Weekly goals v daily goals

jeannelack

does anyone know if it is ok to work to a weekly calorie goal instead of a daily one? I.e eat less in the week and save your calories for the weekend? Thanks

Helloitsdan

Stop overthinking this and eat a daily set of calories.
The body doesnt know any other schedule except sun up and sun down.

So on a daily basis you eat XXXX amount of calories with proper macronutrients to not only supply nutrients to the vital organs but to fuel you for work, school, play, cooking, cleaning, driving...etc.

If you want me to run proper dietary numbers for you feel free to PM me your info.

Age
height
weight
body fat% http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/
waist measurement
how often you workout.

I'll run numbers for you to get you started.

Beckym1205

Stop overthinking this and eat a daily set of calories.
The body doesnt know any other schedule except sun up and sun down.

So on a daily basis you eat XXXX amount of calories with proper macronutrients to not only supply nutrients to the vital organs but to fuel you for work, school, play, cooking, cleaning, driving...etc.

If you want me to run proper dietary numbers for you feel free to PM me your info.

Age
height
weight
body fat% http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/
waist measurement
how often you workout.

I'll run numbers for you to get you started.

I disagree. I mean really, you think your body knows what time the sun rises and what time the sun sets?

I try for the weekly goal as oposed to the daily goal. My weekends I tend to eat more anyway, so if I'm under on week days then I don't need to stress or feel guilty about my weekends.

janojanny

but what if you go over one day, can you undereat the next to even out for the week ?? or if you overeat, especially if you majorly overeat - do you just ignore it and call the next day a seperate new day. i think she means, and i have been thinking this too, if some days you over eat can you even it out for the rest of week ?

heybales

does anyone know if it is ok to work to a weekly calorie goal instead of a daily one? I.e eat less in the week and save your calories for the weekend? Thanks

Sadly, it's just 1 day theory, but if you were reasonable on each day, and really undercut the other 5 days, that theory might work too.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/478462-could-someone-explain-spike-days

Have to be very exact with the numbers though, so you just aren't shooting yourself in the foot.

The idea of weekly goal (minus splurging on 2 days) is the basis for
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/471769-an-easier-way-to-setup-goal-calories-eating-for-who-you-wi

And if the splurge days make it harder to have self-control through the week, then that really isn't a reward.

heybales

I mean really, you think your body knows what time the sun rises and what time the sun sets?

Good goal method having a weekly balance.

But yes, the body does generally know the time, unless there is a disorder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm_sleep_disorder

Humans, like most animals and plants, have biological rhythms, known as circadian rhythms, which are controlled by a biological clock and work on a daily time scale. These affect body temperature, alertness, appetite, hormone secretion etc. as well as sleep timing. Due to the circadian clock, sleepiness does not continuously increase as time passes. A person's desire and ability to fall asleep is influenced by both the length of time since the person woke from an adequate sleep, and by internal circadian rhythms. Thus, the body is ready for sleep and for wakefulness at different times of the day.

janojanny

so for those of us just starting out, if we majorly over eat one day, are you saying to not worry about it and start the next day afresh ? as i am new to using this site - i don't want to manipulate at this stage, see how i go for a while. but would be interested in a simple answer/recommendation to original posters query ? cheers.

heybales

so for those of us just starting out, if we majorly over eat one day, are you saying to not worry about it and start the next day afresh ? as i am new to using this site - i don't want to manipulate at this stage, see how i go for a while. but would be interested in a simple answer/recommendation to original posters query ? cheers.

For your question, yes you can to an extent.
But, It could be very easy to throw in an extra 1000 calories though on one day splurge, trying to take that off the next day would be unrealistic.
Perhaps leave out about 200 each day, or better, exercise a tad more for about 200 calories more for 5 more days, and don't eat back those extra calories. So normally do about 500 cal burn workout, make it 750 and only eat back the 500.

As to the weekly schedule - yes you could too. Have to do the math tight to confirm what you hope to be doing.

Helloitsdan

Stop overthinking this and eat a daily set of calories.
The body doesnt know any other schedule except sun up and sun down.

So on a daily basis you eat XXXX amount of calories with proper macronutrients to not only supply nutrients to the vital organs but to fuel you for work, school, play, cooking, cleaning, driving...etc.

If you want me to run proper dietary numbers for you feel free to PM me your info.

Age
height
weight
body fat% http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/
waist measurement
how often you workout.

I'll run numbers for you to get you started.

I disagree. I mean really, you think your body knows what time the sun rises and what time the sun sets?

I try for the weekly goal as oposed to the daily goal. My weekends I tend to eat more anyway, so if I'm under on week days then I don't need to stress or feel guilty about my weekends.

Actually if you under eat too low you will cause certain types of hormones to go a little wacky!
Add to that the fact that you decided to make a difference in your life and probably work out every day or 6 times a week.
Now you are under eating while burning more calories daily and you probably are close if not under BMR.
At that point you are now robbing nutrients from your vital organs like your brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, thyroid, liver etc...
So as a result your body decides "wtf is going on?! I need to slow this chick down! Lets target active tissue to slow the system down!" You start catabolizing lean mass at this point.

This is the opposite of what you really want right?
The trick to proper dieting is to drop fat and maintain lean mass or even gain some?

By eating the proper nutrition daily you are guaranteed nutrients for your daily activity without the sacrifice of lean mass.

Most women 5'3" who work out 3 times a week require at least 1600 calories a day.
Going higher is even better because then you just use fat and carbs as a fuel and maintain lean mass.

I can run your numbers if you like.
=D

As for the weekends you should eat whatever you want every weekend!
Cheat weekends are great ways to boost metabolism and break plateaus!