Roll Over Calories

bmannen1

Do any of you roll over calories? If I eat 400 less then my goal today should I eat 400 over my goal tomorrow, or if I over eat today should I try to eat less tomorrow?

paperpudding

I dont do it as a day to day thing- like making up the exact number the next day.

But I do see my calorie goal as being a weekly one - so some days are over, some under, but as long as they are around the mark and the weekly average is about right, then I am happy.

Branstin

I balance my calories for the week, too. It gives me flexibility.

teranga79

I look at it weekly too. So long as the weekly total is close to where it should be I don't worry about the odd day over or under. I find that useful when I know I've got a meal out or something similar planned.

SezxyStef

I aim for daily or a bit under but I am more concerned with my weekly goals.

For example yesterday I ate 164 under goal...today atm (with my entire day logged) I am over 500 under...(I will add more food) and I expect my week will have between 100-200 under each day...so maybe on Saturday I will have an extra beer/drink or a burger or chicken from a fast food place...but I do not let this go on into the next week...

On Sunday night...it's done and Monday is a new week...same thing if I go over as well.

Fit_Fox88

I look at my calorie goal daily, not weekly. I've tried it and it confuses me. That said, it works for many people. Occasionally I will eat so much less one day that I do make it up over the next couple of days, especially after a big workout. But if I go over I don't worry about eating less the next day. I figure I'm still eating less than my TDEE so I'm probably eating at maintenance with no danger of gaining. Try it a few different ways and see what works for you. Don't stress too much about it

pierremignon

^ Same as the others. I find eating the same amount of calories everyday a bit boring, so I "save" around 200 calories from Monday to Saturday, so come Sunday I have at least 1,200 extra exercise calories I can eat. So although I go over during Sundays, my weekly average is still under.

MCW3516

I usually am 200 or so under my goal for week days with exercise. I "save" those calories for the weekend when I don't exercise and have an extra 800 calories or so to drink or have a burger or something. I usually view my goals in weekly increments.

jemhh

I look at the whole week. I will often eat a bit under goal during the week and then enough over to make up for it on the weekend.

janatarnhem

I try and balance the week! But if I go over a massive amount, I just log it, draw a line under it and forget it! Other times, I go do some more exercise!!

JTick

I don't - if I'm under, I'm under. I'm never under a lot though unless I'm sick. I also eat out a fair bit, so I figure coming in a little under some days will make up for restaurant estimations being off.

AnthonyThrashD

I think this technique is called zig zagging calories. A lot of body builders and personal trainers recommend it. Personally, I don't roll over calories, because I'm only 90 days into lifestyle change...and before diligent calorie tracking/logging...I would always promise myself "I'll eat better tomorrow" each night, when I felt guilty about being fat and how much I ate. I didn't eat any better the next day, it was just some weird guilt/shame cycle.

So, I stay under goal. I use that big "commit" button as a psychological advantage...once I press it, I won't eat anything else!

good luck to you!

puzzledpenguin

I look at the calories for the week as a whole. That way I can use exercise calories to balance out treats and days when I don't make it to the gym.