days like today when you're up and active from 5am and only sitting down at 8.30pm!... Although sometimes a few hours longer.

My normal day is from about 6-5 so I do end up very hungry... Sounds like the general consensus is to just suck it up?!!!

cuinboston2014

It depends. When I was doing clinicals and was up at 4:30 am to go to the clinical, then to my full time job, then to the gym and whatever other kid activity and not go to bed until 11 or so to repeat the next day I usually ate more calories. Only because I was hungrier though. I tried to compensate throughout the day but still ate a little bit less.

I do find almonds actually work wonders for hunger and curbing appetite

Nicole_gets_a_grip

All days are 24 hours.

All days are 24 hours, but sometimes you're up for 20 of those instead of 12 :P

When I have all-nighter kinda days and I get hungry, I just eat. I try not to sweat it too bad, and if I go way overboard I'll make up for it on the shorter following day.

You worded that in a far more polite way than I was thinking of... which is why I hadn't responded!!!

I also think your thoughts about balancing it out on other days is a good idea... I have a friend who averages out his calories over a week so never worries about daily calorie consumption. I'm not sure that would work all the time for me but on the long days it's probably a good idea. Thank you

Nicole_gets_a_grip

It depends. When I was doing clinicals and was up at 4:30 am to go to the clinical, then to my full time job, then to the gym and whatever other kid activity and not go to bed until 11 or so to repeat the next day I usually ate more calories. Only because I was hungrier though. I tried to compensate throughout the day but still ate a little bit less.

I do find almonds actually work wonders for hunger and curbing appetite

Apples and bananas are good for me for appetite. Also hot chocolate stops me from craving sweet things so I try and have one in the evening.

Nicole_gets_a_grip

If it's not a common thing, I would definitely eat more, especially if you are not just sitting around all day and set MFP to sedentary. Maybe only 200 or 300 calories more of good food. Like almonds, hummus and vegetables, a tuna salad or something like that. You MIGHT (not even sure) slow your weight loss for this week, but if you have MFP set to 1 pound a week, you have a 500 calories deficit every day. So if you eat 200 or 300 calories, you are not even "over" your "maximum".

Remember: lifestyle change are more important than weight loss or "getting through" and somewhat congratulating yourself for starving. You set yourself up for failure. Eat a decent snack or small meal that will get you through the long day.

As long as you are not using it as an excuse to eat junk food or sweets... you know what is good for you. No need to feel tired and depress just because our society prefer slim and starved to healthy and happy.

Thank you, seems very sensible!