Spike days?

MrsSullivan08

So how many of you have a "spike" day, and how often do you have one and how much weight have you lost from the beginning to your current weight??? I was just curious because I have seen a lot of people say something about a "spike" day.

Sidesteal

When I was losing weight I'd do one day per week where I would just not keep track. I'd basically end between maintenance and +500 at a guess.

I think that for SOME people, it can be beneficial to do a maintenance/surplus day occasionally but ultimately, if your average intake over the course of time puts you in a calorie deficit you'll be fine.

DL121004

I went from 205 to 175 and incorporated a spike day in my protocol.

For me, the benefit of doing so were as follows.

1. The first four days after the spike day I had zero cravings for foods outside my weight-loss protocol food plan.
2. The next two days were easy to control as I knew I had a spike day coming.
3. I used the spike day for the "social" eating -- going out to dinner with friends, etc. I don't go out to dinner that often, so when I do, I want to enjoy food in all it's evil glory.
4. Over time and in general, the appeal of those foods outside my weight-loss protocol diminished.

It may not work for everyone, but for me it was largely a behavioral thing even though there may be metabolic reasons behind it as well.

frillypantz

I don't know if it's the same for anyone else, but i find if i over indulge one day then i find it MUCH harder to stick to my calories for the next 2-3 days It dosnt benefit me at all!

teagin2002

I have 2 days a week where I up my calories to maintenance plus light activity level, don't watch my macros and I try to eat back at least half my exercise cals.

The rest of my week consists of a 24hr fast and then 4 days of clean eating with a deficit of 400 cals per day and eating back only half of my exercise cals.
I end up with a 4000 cal deficit at the end of the week with a well nourished body.

The benefits for me:
1. If I didn't have those two days it would put too much stress on my family and self when it comes to food. I love eating clean, but hubby won't do it. Also I think there is something very enjoyable in sharing a meal with my loved ones that would be missed if I didn't do it at least once a week.
2. It makes it easier for me to say no to processed foods that are not very bad for me while clean eating such as milk, cheese and bread.
3. It makes it easier for me to manage my calories in and out because in the beginning of the week is when I build my caloric deficit, then I have the last two days to see how much I want to eat to maintain that caloric deficit.

Aphreal

Yep. My spike day is Friday, after I weigh in. I go over roughly 800 calories so I eat about 2000 that day. When I was with Weight watchers I would use my flex on one or two days with the same effect.

Over all I lost 80lbs but this was over time... I kept getting pregnant LOL I did however loose the baby weight after each delivery.

Then I had a total pelvic reconstruction last year. I gained 20lbs and now loosing that weight, using the same method.

xosmsox

I have lost 19.5 lbs since January first of this year on a 1500 calorie a day diet AND a spike day once a week, every week since I started. Granted I exercise extra on those spike days, but I am usually still over on my net calories. But works for me would probably be atrocious to others. Haha I could never be a 1200 calorie girl.

Aphreal

I went from 205 to 175 and incorporated a spike day in my protocol.

For me, the benefit of doing so were as follows.

1. The first four days after the spike day I had zero cravings for foods outside my weight-loss protocol food plan.
2. The next two days were easy to control as I knew I had a spike day coming.
3. I used the spike day for the "social" eating -- going out to dinner with friends, etc. I don't go out to dinner that often, so when I do, I want to enjoy food in all it's evil glory.
4. Over time and in general, the appeal of those foods outside my weight-loss protocol diminished.

It may not work for everyone, but for me it was largely a behavioral thing even though there may be metabolic reasons behind it as well.

Very well said. It's like your weekly light at the end of the tunnel. Denial will result to unintentional binging. In my case anyway.

Sl1ghtly

I have an occasional 'I don't give a damn' day. It hasn't seemed to interfere with my goals.

Echo17121

I was doing the spike diet and was having great results. Then I took a trip (girls weekend) and blew the work and really made my cravings for not so good foods super high again. I tried to get back on track by just cutting calories lower and then Valentine's day happened and I went overboard again probably due to low calories the day before. Right now I am just eating close to maintenance and creating a deficit with exercise until I get my bingey cravings under control and then I will most likely go back to spiking when the scale is closer to my goal weight again.

The spike days were totally amazing though and it is nice to know that you can have certain foods that are off limits during the week. If you don't have issues with getting back on track after a high calorie day of all of your favorite "off limit" foods, then try it out!

JeanMac66

I have days each week were I am over my daily allotment and days were I am on or just below. I have checked what I would eat to maintain, and even my over days are under that calorie amount. I am losing, at a good heathy rate, and I am happy with my progress. I track everything I eat.

Before when I was a WW mbr I had great results, which I kept that weight off for over 6 yrs. The gaining began again when my marriage fell apart. I incorporated the same type of eating then that I do now. However, I am eating more now then I did on the points system and I seem to be losing at a better rate with the extra calorie intake.

I love this site and feel it is a great benefit to my progress. At first the thought of tracking my calories as opposed to tracking my points seemed beyond me, but with this site I am finding it easier and more fulfilling then the points system.