calories over a day or over a week?

kmillers

Just wondering how everyone tracks their calories. I like to bank mine so that I can be over on some days and under on some while staying within my goal. Is this going to hurt my weight loss?

davemap

Also curious of answer to this, had awful day today but had mass amount of calories left last 2 days

twixlepennie

I did alternate day IF for weight loss and it went more by weekly calories. Now in maintenance I go by weekly, instead of daily.

PudgyFellow123

from what I understand, it's a weekly count. So yes, if you go over on some days, you can make up for it within that week.

I personally wouldn't try to have a off day on purpose but you're only human.

Unknown

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togmo

Generally I think the calculators you use estimate things on a weekly basis and divide the weekly caloric intake into 7 days. At the end of the day if you are eating less food than you need to maintain your current weight you will lose weight.

I estimate my activity levels for the week and this tells me based on my height, weight, age etc how much I can eat in a week and divides it into 7 days telling me how many calories I can consume daily. At the moment I am trying to build muscle without putting on weight so I am eating near maintenance so I simply try and eat that many calories each day. If I have more one day, I try and have a little less the next. Technically speaking if I eat exactly this many calories every day and I do a big workout on say Monday, then that day I have lost a little bit of weight (un-noticeable) and if on Tuesday I sit around in front of the television all day then that day I have put on a little weight (again un-noticeable) but on average I remain the same weight...

Your biggest concern really is making sure you have enough macro and micro nutrients. I use this site mainly to track my protein intake which up until I started counting I didn't nearly get enough off.

kmillers

I also have been using it as a weekly "bank" of calories, however, I just wanted to make sure. I kinda panic when the number turns red even if it was green by 300 the day before. :0):glasses:

togmo

I embrace red!

I am on maintenance and actually try and eat around 2500-3000kcals a day but I have customized my pal and set it to 2300. I aim to see red below every line - except perhaps sodium although this too is often red...