Your thoughts on "saving" calories

KristofferN

Do I try and “save” calories if I know I’m going to have a “pigout” meal later in the day??? No, not really and yes but only to a point. If you attempt to save TOO many calories because you know you are going to "pigout" later on in that night, you probably will be making it worse than if you just ate normal during the entire day and then have the "pigout" meal. If you save too much during the day by skipping a couple of meals (I eat 6 in a day) your body will start to slow down its metabolism rate and we don't want that to happen. Your body thinks you are going into a starvation crisis and doesn't know you are simply trying to save calories which you will make up and then some later that night. So my point is if you want to "save" calories do it by simply reducing all of your meals during the day just a little, but KEEP eating every couple of hours so your metabolism is still burning hot when you have your "big fun meal" I usually use these type of "pigout" meals as my one and only cheat meal of the week. If you think of it, one cheat meal a week after being so good all week long will not do anything as far as weight gain but will probably help boost your metabolism rate up and that is a good thing. Plus it is good for the spirit to reward your self every now and then. Hope this helps.

julwills

I'm doing something similar today. I know I'm going out to eat dinner with a girlfriend right after work and likely won't have time to hit the gym. So I had my standard breakfast, I'm having a 220 cal salad for lunch and then having an apple for my afternoon snack. That way I still have over 770 cals left for dinner! Even if I go over my calorie allowance I'm set at 2 lbs per week so I have a 1,000 calorie deficit so i'm not too worried about it.

SHBoss1673

dreamer,

You probably won't like what I have to say. Most of you actually. But just please understand that I'm saying this as a realistic and unbiased observer only.

Part of the battle people have with weight loss is justification, it stems from fear of "giving up their lifestyle", similar to an alcoholic, this practice can be self destructive. In my opinion, a majority of the changes that need to be made are mental changes, the physical weight loss and lean tissue building and habits all stem from you having the desire and the willpower to change how you think about yourself, food, and you life, and the biggie here is the concept of "control".

I know what you're thinking, "What the heck is this guy talking about, and what does this have to do with saving up calories for a "special" night?" Well, it's all related folks. I've found out (the hard way mostly) that changing your life means changing how you think about food, "saving up calories" for that one special night isn't really the right mentality to have IMHO, whether or not those calories even out at the end of the week is incidental, what you really should be focusing on is your every day, your habits, how you feel about food, how you feel about yourself, and what your triggers to unhealthy eating are (and the underlying emotional issues you have that cause those to be triggers). Once you square away these things, and view food for what it is (fuel), then you are freeing yourself to enjoy all the other wonderful aspects of life that don't involve food. Focusing on one special night is (in my opinion) like washing your care right before it's about to rain in that yes, you are cleaning the car, but in the end, does it really matter, wouldn't you be better served by an oil change and putting better gas in it? 10 years from now, no body will look at that car and say, "Wow, you sure did do a good job washing it every week."

PecanTanDiva

dreamer,

You probably won't like what I have to say. Most of you actually. But just please understand that I'm saying this as a realistic and unbiased observer only.

Part of the battle people have with weight loss is justification, it stems from fear of "giving up their lifestyle", similar to an alcoholic, this practice can be self destructive. In my opinion, a majority of the changes that need to be made are mental changes, the physical weight loss and lean tissue building and habits all stem from you having the desire and the willpower to change how you think about yourself, food, and you life, and the biggie here is the concept of "control".

I know what you're thinking, "What the heck is this guy talking about, and what does this have to do with saving up calories for a "special" night?" Well, it's all related folks. I've found out (the hard way mostly) that changing your life means changing how you think about food, "saving up calories" for that one special night isn't really the right mentality to have IMHO, whether or not those calories even out at the end of the week is incidental, what you really should be focusing on is your every day, your habits, how you feel about food, how you feel about yourself, and what your triggers to unhealthy eating are (and the underlying emotional issues you have that cause those to be triggers). Once you square away these things, and view food for what it is (fuel), then you are freeing yourself to enjoy all the other wonderful aspects of life that don't involve food. Focusing on one special night is (in my opinion) like washing your care right before it's about to rain in that yes, you are cleaning the car, but in the end, does it really matter, wouldn't you be better served by an oil change and putting better gas in it? 10 years from now, no body will look at that car and say, "Wow, you sure did do a good job washing it every week."

I soooooo LOATHE that your freakin right!!!!! :grumble:

LOL

bcattoes

Well, you nixed by suggestion in the bud (extra exercise). Actually, that would still be my suggestion whethere you usually eat them back or not, because however you log it exercise will allow you eat more and still lose weight. But if you are not doing that, then yes I would eat very light during the day if I knew I was going to feast in the evening.

kellyscomeback

I don't save, but I plan my day out better with more lower calorie foods and I will work out more that day too. I eat back my exercise cals (I've lost more weight doing that) so I work out hard to burn more calories and have more incase I splurge.

fionarama

I let my self go a bit but try not to go too crazy, and try to have a good hours cardio the next day to work it off. And try to mentally deal with the fact that not much progress will be noticed for the next 2-3 days.

chuisle

dreamer,

You probably won't like what I have to say. Most of you actually. But just please understand that I'm saying this as a realistic and unbiased observer only.

Part of the battle people have with weight loss is justification, it stems from fear of "giving up their lifestyle", similar to an alcoholic, this practice can be self destructive. In my opinion, a majority of the changes that need to be made are mental changes, the physical weight loss and lean tissue building and habits all stem from you having the desire and the willpower to change how you think about yourself, food, and you life, and the biggie here is the concept of "control".

I know what you're thinking, "What the heck is this guy talking about, and what does this have to do with saving up calories for a "special" night?" Well, it's all related folks. I've found out (the hard way mostly) that changing your life means changing how you think about food, "saving up calories" for that one special night isn't really the right mentality to have IMHO, whether or not those calories even out at the end of the week is incidental, what you really should be focusing on is your every day, your habits, how you feel about food, how you feel about yourself, and what your triggers to unhealthy eating are (and the underlying emotional issues you have that cause those to be triggers). Once you square away these things, and view food for what it is (fuel), then you are freeing yourself to enjoy all the other wonderful aspects of life that don't involve food. Focusing on one special night is (in my opinion) like washing your care right before it's about to rain in that yes, you are cleaning the car, but in the end, does it really matter, wouldn't you be better served by an oil change and putting better gas in it? 10 years from now, no body will look at that car and say, "Wow, you sure did do a good job washing it every week."

You have a great point at the same time I disagree with some of the nuances. I do think its wrongheaded to save up calories so you can eat whatever because you have friends over. This idea that you save up calories so you can unhealthy isn't a good way to go about a lifestyle change. Right on.

However, it's not all that simple. I love traditional meals (read: multicourse, beautifully prepared, French style dining) I love these meals because they provide an experience and pleasure that is otherwise lost in our everyday mindless, utilitarian eating. Even if I only eat bits and pieces this is still a much larger meal that I would usually have. So yes, if I plan one of these occasions then I will "save up" my calories.

We aren't machines. There should be joy in food and times when you aren't worried about the macro nutrients of a dish or its caloric value. Spending time with friends can be one of those times. But all within reason. Eat only until you are no longer hungry, not stuffed, and consider the whole thing to be part of your healthy lifestyle, not a break from it.

DixieDarlin1987

dreamer,

You probably won't like what I have to say. Most of you actually. But just please understand that I'm saying this as a realistic and unbiased observer only.

Part of the battle people have with weight loss is justification, it stems from fear of "giving up their lifestyle", similar to an alcoholic, this practice can be self destructive. In my opinion, a majority of the changes that need to be made are mental changes, the physical weight loss and lean tissue building and habits all stem from you having the desire and the willpower to change how you think about yourself, food, and you life, and the biggie here is the concept of "control".

I know what you're thinking, "What the heck is this guy talking about, and what does this have to do with saving up calories for a "special" night?" Well, it's all related folks. I've found out (the hard way mostly) that changing your life means changing how you think about food, "saving up calories" for that one special night isn't really the right mentality to have IMHO, whether or not those calories even out at the end of the week is incidental, what you really should be focusing on is your every day, your habits, how you feel about food, how you feel about yourself, and what your triggers to unhealthy eating are (and the underlying emotional issues you have that cause those to be triggers). Once you square away these things, and view food for what it is (fuel), then you are freeing yourself to enjoy all the other wonderful aspects of life that don't involve food. Focusing on one special night is (in my opinion) like washing your care right before it's about to rain in that yes, you are cleaning the car, but in the end, does it really matter, wouldn't you be better served by an oil change and putting better gas in it? 10 years from now, no body will look at that car and say, "Wow, you sure did do a good job washing it every week."

You have a great point at the same time I disagree with some of the nuances. I do think its wrongheaded to save up calories so you can eat whatever because you have friends over. This idea that you save up calories so you can unhealthy isn't a good way to go about a lifestyle change. Right on.

However, it's not all that simple. I love traditional meals (read: multicourse, beautifully prepared, French style dining) I love these meals because they provide an experience and pleasure that is otherwise lost in our everyday mindless, utilitarian eating. Even if I only eat bits and pieces this is still a much larger meal that I would usually have. So yes, if I plan one of these occasions then I will "save up" my calories.

We aren't machines. There should be joy in food and times when you aren't worried about the macro nutrients of a dish or its caloric value. Spending time with friends can be one of those times. But all within reason. Eat only until you are no longer hungry, not stuffed, and consider the whole thing to be part of your healthy lifestyle, not a break from it.

that was very beautifully stated.

SHBoss1673

You have a great point at the same time I disagree with some of the nuances. I do think its wrongheaded to save up calories so you can eat whatever because you have friends over. This idea that you save up calories so you can unhealthy isn't a good way to go about a lifestyle change. Right on.

However, it's not all that simple. I love traditional meals (read: multicourse, beautifully prepared, French style dining) I love these meals because they provide an experience and pleasure that is otherwise lost in our everyday mindless, utilitarian eating. Even if I only eat bits and pieces this is still a much larger meal that I would usually have. So yes, if I plan one of these occasions then I will "save up" my calories.

We aren't machines. There should be joy in food and times when you aren't worried about the macro nutrients of a dish or its caloric value. Spending time with friends can be one of those times. But all within reason. Eat only until you are no longer hungry, not stuffed, and consider the whole thing to be part of your healthy lifestyle, not a break from it.

I think maybe you mis-understood my thread (or maybe I explained it badly) I don't mean to say you should stop doing anything you enjoy with friends or family, I'm simply saying that the most important thing to do to become healthy is to change how you feel about food, and because food is so closely tied to emotions many times (especially for those who are obese in many situations), that means dealing first with the emotions that cause the eating. If the time someone enjoys with friends and family happens to revolve around gatherings for food, I have no problem with that, but food shouldn't be your focus at the gatherings, until food is not your biggest factor, you'll still have problems.

In other words, I'm not saying you need to change the situations you are in, you need to change how those situations make you feel.

Now, that being said, many people end up changing after they make these break throughs simply because they are no longer the same person and they realize that what they thought was "fun" was actually high stress, but that's a healthy realization that some make, and some don't, the causality needs to be there for this to happen.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I don't forego meals to save calories, but I pick my lowest calorie options during the rest of the day so that I have more to work with in the evening, I get a couple extra calories in burn to up the ante, I put what I intend to eat in before I set out for eating and stick to it, and if I go over I don't feel badly about it because I rarely go over.

JoLeeFA

I think maybe you mis-understood my thread (or maybe I explained it badly) I don't mean to say you should stop doing anything you enjoy with friends or family, I'm simply saying that the most important thing to do to become healthy is to change how you feel about food, and because food is so closely tied to emotions many times (especially for those who are obese in many situations), that means dealing first with the emotions that cause the eating. If the time someone enjoys with friends and family happens to revolve around gatherings for food, I have no problem with that, but food shouldn't be your focus at the gatherings, until food is not your biggest factor, you'll still have problems.

I get what you are saying and thanks for your honest answer.
I totally get that I didn't get to 300 pounds by dealing with my emotions in a healthy manner. I am dealing with the emotions now rather than shutting them up with a cookie!

I have no intention of skipping meals. But instead having lower calorie meals/snacks.

When you are the hosting a dinner, the focus HAS to be what you are going to eat. In reality, it is better to host so I can know what I am eating. In the past, I have not provided snacks to have while we visit before supper (usually several hours), and the men just ran to the store to get chips and such. So I am being proactive. I have sliced cucmbers, yellow squash, zucchini, baby carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomoatoes in the frig now. For dipping, I will have ranch dressing and hummus (for them, not me). Supper will be turkey burgers with whole wheat buns and steamed veggies. I am going to check and see if I have calories left, we will make sugar free ice cream with skim milk - - believe it or not, it works, but doesn't get real firm!

For me, food is not the FOCUS, but is going to be there, so I may as well make it healthy choices??

nibblerbigcat

Yes, and I think it's a healthy practice to eat lightly throughout the day when you know that you are going to have a large supper at night. Balancing your caloric intake is a healthy practice because it allows flexibility. Same if you unexpectedly eat a large dinner - have a smaller than normal breakfast and lunch and a normal dinner and it will counteract the extra calories from the night before. When I know that I'm going to be eating a lot in the evening, such as on Christmas, then I refrain from eating a normal breakfast and lunch. Maybe people counteract this by saying if you "starve" yourself all day you will be ravenous by the time you eat dinner and then overeat. Maybe true for some, but I usually don't eat a lot when I know I'm going to have a fantastic dinner. My guilty feelings go down and my calorie intake can be normal.