Averaging your results?

Mustang_Susie

Some days I go over my goal for calories and other days I go under. Do you think it works to average out your calories over a period of say, a week? Or do you need to stay under you calorie goal every day to reach your goal weight?

cmriverside

It's best to try to get in the habit of staying close to your calories, that's what works best.

That being said, google Zig-zag calories. Or use the "search" function here. You can move SOME calories around. Not a lot, though, just a couple hundred.

thankyou4thevenom

A nutritionist friend of mine never advises to eat the same amount of calories every day. She says it's because the human body was never designed to work on the same amount of calories everyday. You should eat more one day and less (depending on your hunger levels) the next so your metabolism is on it's toes so to speak.

Coincidentally to back this up a very slim friend of mine will eat like a pig on one day and the next day she'll eat an apple. I found that really interesting.

So while I'm not trying that exactly it does make me worry less about the ups and downs when it comes to my daily calorie count. If I'm over, I'm over. If I'm under I'm under. It doesn't matter as long as in the long term the weight is going in the right direction.

crystal_sapphire

I agree with the mention of zig zagging cals. people do it all the time. 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800. rinse lather repeat.

i also know someone who takes their calorie amount allotted and multiplies it by 7. So say you have a 1200 cal go 1200x 7 = 8400 calories per week. So if you've gone over or under some days, you're still going to have the same amount by the end of the week if you have an idea of how many calories you're eating in a week and stay aware.

hope that makes sense

crystal_sapphire

Coincidentally to back this up a very slim friend of mine will eat like a pig on one day and the next day she'll eat an apple. I found that really interesting.

that's how my boyfriend can be except it's not an apple. He will pig out one day and then the next just not eat very much. He's been naturally thin all his life and it's not a conscious decision. I asked him about it and he says he just eats when he's hungry and doesn't when he's not. Wish my mind had that hunger switch a little more clear

iamhealingmyself

Your body adjusts quickly to what you are doing and that is why people plateau on diets. Obviously you don't want to eat your weeks allotment in one day and then starve the rest of the week. I agree with keeping your metabolism on it's toes and if you're over you're over if you're under you're under but keep the weekly total in mind so you don't go crazy in either direction. Some days my 1530 calories seems like a never ending feast and other days it feels like a toddler's snack. The same is true of your exercise plan - that's what the 30 day shred is based on - muscle confusion so that your muscles never adjust to what is coming next.

In the end no matter what anyone says, you can only do what feels right for you and your body. Some days I'm hungry and want to eat back exercise calories and other days I'm not so I don't. Listen to your body. Maybe you're thirsty and not hungry - start with a glass of water before you eat something that will work against you. If you're hungry after, no harm - it's only water and you need it anyway. Some days I can get away with chewing gum and other days that makes me hungrier. Think about why you want to eat and think about what you're reaching for.

You can also consider all of your deficit days calories as a treat at the end of the week if you want and still not be over your weekly allotment. Again, it's all about you and what your body is telling you it needs.